Is there a favorite pet in your life who would enjoy a new winter coat? And by that we mean a newly buffed coat of fur as well as a cuddly garment to ward off the chill and rain.  Read on for great pet gifts for favorite family members.

Sexy Beast 3-Step Travel Set
(sold in fine pet shops; $30)
by Steve Ramkissoon
Our wonderful dog of 10 years, Oscar, who is blond in color with piercing blue eyes, is a show-stopper when walking in Central Park or just around New York City.  He is a mix of Hound and Husky, thus the long tail and blue eyes:  just picture a large dog with short legs. 

Although he's wonderful to the eye, he has a houndish musky smell.  He gets baths constantly, yet after a day or two the same scent returns. Any dog lover or someone who has grown up with a dog will not be bothered by the smell; however, for our non-animal guests, Oscar's scent tends to be a little overwhelming, especially since he thinks he should be sitting with you on the sofa or relaxing on the bed. When I first heard about Sexy Beast, I was a little reluctant to try it; it is a bit high priced for dog products.  However, anyone who will pay $50 per night to board their animal while on vacation should not blink an eye at the cost. 

I decided to make Oscar's spa experience a family event, since both my girls (ages 3 and 6) constantly play with him.  We started with the Sexy Beast Fresh spray, which, besides the high-end packaging, was very pleasing to the senses. The girls were my official helpers and testers on scents; after all, they were going to be playing with him. The spray-on botanical water was very easy to apply and had a semi-strong chamomile aroma.  At first I thought it was a little overpowering, but the girls thought it smelled wonderful. We followed the simple directions (spray, brush and dry), then went on to step 2, the talc-free powder. 

I was concerned that this would be a fiasco since my 3-year-old wanted to be in charge of this.  The Sexy Beast Powder happened to come in a very small bottle with a tiny hole that, when pressed, dispersed the power over a wide range in a light mist.  We then brushed the power into the coat and were ready to finish the last step: Sexy Beast Gloss. We sprayed it on his coat and brushed him to obtain the shine. The shine was not oily or high gloss; our dog's coat never looked better. After three days, Oscar still smelled like chamomile -- but a lightly scented version – and his fur still shone. We got tons of compliments about his coat during our walks.
 
Would I purchase this product again? I would, definitely. All items were small enough to fit in our toiletries bag for traveling and, most importantly, were in containers that had secure caps for travel. Sexy Beast makes a great gift for any traveling hound. The girls were happy we made beautifying Oscar a family event. And at our house, I see Oscar's Spa Day recurring once a month, even if we don't travel.

Waterproof Bodysuit & Pet Products
(K9 Top Coat; 888/833-K9K9; $66.50)
by Fran Falkin
The petcare experts at K9 Club offer their pick this season: "We have been told that this Waterproof Bodysuit is very warm and no other coat needs to be worn over it." It is easy to put on and take off with an optional hood attachment. it is ideal for used in rain, snow, wind, and the cold. For the dog who already has an extensive wardrobe, they suggest an Arctic Series Belly Blanket Katahdin Mushing Supplies, 907/488-7643; $42) to protect the chest and stomach. K9 writes, "We know from personal experience that this is much better at keeping your dog warm than a coat that covers only the back and sides."

Moving south, K9 adds, "We would like to address the paws. Boots bought from pet shops do not stay on very well. After consulting with sled dog owners, we suggest the fleece-lined booties from Muttluks (888/MUTTLUK, $31.50 per set), available online and sold at better pet stores." Another recommendation is the bargain-priced double fabric Cordura ATBs (All Terrain Bootie) from www.alpineoutfitters.net ($1.50 each) For a stocking stuffer that keeps paws exposed to snow and salt from cracking, K9 recommends Musher’s Secret which can be found in most pet shops in the city.

From our testers at the K9 Club: "These are great gifts if you want to make sure all our four-legged friends are protected against the harsh winter conditions. And feel free to contact us with any questions or to arrange a dog walk if you’re visiting New York City. Cliff Zager at the K-9 Club (k9club[at]nyc.rr.com)."

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