Dapper Dog

Wheeley wearing the Celtic Rose collar

When is a dog collar not a dog collar? When it’s a trip across time and space to pay homage to the artistic traditions of ancient cultures.  This year, Dog Collar Boutique began carrying bon Christiani’s unique line of handmade collars.  Here is their story…

At bon Christiani, a boutique fine dog collar company, each handcrafted collar is a marriage of modern materials, old world craftsmanship, and the artistic visions of the ancient Celtic peoples. Founder and Owner Jennifer Christiano is a former research scientist now creating upscale accoutrements for dogs based on studies of ancient arts and crafts.

Unique and trademarked to bon Christiani dog collars are the D-rings, hand cast from recycled bronze by Sun Valley Bronze located in Bellevue, Idaho. They’re based on a historic Celtic belt buckle found on an Irish “Bog Man” mummy. The bright, finely engraved pewter décor pieces that encircle each collar are based on various Celtic knots, or Viking shield bosses. The high-grade semiprecious gemstone cabochons that customers can choose from to decorate the various collar designs, are all of the same types actually used in Celtic jewelry in ancient times. The only exception is the jade, “because people kept telling me that if I was going to sell anything Celtic, I needed to offer a green stone!” says Jennifer.

Jo Jo in the Epona collar

Besides being uniquely gorgeous, bon Christiani collars are also uniquely durable. They’re made from a proprietary, high-impact, bio-imitative leather on the outside, stitched to a soft, bio-imitative suede lining. The high-tech, cruelty-free materials offer the look and feel of fine hide while being impervious to rot, mold, and bacterial and viral growth. They can be worn in fresh and salt water, and cleaned with mild soap and water. Experience has shown that these collars even resist skunk spray, if cleaned quickly!

As bon Christiani grows, Jennifer plans to expand her line to include collars that pay homage to the art traditions of ancient Nubia, Egypt, Rome and other cultures. “I’m living out my second childhood as a cultural anthropologist,”, Jennifer jokes. “Needing something beautiful to outfit my German Shepherd with gave me the perfect excuse to indulge my passions for dogs, ethnic jewelry and ancient arts”. In addition, she feeds her passion for helping abused animals by donating 5% the profits of each sale to Kindness Ranch Humane Society.

Jennifer and Padma

Summer is a time to be out in the sun, and if we have a canine friend they are likely to be out in the sun with us.  You take precautions to make sure you don’t burn, you get to the shade when you start to get exhausted,  and you drink plenty of water.  Right?  Be aware that you need to do all of these things for your dog, too!

Because of their thick fur and sometimes tough skin, we don’t often think about a dog getting sunburn.  But it happens every day.  White dogs and dogs with thinner hair are more susceptible than others, and every dog is susceptible to sunburn on his ears and his little pink (or black, or brown…) nose!  Sunburn appears on dogs as it would on humans, as red, dry skin that may become itchy and irritated, and in severe cases may form blisters and cause hair loss.

Luckily for dog owners there are many sunscreens available at your pet store.  Many are of the spray-on variety, because yes it does seem kind of yucky to slather lotion all over a dog’s fur.  But be sure you reapply spray-screen often and liberally if you are out in the sun for long periods, or if your dog is swimming.  For noses and ears, lotion sunscreen works best.  You can purchase the dog-specific brands, or you can simply use an all-natural baby sunblock.  Baby sunblock may cost less and is much easier to come by if you end up at the beach without protection.

In addition to sunblocking your dog, you can also keep him under wraps from those nasty rays.  Doggy swimsuits, light colored t-shirts, and even doggy sunglasses can help reduce your pup’s exposure.  Bun in the hottest conditions, don’t forget that the best thing to do after a good round of fetch or a good dip in the waves is to simply get the dog out of the sun for awhile.  On top of sunburn, heat exhaustion can set in and ruin your dog’s fun summer day.

Ask your vet about sunscreen options for your dog, especially if he has sensitive skin or is a less hairy breed.  You local pet boutique may also be able to recommend a good sunscreen.  But in a pinch, you are certainly a good dog parent even if you have to run to the drugstore for plain old Coppertone — protecting your dog with the same products you would use on your baby seems funny, but your furry babies need the same care in the summer sun.

When “Out of Kenya Art,” a collective of artists working in Kenya to support themselves with their handiwork, needed funds to compete in the world market, JMS Ventures of Virginia stepped up to provide the capital and distribution power they needed, and The Kenyan Collection was born.

Much of the Kenyan population lives below the international poverty line, and besides agricultural employment (which not everyone is suited for) the only work available in most areas is in the informal sector — that is, people must work for themselves, and sell or trade things directly to one another.

When Joan Schultz was living in Kenya in 2002, she met Mercy Mahiani.  The two women founded the company as a for profit business — “for the profit of Kenyans” explains Shultz.  The two have been working together ever since, Schultz now stateside in Virginia, and Mahiani in Kenya, to locate high quality African beadwork, help distribute it to customers in wealthier areas, and even provide consult on new designs and materials.  Their efforts have helped the Maasai tribe of Kenya to become a viable player in the world market, relying only on the work of their own hands.

The Kenyan Collection includes products such as equestrian accessories and fishing boxes, but their bread and butter is dog collars.  It seems that dog owners make a very personal investment when they choose a collar for their best friends, and this kind of personal stake in a product goes a long way in creating a meaningful relationship between the customer and the producers of his or her handmade collar.  Every collar is unique and completely artisanal.  Many collars can be completely quickly, but some take up to eight weeks to bead, cast hardware for, and ship to the states.  These works of art are well worth the wait.

This spring, Dog Collar Boutique started carrying two new lines of The Kenyan Collection’s dog collars.  The Meadow Stripe Collar and the Sunshine Collar both evoke images of warm days, flowers and sun, and are as durable as they are beautiful.  Visit the boutique to view all of the unique bead patterns and read more about the quality and details that go into each line.

Celtic Rose Collar

This week we joined dog-collaring and legend-making forces with one of the most artistic and quality-driven dog collar designers we have come across to date.  The bon Christiani line of Celtic- and mythology-inspired collars is now available exclusively through Dog Collar Boutique.

Jennifer Christiano founded the company as bon Christiani to honor her old-world heritage.  She wanted to create something both dogs and people could enjoy, by combining her knowledge of precious gems with her love of dog collaring.  Having spent her graduate school years at the University of Chicago studying ethnic jewelry, founding bon Christiani was the perfect way for Christiano to express herself through gemstones and design.

When we came across the bon Christiani collars online, we were instantly smitten.  We had to have them for the boutique!  The authenticity of the gems used (mostly Celtic period gems), the symbology and significance of the designs, and the quality of the construction, using materials such as handcast bronze and locally sourced garnet, are an amazing combination of passion and attention to detail not commonly found in something as deceptively simple as a dog collar.

You and your dog can enjoy an artisanal collar made from the same materials, by the same processes, that have not changed since the time of Beowulf and his insular ancestors.  Celtic roses, triangular knots, Viking-like shields and even frolicking horses grace the leather of these collars, and even the elegant bronze D-ring has a story.  It was modeled after a belt buckle found on a Celtic bog man!

Have a look at the full line of bon Christiani collars at Dog Collar Boutique, now the exclusive retailer for these exquisite designs.

This past weekend we flew to lovely Baltimore, Maryland for the H.H. Backer Pet Industry Trade Show.  We saw quite a few of our old friends, got to know some of our newer designers, and of course (like at any good show) we made some new connections!

Auburn Leathercrafters

First we visited with our friend Walter Dungey of Auburn Leathercrafters. Here our owner Brian is checking out the construction on some Sparky’s Choice waterproof leashes.  We have worked with Auburn for several years now, and we have been consistently impressed with the quality and variety of products they offer.  Auburn has something in every price range, for every doggy size and temperament.  We may be having them custom make some signature designer collars for us soon!

Sherpa’s Pet

Next we stopped by Sherpa’s Pet’s booth, where items were on display from all of their various lines.  Sherpa’s Pet is best known for selling some of the highest quality carriers and bags in the industry, but they also distribute collars, accessories, toys, and treats.  Here Brian is with a Sherpa’s rep, in front of some very Spring-inspired Fox and Hounds collars, and their new super-cute organic cotton toy line.  These toys come to you as soft and clean as baby toys, and come in large and small sizes for puppies and adult pooches.  They’ve got more character and cuddles than just about anything we’ve found!

Yellow Dog Designs

Friday was a busy day, and we soon found ourselves at the booth of Yellow Dog Designs.  We’ve been carrying Yellow Dog for about a year, and they just keep adding more and more patterns to choose from!  You can see the amazing range of colors and styles in the photo.  The great thing about Yellow Dog is they are one of our more economical collars — so rather than having to choose just one collar, most customers pick a few different colors from similar patterns to keep their ensembles matched, or even purchase a different style for every season!

Brave Collars

After catching up with even more DCB friends, we went in search of some brand new products!  Here Brian checks out a new line of designer collars by Brave.  Soon we’ll be adding their variety of studded and decorated collars in a rainbow of high quality leathers.

We met a few more new designers this weekend, and we will be adding even more new products from those folks, including doggy swimwear and water safety items!  We’ll make an announcement when the new items are up on the site.

All in all, it was a great weekend, and we met our goals of finding out more about the products we currently carry, and most importantly, finding new exciting stuff for all of you and your pups!

Dosha Dog has meant the finest in natural stone collars for years now, but their newest line of collars and leads packs a colorful punch with contrasting stones and bright dyed leathers. Using the same palette of earthy stones as their previous lines, Dosha Dog’s Imperial Collection changes it up with alternating colors, shapes, and sizes of Mother Nature’s own bling on supple leather backgrounds.

For the dog owner who loves that earthy look, but can’t confine herself (or her dog) to the monochrome hues of some natural stone collars, the Imperial Collection is sure to be an eye-catcher.  The collars and leads not only create a constellation of color around your dog’s neck, but surround her with the combined healing, focusing, calming, and protective qualities associated with stones like turquoise, carnelian, onyx, and Cat’s Eye.

Collars start at $48, and come in a range of sizes to fit poodles and pinschers alike.  Take advantage of our collar and lead duo deals (at the bottom of each collar’s page) to save on a set at DogCollarsBoutique.com.

Shadow, one of the many dogs on the DCB Team

Now that our Dapper Dog Blog is on a roll, we are excited to get to know other members of the Dog Blog community!  Fellow dog bloggers, we all know that meaningful content is the key to making online relationships count, and making your website show up in those search engines.  We may be green when it comes to our blog, but our store’s site is seeing more success this year than ever.  So we’d like to share some love!

The easiest way to make a connection is through a Blogroll.  If you’d like to be listed on our Blogroll (ahem… Dogroll) send us an email with a  link to your blog at admin (@) dogcollarsboutique.com. (Without the parentheses of course.)

Our biggest new effort to reach out to blog-happy dog lovers is our Dog & Pet Blog Sponsorship Program.  We’ll offer up gift certificates to give away on your blog, and all you have to do is run the contests.  Plus, if you would like a little revenue to go with your new site traffic (people love contests!), we will buy Dog Collar Boutique ad space on your site!  For details on blog sponsorship opportunities, visit the Dog Blog Sponsorship page at the Dog Collar Boutique website.

We have been working hard these past few years to make the Dog Collar Boutique store a well-known destination for for the finest designer dog collars and dog accessories.  Now that we have established ourselves as a boutique, and have gone a-blogging, we’d like to share the power of our brand’s popularity with you — the best dog and pet bloggers on the web — in exchange for your dog blog love!

We hope to hear from some enthusiastic bloggers soon.  In the meantime, we are reading and reading all the excellent information, conversations, product reviews that can be found in this great community.  We’re happy to be here!

Poor Rocky...

Dogs like dead things.  As disgusting as that might sound, we all know a pooch never turns down an opportunity to roll around in something stinky — preferably something dead and stinky.  Lose the stink and the mess with our new Road Kill Toys!

Give Fido some good clean fun in his choice of dead Otter, flattened Squirrel, or for the big guys, a plushy, squishy Wolf. The idea behind the toys may be tasteless, but your dog doesn’t care.  He just wants to chew on something!  And his friends will think his new toy is incredibly stylish.

These Road Kill Toys are floppy and fuzzy, will look adorable and hilarious in your dog’s jowls, and can withstand even the feistiest chewers and manglers.  Made with patented “Chew Guard” technology, reinforced seams, and able to withstand 66 lbs of pulling, you can turn Fido loose on these varmints and even enjoy a lively tug-o-war with an unsuspecting otter or other hapless forest creature as the unlikely rope.

Road Kill Toys make a long-lasting and fun addition to your dog’s toy chest, or a hilarious gift for a dog-owning friend with a sense of humor.  Or maybe even better, the perfect gift for the most prudish, wet-blanket dog owner you know!  Road Kill Toy, $24.  The look on your friend’s face…priceless.

Stripes and Ginghams by Yellow Dog Designs

This Spring at Dog Collar Boutique, patterns and florals are in full bloom.  We’ve added everything from polka dots in eight different pastel styles, to eye catching leather flower decorations, to sleek embossed “elements” patterns in vibrant spring colors.

Lady Bug Ensemble

At our Spring Style page you can find designers that specialize in affordable and fun patterned collars perfect for dog park playtime, as well as magnificent hand-crafted haute couture collars to grace the necks of the poshest dog party attendees!

Check out Marityn Dog for New York-made collars that won’t break the bank.  Visit Shabby Dog’s designer page for handmade doggy “dresses” and more, in the latest cuts and styles for 2010.

Not digging the flowery stuff?  In addition to eye-catching, fashion forward spring offerings, we have plenty of ruff-and-tumble collars for the outdoorsy dog who’s just begun to get his paws wet (and muddy) again.  Waterproof, reflective, and heavy duty collars and harnesses abound, as well as outdoor gear for those upcoming dog-included camping trips, road trips, and city rambles.

Hit the Streets in Style with a Tru-Fit Harness

Reflective Mesh Harness with Reflective Dot Lead

You wouldn’t go out for a nighttime stroll wearing black.  You wouldn’t ride your bike at night without reflectors or even a set of lights.  Why let your dog go invisible after dark?

Spring and summer mean warmer nights, and for many of us active dog owners, that means more time to get outside.  Taking longer walks on city streets, venturing into the woods for a hike, or just staying at the dog park until the sun goes down are all fun ways to spend those extra hours of daylight.  However, the only way to stay safe and fun in these situations is to make sure your dog is visible at all times.

Nylon Reflective Weave Collars

For city dogs, a reflective harness or reflective collar coupled with a reflective leash is a good idea.  The collar helps you and motorists see the dog, and the leash gives both of you a long strand of added visibility.  In cities, where night lights are plentiful, the two (or three, or more) of you will be hard to miss with just a little bit of reflective material setting you off.  For areas where street lighting is poor, glow-in-the-dark or LED options are also available for your dog.  These enable you to see the dog even when no car headlights are approaching.

For country dogs, or just those of you who like to spend time out in nature, LED collars are a great option.  You can see them without any additional light, they will be visible even at dusk before all the sunlight is gone (you should really get out of the woods by then, or bed your dog down at camp!).  For dogs spending more time in the woods or on hikes, there are dog pannier packs trimmed with reflective materials.  The bright colors of the packs are especially important when hunters may be out.  With a doggy day pack and an LED collar, you’ll be ready for a safe adventure — Fido can carry his own supplies and remain visible to you day and night, by flashlight or around the campfire.

Argyle LED Collar

Finally, even if you keep your dog safe at night by keeping him off the streets and out of the bush, summer events like dog park outings and backyard barbeques can end with a lost dog or two, especially when dogs and people have been having fun and don’t notice daylight slipping away.  Reflective, glow-in-the-dark, or LED collars can keep your dog visible after hours, ensuring he won’t disappear off into the sunset.  Worst case scenario, if he wanders off, the lighted collar will make Fido visible to passers-by who can tell he’s a cared for dog (not a scary night wanderer!) and they can look for his tag and information.  With “high-visibility dogs,” everyone can safely collect their pup at the end of the day, and get some much needed rest for the next fun filled summer adventure.

Check out Dog Collar Boutique to outfit your dog for a safe summer of outdoor adventures.  Our “Outdoor”, “DogeLites”and “Kurgo” categories contain some great collars and accessories, and “Cloak & Dawggie” features reflective and glow designs for smaller pups.

Reflective Wander Pack