Dublin Dog Co. from Shannon Nicholson on Vimeo.

Special thanks to photographer and videographer extraordinaire, Shannon Nicholson for her great work here and her uncanny ability to capture the essence of the “Dublin Dog”.

Courtesy of Dogster Dogblog.

Snowy weather poses a challenge for those of us who want to maintain our sense of style — but I’m a firm believer that frigid temperatures don’t mean you have to get frumpy just to stay warm. In fact, winter weather offers a unique opportunity for you and your pooch to have fun piling on your fashion finds.

This week’s Dogster Picks cover the practical yet stylish pieces you and Fido will need to look smart in the snow.

1. Dublin Dog No-Stink Collar — Dublin Dog’s collars are made from a blend of synthetic polymers that won’t absorb moisture. Your dog will be able to play in the snow without having to deal with a wet and cold collar.

2. Windsor Wool Sweater — Every dog needs a great winter sweater to keep him warm. I love the old ski cabin look of this one.

3. REI Classic Dog Pack — A stroll through the snow will probably mean you and your dog will need more supplies than usual. This durable dog pack iwill hold everything your snow dog will need.

4. Orbee-Tuff Snowball — Perfect for the pup who wants to play with the snow year-round!

5. Pet Life Parka — This waterproof parka is the ultimate jacket for dogs who live in snowy climates. It’s waterproof and extra-warm, so you can be sure your doggy is happy and comfortable.

6. Mat Dog Bed with Carry Sack — This go-anywhere bed is water-resistant and well-insulated. In other words, it’s the perfect pad for your dog to crash on when he comes in from jumping through snow piles.

7. Echo Fair Isle Neck Warmer — Scarves and neck warmers might just be my favorite winter accessories. I love the extra volume and print they give to an outfit. If you’re looking for a chic print that will go with everything, nothing screams winter chic like a great Fair Isle print.

8. The A&F Skinny Jean — Looking for a pair of jeans that will fit comfortably inside your boots? Skinny is the way to go! This affordable pair from Abercrombie and Fitch looks great, and is made with a heavier denim to keep you warm.

9. Aigle Ecuyer Boots — These boots may look like expensive leather you would never dream of wearing in the snow, but they’re actually made of rubber and lined with a quick-drying material, making them ideal for trekking through seasonal terrain.

10. Steve Madden Faux-Fur-Trim Hooded Parka — A great parka is a snowy climate must. Be sure to look for one that cinches at the waist, like this one, to make it figure flattering. There’s no need to go out looking like a marshmallow.

Be More Bad Ass

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA (December, 2011) – Dublin Dog announced that Dogorama will be their newest distributor in the United Kingdom.   Dogorama will be in charge of expanding the Dublin Dog brand throughout the UK, while also providing faster, more efficient service to those customers throughout the EU.

“We’re thrilled to have Dogorama as our newest distributor in the UK,” said Jason Watson, founder of Dublin Dog Co. “I feel their diverse background in technology and social media coupled with their passion for dogs and unique pet products is the perfect recipe for success. They understand that our products are more than just a commodity, but that they represent a certain type of lifestyle.”

Before Dogorama started the founders launched Pet Pupz in early 2008, which is a Facebook game that allows users to adopt a virtual puppy. This was one of the first games to implement virtual currency and went from having 0 daily users to 30,000 within a few weeks. It then grew quickly to 150,000 daily players and has since gained a total of more than 3 million installs.

Then, they started Pet365.co.uk in January 2010 as a general retail store supplying dog, cat and small animal products, which focus on high quality products that the company endorses and recommends to other pet lovers. They are now distributing Dublin Dog through their new business Dogorama.co.uk.

“Dublin Dog is a fantastic brand with an ethos that really stands out,” said Matt Beswick, co-founder of Dogorama. “We really can’t wait to get started and look forward to supporting what is sure to be massive growth over the coming months and years.”

Thank you to every single individual, volunteer, and business who have helped to make 2011 so successful for the Dublin Dog Foundation. Through your efforts we are closing in on changing Clarke Ringelstein’s life forever. Special thanks to all the wonderful people at paws4people who have worked tirelessly on “Benning”, Clarke’s future service dog in training.

As some of you may know, I have been on both sides of the fence recently when it comes to lost pets. Last month, our German Shepherd Kona went missing for 24 hours, after wandering down the street while playing with a young lab. Surely I thought with a microchip she’ll be home in no time once somebody calls 311, our number for Animal Care and Control. However this individual, thoughtful as she was merely brought our dog into her home to play with her dog and kept her for the night. Meanwhile, I walked, biked, and hiked through the night (she saw a flyer on her door and called the next night).  Now, just this Monday morning I found this little girl wandering the street in front of my home. As I was loading the dogs up for work, she came up to say “hello”, and “I’m lost”. I heard her loud and clear and the steps were in motion. Trips up and down the street on a leash, a visit to the vet to see if she was micro-chipped (no), and several dozen flyers placed throughout the neighborhood. Having learned from my own experience, we called Animal Care & Control and filed a report, however we opted to keep her at our house versus having her go live in a kennel throughout the holidays. As of this writing, she’s still with us. I’m desperately telling myself that she merely ran away or got loose, as I would hate to think that somebody has abandoned her on purpose. However, a microchip, a tag, or tattoo would’ve remedied this situation with one phone call.

Here’s a great little story on a reunion that was made possible after 3 years apart. During the holidays, please don’t lose sight of your little friend(s) amidst the hustle and bustle of the season. And please, be sure to identify your dog(s) to the extent which you’re comfortable, it could be the greatest gift you give YOURSELF.

Today, December 13th I celebrate Kona’s 8th birthday. It’s funny, when I got Kona as a puppy I was obsessed with the German Shepherd Dog breed because of their intelligence, their loyalty, and their drive. Today those attributes still fascinate me, however it’s her quiet presence and thoughtful and deliberate affection that has made me love her so much. The seed for Dublin Dog Co was planted on an idle Saturday morning while driving to a local dog park. That same drive and determination catapulted Kona out of the backseat of our SUV, through the slightly open window, and after a very confused squirrel chomping on some nuts next to the stop sign where we had just rolled up. Luckily Kona was not seriously hurt, and the squirrel, well lets just say he left more than his nuts on the ground when he sprung up the tree. That day began my quest down a path that took over 5 years to develop a device to keep her from jumping out or falling out of a car window. Today I own a utility patent on a device called “The Window Shepherd”. Yet it was through that process that I began to think about dogs, my own and others, products, and this new found lifestyle of hiking, biking, and spending more and more time outdoors with my dog(s) and wife. Soon, the aha moment came for the Dublin Dog Co. back in 2006 and we launched in 2007. The rest is history as they say. If it wasn’t for that dog, and that day, my life would never have taken the turn that it did. Go figure.

Did you know that in the US, 78% of us dog owners will purchase gifts for our dogs, with 53% of those gifts bought at Christmas time. If you do the math based on the average spend, we pony up close to $180 Million a year on gifts for our best friends. So if that cash is burning a hole in your pocket, here are some ideas from the good folks at Modern Dog. Needless to say, we always think it’s a good time to buy a Dublin Dog item, but hey, that’s just us!

Dublin Dog Co is offering up over $375 worth of prizes for the best photo and kooky caption to be submitted by their “fans” on Facebook. Enter today at the Dublin Dog Co Kooky Caption Card Contest for your chance to win. Get your friends and family to support your effort by voting for you once a day, every day until December 15th at 11:00pm EST. Special thanks to the great folks at Mountain Khakis for their support and donation of over $150 worth of prizes. Like them on FB to show your support.

I always get excited this time of year as the weather starts to turn, the mornings get a little more crisp, and the trails seem to be calling my name. Well if you’re anything like me, you want and need a good trail runner to keep you and your furry friend on the right track. Check out this little ditty from Saucony, the ProGrid Peregrine (shown in women’s). Chosen as the editors choice award from Runners World, you can’t go wrong whether you’re an avid runner or just want to tromp along the trail.