January 11, 2006
Hide-away Dog Bed
Murphy beds have been out of style for many a decade, but Midnight Pass has brought them back. Sort of. Their version is for pets, and the bed is tucked away in a cabinet, so guests will never know its there. But at night, or whenever Fido wants a nap, you simply pull the bed down, just like with a murphy bed. The cabinet is made of ecologically sensitive rubber-tree wood that measures two feet wide by three feet tall by 10 inches deep. The price for the hideaway pet bed is $199.
If you're a pet owner, you know how easy it is for those cats and dogs to become cherished members of the family. Sellers know that too. That's why there are more luxury pet products on the market each year. One example is the Bijou, a "beaded and be-jeweled four poster bed" designed for your favorite pup. It has a washable pillow made with a microsuede cover and waterproof liner to keep Fido comfy. Available from Howlin' Pet, the bed costs $500. Since it's only designed to seat dogs up to 25 pounds, it looks like the big dogs will have to look elsewhere (your bed perhaps). 
Most dogs love going for rides, but SUVs and trucks can be a big jump, especially for older pooches. The folks at PetStep, Inc. offer dog ramps to address this problem. The foldable ramps are easy to store and easy to assemble to get Fido in and out. The company says their ramps also float, so they can be used in the pool if your dog likes a little swim, but your pool doesn't have hound-friendly steps. The ramp can also be used to make it easier to board boats. The price for the folding ramp is $170, and other smaller models are available for less.
People like to put fish in some interesting places. Fortunately, we're here to tell you about them. If the 
So, you want to know how to stop a dog from barking. I'm not sure using an electronic gadget is the best way, but if it's your neighbor's dog that is out yapping in the yard all night long, you may not have many choices. Smarthome sells a device called the Bark Smart Deluxe for about $50. You mount it on a tree or fence, and it uses an ultrasonic tone (triggered by the dog's barking) that dogs find unpleasant; the noise is supposed to correct the dog instantly and humanely. With a range of 50 feet, the device can stop your neighbor's dog from barking too. The device is waterproof and UV resistant and runs on four D batteries.
If you enjoy watching the birds who stick it out through the winter, a feeder is an easy way to bring them to your window. Now, if you live in a log home or a rustic-style house, a 
Many people enjoy watching birds visit seed bags or birdhouses in their yard. If you've got a nice house, you might not want some dumpy old birdhouse from Fred Meyer hanging from the eaves. To address this, Modern Birdhouses has come up with classy architecture for birds. Inspired by famous 20th century architects, the "modernist" birdhouses are hand-made from teak. An oil finish protects them from the elements, and stainless steel hardware prevents rust and corrosion. The birdhouses have a 1 3/8" opening, big enough to accomodate visitors such as wrens, bluebirds, and chickadees. The prices for these designer birdhouses range from $150 to $175, depending on the model.
Remember the good ol' days of dogs sleds and sheep herding? You know when pets actually worked for their dinner? Mark Schuette, a designer in Bend, Oregon, has come up with a way for your dog to get a work out while you get a free ride. His "dog powered scooter" combines a scooter with a padded pulling harness that fits around your hound's shoulders and is connected to the scooter's foot plate. The dog runs slightly behind and to the side of you, providing you with good steering and braking control (aka no veering off the path and into a tree when Fido sees a squirrel). Schuette recommends only using the scooter with dogs larger than 40 pounds. The basic single dog scooter costs $290.
Let's face it. It's hard to show off your posh, elegantly decorated house when there are dog and cat hairs all over everything. Scat Mat is a battery-operated mat designed to teach pets to stay off the furniture. Your pet will receive a harmless tingling sensation akin to a static electricity shock. It won't hurt pets, but it will convince them to stay off the area they come to associate with the mat. Eventually you can remove the mat, and they'll continue to keep off the furniture. According to the manufacturer, Scat Mat works for both cats and dogs and can be used anywhere from beds to couches to kitchen counters. Different sizes are available depending on how much surface area you need to cover. Amazon has a number of sizes available: 
It can be a pain finding someone to house sit your cats and dogs and hardly seems worth the effort if you're only going to be gone for a couple days. The answer may be an automatic pet feeder. Online retailer, A Trendy Home, offers the Auto Pet Dish, a food dispenser with a 96-hour timer that can store up to five meals. Two ice packs keep the food fresh. You can store 11 ounces of wet food or 1 3/4 cups of dry food in each of the five compartments. One AA battery operates the pet feeder. Expect to pay about $80 for this handy food dish.