Make sure that your dog looks like royalty with 26 Bars and a Band’s line of harnesses and matching leashes, which can help your pooch feel like part of the monarchy. The royals only want the best, and that’s what we look for, too. 26 Bars and a Band just received the 2011 Pet Business Industry Recognition Award, which is given out for being original and making top quality dog products.

Get ready to show your support for the happy couple by dressing your dog up in royal style with the British Invasion Harness, which features the Union Jack, and the matching retractable British Invasion Leash. Your pet will enjoy not being tugged around by his neck as you try to direct him through town, as the purpose of the harness is to distribute pressure evenly throughout your dog’s body and not just on your dog’s neck.

This harness is made of a light, rain-resistant material, with Velcro on the chest area to allow you to easily make adjustments for a custom fit. The d-ring is securely attached to the back, and it also sticks up so that you can easily attach the leash. The harness has a belt, which accents the body of the harness and provides a classy and custom fit your pooch.

This harness is easy to care for: you can just hand wash it and then hang dry it. Keep your loved one warm, dry, and fashionable – just don’t be surprised when you put this harness on your dog if people stop you and ask, “Where did you get that great harness?”

Available in sizes:
x small: 9.5″ length x 15-17.5″ girth x 10-13″ neck:
small: 7.5″ length x 13-16″girth x 8-10″ neck
medium: 11.5″ length x 19-22.5″ girth x 13.5-17″ neck
large: 13.25″ length x 21-26″ girth x 15.5-21″ neck.
The price is $29.95 for all sizes.

British Invasion retractable dog leash is also available.

Your dog will start jumping and getting excited when you pull out this new toy to play, and that tail wagging excitement will continue every time he sees it. The Winga™’s thrower propels the discs much farther than an overhand throw would, all while saving you shoulder pain. That extra distance and ease of throwing will equal more exercise for your dog, so don’t be surprised if after an hour of playing she needs a nice long nap. As an added bonus, the discs also float in water, so they can be a fun option for that dog that loves to play at the lake or in the pool.

The Winga™ is one fabulously engaging way to get out and enjoy time with your dog. It’s great to use at any playground, dog park, field, or even in your backyard, and, if you’re just taking a walk and don’t want to bring the thrower, the discs can easily be thrown by hand. No matter how you choose to use the Winga™, get outside and enjoy the great Spring weather with your best wet-nosed friend.

The Winga™ starter kit, offered for $14.76, includes one thrower and two discs. The thrower is made of high density polyethylene, while the dishwasher-safe discs are made of durable, non-toxic materials. A set of 2 replacements discs is also available for $11.60. Kurgo has been developing quality dog products since 2003, so check out the other products we have to offer made by them. Check it out at DogCollarsBoutique.com

This collar comes in 3 different colors: purple, red, and brown. We have a wide selection of sizes ranging from small: 5/8″ W x 10.5″-12″ neck, medium: 3/4″ W x 12″- 14″ neck, large: 1″ W x 14″- 17″ neck, to extra large: 1″ W x 17″-20″ neck. We can fit any dog with this collar. If you are not sure of the neck size of your beloved dog check out our measuring guide online. The price range for this butterfly dog collar is from $42.00 – $54.00. Pair it with the Butterfly dog leash to make it a perfectly adorable set. The leashes also come in all 3 colors and in 2 different lengths. The prices range from $50.00 – $54.00, but if you buy both the collar and the leash together you will receive a discount.

Don’t forget to like Dog Collar Boutique on FaceBook for a chance to win the weekly giveaway contests.

The Daisy Bling collar is made of high quality leather adorned with daisies and Swarovski® crystals. Each collar features color coordinated crystals found in flower centers and on either side. The crystals come in eight different colors; cotton candy, pistachio, dark brown. lemon yellow, lime green, black, lilac, and bubble gum. The flowers come in either pink or white.

For over 30 years the work of the Diamond Dogs® designers and master craftsmen have graced the pages of fashion magazines. They have an extensive knowledge of dogs from the tiniest Chihuahua to the largest Mastiff (sizes for this collar range from 16″ – 26″). This collar sparkles just like your favorite diamond ring. Everyone will notice you, your ring and your dog’s bling.

This is celebrity-grade bling! You can’t help but appreciate the detail of  this 2″ width collar. It  is simply magnificent! Hundreds of large Swarovski® Crystals create this outstanding accessory. It is the perfect contrast of clear crystal on black leather. Sizes available are M, L & XL. All products are normally shipped within 28 days of receipt of order, but is well worth the wait. Prices range from $460 – $560.

Handmade overseas of top quality materials makes this collar hard to resist. You won’t be able to take your eyes off it or your dog—nor will anyone else.

The colors, from left to right are; Champagne, Gold, Orange, Red, Sunset, Pink, Violet, Purple, Baby Blue, Lime, and Teal.

Make your precious pooch sparkle anytime, and the wide choice of colors makes it easy to match any color of coat or fashion statement. Whichever color you choose, it will really make your dog, and the collar standout. Fashion is all about the accessories and this collar will be the sparkle and glitz on your beloved dog.

The K-9 Couture handmade collars range from $140-$200. Each crystal is individually secured to the collar with uppermost care for quality. When your friends see this dog collar on your dog they will surely love it! Also, comes with leads in matching colors.

Nuisance Dogs

One of the most common complaints people have about their neighbors’ dogs is barking. Barking is an important means of communications for dogs. However, incessant barking is not only disruptive to neighbors; it’s also an indication that the barker is stressed out and insecure about his environment. For these reasons, this particular issue is covered under federal, local and state noise ordinances.

Many people choose to leave their dogs tied up outside for portions of the day. Sometimes this may cause no problem at all. However, I myself have encountered both extremely aggressive dogs tied in the front yard and dogs tied on a long enough line that they can still run into the street to charge the dog I’m walking. If you can not find an alternate route, situations like these can become dangerous.

I have also encountered dogs left in their front yards without any form of restraint or proper supervision. The owners of these dogs are often under the impression that this is okay because either: their dog is friendly, or they do not believe that their dog would leave the property. This is an extremely dangerous situation, potentially for everyone involved. Even if a roaming dog is friendly, he may approach another dog who is not; he could even get hit by a car while crossing the street to do so. Furthermore, there are very few dogs who, given the choice, would never leave their property. Leash laws exist in most every locality for these reasons, among others. In my opinion, we all have an obligation to address such situations for the safety of the roaming dog as well as ours and our dogs’.

While confronting a neighbor about his or her pet can be daunting, it is often necessary. Often times, serious conflict can be avoided through a polite, yet frank conversation. In a residential area, all humans and pets need to share the space; and this means that everyone has to do his or her part to keep that space safe and pleasant. If your neighbor isn’t living up to his end of the bargain, you have every right to stand up for your and your pet’s happiness and safety.

Guest Contributor–Danielle Grand has spent the last decade working to parlay her affinity for animals into a dog training career. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she was involved in an experimental study on canine cognition. She has also obtained her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College and attended numerous dog training seminars conducted by respected behaviorists. At home in New York’s capital region, she works closely with colleagues and mentors to expand her expertise; she hopes to help forge strong, happy relationships between many dogs and their humans.

Dog refusing to walk.

Some dogs will suddenly flatten themselves to the ground, sit, or lay down and not want to go any further. If your dog is one of these, you need to take steps to make him feel more confident.

For some dogs, many things out in the world are frightening or overwhelming. Couple that with the fact that being on leash can make some dogs feel as though they are trapped and could not run away if they needed to; and you can see why a less-than-confident dog might panic and not want to walk on his leash. In order to help a dog like this feel safer and enjoy his walks, start small. Begin by acclimating your dog to being on his leash in an environment in which he’s comfortable. Simply let him sit or walk around the house with his leash on. Periodically, walk over and give the leash a gentle tug; just enough so that your dog feels the pressure. Then say, “yes,” give him a treat, and walk away. Once your dog is moving comfortably around the house with his leash on, begin to ask him for a little movement. Hold one end of the leash and walk as far away from your dog as it will allow without becoming taut. Kneel down and encourage your dog to come to you. When he does, use your reward marker and give a reward. The next step might be to encourage your dog to follow you just a step or two while you’re holding the leash.

Once your dog is comfortable walking the way you’d like in the house, you can begin practicing in the back or front yard. Moving outside may still be quite frightening for your dog, so you may need to use even better rewards and start the process over (reward your dog simply for feeling a periodic tug on the leash, then for walking to you across the length of the leash, then for walking with you a few steps). When your dog is comfortable in the yard, begin taking him off your property only very briefly. At this stage, heading back home will probably serve as a powerful reward for walking just a handful of yards down the sidewalk.

This process may sound monotonous, but once you get your dog moving outside just a bit, he should gain confidence very quickly. Once that happens, walking will become its own reward; for you and your dog!

Guest Contributor–Danielle Grand has spent the last decade working to parlay her affinity for animals into a dog training career. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she was involved in an experimental study on canine cognition. She has also obtained her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College and attended numerous dog training seminars conducted by respected behaviorists. At home in New York’s capital region, she works closely with colleagues and mentors to expand her expertise; she hopes to help forge strong, happy relationships between many dogs and their humans.

Barking Behavior

The overarching goal of this type of training is teaching your dog that calm, polite behavior is the way to get what he wants; frenzied outbursts are not. In order to accomplish this goal, reward your dog for exhibiting the proper behavior in the presence of something that would previously have elicited an outburst. For the purposes of this article, let’s say that it’s other dogs. If you are comfortable using a clicker, it will be extremely helpful here. Begin with your dog far enough away from another dog that it’s not too difficult for him react calmly. When your dog notices the other dog but does not bark or lunge (i.e., looks at the other dog calmly or looks back at you), he gets an especially great reward (like chicken, cheese or a hot dog). Using this procedure, you can gradually move your dog closer to the other dog.

If you are unsure of your ability to catch this (sometimes momentary) calm behavior before an outburst occurs, you may want to use a head halter, such as Premier’s Gentle Leader™ while doing this training. A gentle leader gives you the ability to calmly encourage your dog to turn back toward you when he sees another dog, rather than overreacting; then you can reward that behavior. If your dog is wearing a flat buckle collar and lunges toward another dog, not only have you lost the opportunity to reward that calm moment; but your dog is experiencing the uncomfortable sensation of the tight collar around his throat in the presence of another dog, which will likely exacerbate the problem.

When teaching your dog to react calmly to frightening or exciting things, it’s helpful to understand his motivation; you can use this as a reward for calm behavior. For example, if your dog barks and lunges at other dogs on walks because he doesn’t like other dogs, a good reward might be moving away from another dog. On the other hand, if your dog barks and lunges because he wants to greet another dog, an opportunity to do so would be a more appropriate reward. If you’re unsure, a well-versed positive reinforcement trainer or behaviorist can help you.

Extremely boisterous outbursts can really ruin a walk with your dog. What’s worse, it can (understandably) discourage you from walking your dog as much as you otherwise might. Given how important it is to get out in the world with your dog, teaching him to react calmly to whatever he may encounter out there is really worth the effort.

Further Reading and Viewing

Working with On-Leash Aggression by Jean Donaldson Video

Dog Training Tutorial- Distraction Part 2- Healing Reactivity- by Tab 289 YouTube

Bat for Reactivity by Grisha Stewart YouTube

Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash-Reactive Dog by Patricia McConnell and Karen B. London

Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog by Emma Parsons (a Karen Pryor Clicker Book)

Guest Contributor–Danielle Grand has spent the last decade working to parlay her affinity for animals into a dog training career. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she was involved in an experimental study on canine cognition. She has also obtained her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College and attended numerous dog training seminars conducted by respected behaviorists. At home in New York’s capital region, she works closely with colleagues and mentors to expand her expertise; she hopes to help forge strong, happy relationships between many dogs and their humans.

What Was That?

The first thing to do is to spend a little time teaching your dog that it really pays to stay close to and focused on you. Start off with a low number of distractions; inside your house is a great spot. Use your clicker or “yes!” when your dog looks at you and then give him a treat. Next, begin doing this while moving around. In this way, you encourage your dog to move with and maintain focus on you. If you’re careful to give treats frequently enough, this will become a really fun game and your dog will want to stay glued to you.

Next, begin to play this game in the presence of a few more distractions. If you have a big backyard in a fairly quiet neighborhood, that might be a good place. You might also ask a local dog trainer if you can use his or her training space while there are no other dogs there; or take your dog to an empty tennis court. Once your dog is able to stay focused on you in this environment, you can begin using the distractions as a reward for that focus. While walking around your (empty) tennis court, watch for your dog to make eye contact with you. At that moment, click or say “yes,” give him a treat, then tell him, ”okay, go sniff!” and encourage him to investigate the net or an abandoned tennis ball.

Repeat this procedure in increasingly distracting environments, keeping in mind that consistency is key. Before you know it, you will be able to help your dog transfer these skills to your daily walks.

Your dog encounters a lot of interesting things out in the world. While his darting this way and that can be frustrating, remember that he doesn’t know any other way to get to what he wants. It’s your job to teach him. So get to work!

Further Reading and Viewing
Dog Training Tutorial- Distractions- Part 1 by Tab289: YouTube

Guest Contributor–Danielle Grand has spent the last decade working to parlay her affinity for animals into a dog training career. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she was involved in an experimental study on canine cognition. She has also obtained her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College and attended numerous dog training seminars conducted by respected behaviorists. At home in New York’s capital region, she works closely with colleagues and mentors to expand her expertise; she hopes to help forge strong, happy relationships between many dogs and their humans.