POLKA DOT PRODUCT PICK - Ashley & Co. Designer Jewelry for Pet Lovers

Ashley & Co. Designer Jewelry for Pet Lovers
Product Review by Becca Plummer


At Polka Dot Pup, our objective is to scan the Internet for anything and everything pet. One of our toughest challenges is locating quality products perfect for every pet lover. Lucky for us we sniffed out Ashley & Co. whose designer jewelry proves to be top breed.

Wrapped in a small black box with paw ribbon accent, Vixen and I unwrapped a Sterling Silver Pet Collar Charm and matching Paw Print Tag Bracelet from the Ashley & Co. Amanda Collection. Vixen, whom many may call a tomboy dog, was delighted to be dolled up with a little bit of collar bling. The 5/8 inch large pet collar charm was the perfect size for a larger dog and the teardrop lobster clasp allowed for easy attachment to her collar. I was equally excited about the matching Paw Print Bracelet. The cable chain bracelet with charm was light weight and offers a simplistic design that allows you to wear the piece as an accessory to almost any outfit. The jewelry duo is a huge hit when Vixen and I hit the dog park, a definite great gift idea for any pet lover or pet in the family.

Ashley & Co. designer Vanessa Wensing is a veterinarian turned jewelry designer who designs her jewelry collections after animals that have touched her life and the lives of people around her. Her designs have a simple, elegant flare and are crafted from precious metals. One of the greatest gifts of purchasing one of the Ashley & Co. pieces is a portion of the proceeds will go towards benefiting nonprofits supporting animals in need.


To learn more about Ashley & Co. Jewelry, please visit www.ashleyandco.com

POLKA DOT PRODUCT PICK - The Pooch IQ Test

Product Review:
The Pooch IQ Test

What you Get:

• 1 Pooch IQ Testing Booklet with 15 Exercises, Scoring Key, and Detailed IQ Explanations
• 1 Extra Tuff Rubber Cone Toy
• 1 5-Piece Plush Dog Puzzle
• 1 Big & Furry Squeaky Bone
• 1 Super-Bouncy Ball
• 1 Hide-a-Treat Testing Toy
• 1 Midnight Black Face Mask
• 3 Colorful Plastic Pup-Cups

Is your dog the head of the pack or the dunce of the litter? The Pooch IQ Test puts your pets intelligence level to the test with some hair raising exercises. Did someone say pup quiz?

When Vixen and I received our Pooch IQ Test in the mail, we were presently surprised to find a carry bag filled with goodies! We eagerly pulled out the Testing Booklet and began our 15 exercises that tested Vixen on her Learning for experience, Short-term memory, Persistence, Ability to see similarities, Problem-Solving skills, Reasoning skills, Instinctive intelligence and Obedience intelligence. Each exercise includes easy to follow descriptions, steps to follow, materials and scoring instructions. After you've made it through all 15 quizzes and all the scoring is complete, you tally up your pups points and check out their IQ description. Although it was a few days process, Vixen made it through with flying colors! So what was Vixen's final score? It looks like we have our very own Polka Dot Pup "Top of the Class" on our hands. She scored a 141 out of 150!

I love the fact that this kit came with so many cool toys that Vixen can use over and over, she particular loves the purple bone plush squeaker toy! Do be aware though that you may not make it through all of the quizzes in one sitting, some of the exercises are quicker to test than others and a few require extra materials than what is provided. The one reason I really "dig" this product is you really get a chance to play with your dog and learn more about them. No matter what their score, each pup deserves an A+ in my book.


To learn more about Pooch IQ, visit http://www.poochiq.com/

POLKA DOT PUP PRODUCT PICK - Divine Canine

BOOK REVIEW:
DIVINE CANINE: The Monks' Way to a Happy, Obedient Dog
Author: The Monks of New Skete

The Monks of New Skete are a rare breed when it comes to dog training. Based in Cambridge, New York, the monks from this Eastern Orthodox monastic community are known for their breeding of German Shepherds and are sought after for dog behavior dilemmas.

Divine Canine is their third book in a line of best sellers such as How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy. I found the book to be a great hands on guide to tackling some common canine behavior issues. The reader gets to follow Brother Christopher through the training process of nine different dogs such as the bull-headed Bulldog Hugo or the dog with two faces, a Rottweiler mix named Boomer, all with diverse behavior problems. The imagery and stories within the pages of the book really allow you dive into the subject matter and get a first hand look into the Monks' training techniques.

I love the fact that this book is so easy to follow, each training session outlines the bio's for each dog, insight into their unruly behaviors and step-by-step descriptions on how they overcome their obstacles. Along with the training guidelines, the book offers amazing images, Q&A for commonly asked pet owner questions and quotes from the Monks themselves.

Polka Dot Pup recommends this book as a great guide for new pet owners or as a useful tool for someone who is looking to finesse or enforce the five essential obedience commands (sit, heel, stay, down and come) and enhance the bond between themselves and their pet.

To get more information on The Monks of New Skete and Divine Canine, go to http://www.newsketemonks.com/index.html. You can also catch the Monks in action in their new series Divine Canine: With the Monks of New Skete, premiering on Animal Planet on April 18th at 8 p.m. ET/PT.


Polka Dot Pup Product Rating -





Written by Becca Plummer/Polka Dot Pup
2/10/08