Etsy Store Profile: flashgordondesigns

1. Name: Flash Gordon

2. Etsy Store: FlashGordonDesigns http://www.etsy.com/shop/flashgordondesigns

3. Year Founded: 2011

4. Is this your first online store? Yes

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because.... I wanted to start my own business doing something creative around a subject I love.

6. I would describe my store as.... Wooftastic! Pawsome! Meowrific! Purrmazing! Grrrreat!

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... How much work it is to market.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: 20.

9. My most marked characteristic is... perseverance.

10. In my spare time I... take a dog to one of the many fabulous dog parks here in Seattle.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: I listed my Etsy shop at the beginning of August, 2011. First sale was August 28, 2011.

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... Don’t be in a rush to put your listing up – make sure it’s correct and appealing.

13. I market my store by... Facebook, Twitter, tags.

14. I wish I knew how to... take great pictures and do amazing html/css stuff.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be...

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: Customers who appreciate my work.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: Dry stretches of no sales.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is...swift communication is important.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... a pendant for my wife.

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is my 3D Stainless Steel Heart Pet ID Tag. I chose it because because this piece is my most innovative design.

Thanks Flash for sharing your experiences and giving us a peek at the products your create!

Etsy Business Profile: TheEclecticHound

1. Name: Lara Stahler

2. Etsy Store: TheEclecticHound.etsy.com

3. Year Founded: 2011

4. Is this your first online store? Yes!

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because.... I was being "hounded" by friends and family to offer my unique items for sale and I've always been a huge etsy fan so it all made sense!

6. I would describe my store as.... fun, whimsical, colorful, a cool place to hang out and share your creative design ideas.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... the contacts I've made with people all over the world! I think it's so special when someone finds my shop.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: 10-15.

9. My most marked characteristic is... Eclectic brilliance! And an openness to custom design. I know what it's like to to have an EXACT idea of what you want and not be able to find it, so I'm totally happy to work with any of my customers' needs, wants, requests, hopes, dreams, etc.

10. In my spare time I... SEW! Ride my horse, play the piano, paint watercolors, make beaded jewelry.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: 1 or 2days maybe?

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... don't be afraid to stock up on materials you'll need to make your products!

13. I market my store by... word of mouth, facebook links on friends' pages, a great news segment on the Vermont Channel 3 News: http://www.wcax.com/story/15713939/mivt-colorful-canine-collars

14. I wish I knew how to... design and print my own original fabric designs. ...and convince my husband to adopt another greyhound!

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... I saw an etsy team called "hermits unite" and I had to chuckle. I'm not the only one out there! I'm not the best at aggressive promotion and elbowing my way in.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: seeing the activity and watching items get favorited, and making a little extra cash that I can donate to our local hardworking humane societies for less fortunate pups.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: I wish I could customize my shop a little more (fonts, colors, graphics, etc.) I feel like I can't put as much of my personality into my store as I'd like. Other than that, there isn't a "worst part," I love having a shop and I'm not going anywhere!!

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is... respond to your customers immediately and be friendly and helpful to your customers and encouraging to your fellow etsians! We're all in this together! Also, seriously, good grammar is key. Maybe it's because of my day job as a science journal editor, but I just can't trust the professionalism of anyone who can't be bothered to put effort into good grammar! It makes a difference.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... is it sad that I had to stop and think about this for a minute? I buy a lot on etsy! My last purchases were gorgeous vintage graphics from http://www.graphique.etsy.com/ that I plan to use to make custom fabric for very unique vintage-inspired dog collars.

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is my Toesties Winter Boots. I chose it because I spent two years perfecting the design of these boots and they really solve all the problems I see people posting regarding dog boots ("They don't stay on;" "The sole is too thick and my dog can't walk;" "There's an opening and snow accumulates;" "They wore out very quickly;" etc.). I took all of these concerns into consideration myself when designing Toesties and the product I came out with I have to admit is really good! I just took my frisky greyhound Phoebe for a walk in our FIRST BIG SNOW of the season today in her Treefrog green Toesties. She jumped and hopped and galloped and plowed into snow banks and leaped through the snow and those boots didn't slip a bit! I have not seen anything else like Toesties available so I'd really love to get them out into people's general awareness. They are available in 8 beautiful colors and in size increments of 1/2" and will be custom fit and made to exacting standards by me with each of my customer's special pups in mind.

Thanks Lara for sharing your experiences and if you have a dog in need of some new shoes this winter season, be sure to check out Lara's store!

If you have a dog-themed store on Etsy or sell products that feature dogs and would like to be featured on my blog, please email me at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com. You can also covno me at my store, LoveAtFirstBark.

Etsy Store Profile: SimJaTa

1. Name: Lynda Norton

2. Etsy Store: Sim Ja Ta

3. Year Founded: 2009

4. Is this your first online store? No.

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because.... I had problems with the selling platform I used before. It not only didn't work for me, it was very unfair on my fellow sellers and not something I wanted to be a part of.

6. I would describe my store as.... Unique. I like to choose as many themes as possible to try appeal to everyone.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... How many new crafting friends I have made.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: 25 hours (on line) many more hours sewing.

9. My most marked characteristic is... creativity, I just love to create.

10. In my spare time I... am learning to draw and paint, this is taking over though as spending far too much enjoyable time with a sketch book.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: 3 weeks.

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... Trusting, far too trusting results of this can hit very hard.

13. I market my store by... Promotion, as much as possible, also business cards handed out in the real world, blogging, chatting on other craft forums, donating to charities.

14. I wish I knew how to... work with wood, something I would love to do one day.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... Oooh, now I don’t know, I think I am at an age were I am now quite happy with myself.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: So much to do.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: So much to do and not enough free time to do it.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is...As above, awful lot of competition out there so an awful lot of promotion needed to be noticed, how about emailing ‘love at first bark’ to do a feature on you!

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... A wonderful handcrafted necklace from http://www.etsy.com/shop/axevictimus?ref=seller_info

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is my Yorkshire Terriers Tote Bag. I chose it because my dog themed bags are my favourite items – I am always searching for dog breed fabrics. Not many are breed specific, but this cute one is one of my favourites.



Now that we have a few Etsy store profiles under our belt, the theme that keeps coming through with every Etsy store is that they are created by talented individuals who want to express their creativity and share it with the world. They are willing to spend long hours not only creating, but photographing their projects and often wear their heart on their sleeve.


I know from personal experience that I get excited to share my new designs with others, but when you send one out into the world, there's no guarantee anyone will even see it, let alone buy it.


There's an emotional rollercoaster to being an Etsy seller. You invest a lot of time and energy into your products, then anxiously post them. Then the waiting game begins. How many views will your product get? If it's a lot, you're overjoyed. People like your work! If you see zero, or one or two views, you get deflated. Why don't people like it? What's wrong with it? Is it the wrong color? Are the keywords I'm using wrong? Is it the photographs? You lie in bed at night trying to think of ways to drive traffic to your site. If an item you had such faith in languishes without being sold, it can feel as bad as being the child picked last for a team.


There's a big degree of courage to putting yourself out there and hoping for the best. That's what's hard about being your own boss. You're in the spotlight and the buck stops with you. This is why it's so important for Etsy sellers, who already have such a great and unique platform in place, to continue to nurture and teach one another. The beginning of the road for one person is a memory for another and the ways we can learn from one another are immense.


Thanks to all who have already chosen to feature their stores here and sharing their insights. We continue to welcome other Etsy stores so if you'd like to be featured and have a dog-themed store or product you've made, let us know at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com

Xylitol: Good for You, Bad for your Dog

I received my recent copy of Drs. Foster and Smith and they had an article about Xylitol, a sugar alcohol sweetener often used as a sugar substitute in many products we eat.

Now that Thanksgiving (and let's face it, the entire holiday season) is upon us, the ovens will be firing, and large quantities of yummy goodness will be cooked and baked to share with friends and family and more often than not, your pet.

Now I'm someone who reads every label and only feed my dogs high quality food that can hit the pocketbook, but nonetheless, I buy it because I know it's best for their overall health. I even bake their treats so I know exactly what they're eating. I was a little suprised, however, to learn of all the products that contain xylitol, so be sure to keep any food that has the following ingredients off your dog's menu:

Sugar alcohols: mannitol, sorbitol, erythritol, maltitol, lactitol, ribitol
Herbal sweetener: stevia
Artificial sweeteners: aspartame, sucralose

As always there's a debate as to the levels of these ingredients and just how damaging they can be to your dog, but I only have to hear that conditions such as liver failure, low blood sugar and problems including loss of coordination, depression, and seizure within 30 minutes of ingestion can happen and now I do an additional scan to see if these ingredients show up in anything I might think about sharing with my pack.

Etsy Business Profile: Cadeaux de Catherine

Whether you're a new business or an established one, everyone can learn fom the experiences of others. This installment of our Etsy Business Profile isn't exactly canine-related, but informative nonetheless. Even though none of my German shepherds would fit into one of Cahtherine's pet beds (except maybe when they're eight weeks old), I know they'd jump into one in a heartbeat if it was only gigantic size!

1. Name: Catherine Walker

2. Etsy Store: Cadeaux de Catherine (cadeauxdecatherine.etsy.com)

3. Year Founded: 2010

4. Is this your first online store? Yes

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because....Nearly four years ago I moved from the UK to France where my parents had finally fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a chateau that they had found on the verge of collapse, with the vision of restoring it to the grand building it had once been. It was a difficult transition for me, particularly at a time when I wasn’t sure which career I wanted to pursue. I’d always been creative and all I knew was that I wanted to have a job that I loved. One afternoon I decided to have a root around in our cellar which was still full of stuff from when we had bought the place. My cat Archie decided to tag along and I soon caught sight of, through all the discarded farming equipment, a crate as old as the 1920s. Intrigued I pulled it out and had a look, wiping away the dust to reveal the old writing down the side. Already my imagination was conjuring up ideas of what I could do with such an item once it had had a good clean, but Archie had other ideas. He had jumped inside and curled up. And that was the beginning.

6. I would describe my store as....unique as your pet. Entirely authentic and sourced in southwest France, my pet beds are crafted from vintage crates, baskets and trugs, some as old as the early 1900s. As all owners will know, cats each have individual characters but I think that the majority of commercial pet baskets do not reflect this. Surely our four legged best friends deserve something a little more special to call home? Pet baskets are also, ultimately, another piece of furniture in our homes. They should enhance a room, look wonderful.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been...just how popular my cat beds were. Almost instantly they were inundated with views. I was so happy people appreciated my work.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: I’m not sure but certainly many! I love creating. If I’m not restoring the crates or working with the fabrics, I’m taking the photographs which can be tricky when you’re working with animals.

9. My most marked characteristic is...My love for animals, especially my cats, all of which were once strays or kittens of strays that I have taken under my wing. I wouldn’t do what I do if it wasn’t for them.

10. In my spare time I...love writing. As a child I was always to be found with a book and now an adult I have sought to create such adventurous or heartfelt worlds of my own with characters whose footsteps readers hopefully follow with a need to stick with them to the end. Whether it is a comedy or a story with a more serious subplot, I love creating with words.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: My first cat bed sold within four days of being online. Sales aren’t always as regular but I’m thrilled every time one of my cat beds is destined to be shipped across the world.

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was...Initially I completely underestimated the shipping costs. They are the biggest hurdle I have to overcome, particularly when so many of my customers are international.

13. I market my store by...having a Twitter and Facebook page, yet it can be so hard to get your name known. However I always hold my target audience in mind.

14. I wish I knew how to...Publicize my shop further.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be...I find it hard to take a risk.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: I enjoy making a living from what I love and being my own boss. Only a year ago I would never have thought it possible but I have sold cat beds all over the world and hopefully will continue to do so.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: It can be demoralizing when traffic to my store is low.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is...Take great pictures. They’re so important when selling online.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was...I recently bought a great pair of vintage leather boots. They keep my toes warm when I’m scouring the French countryside for more crates and trugs.

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is an authentic French trug. I chose it because... This authentic French trug makes an adorable cat bed. It’s unique, chic and this little piece of history would look great in any home. In this bed, your cat will always snooze à la mode.

Thanks Catherine for letting us learn from your experiences!

Give Some Holiday Bling with Unique Pet Jewelry from Etsy!

I'm always on the lookout for unique dog-themed items; especially ones that feature my favorite dog breed. With the holidays quickly approaching, you might be wondering what to give to someone special you know who also happens to be a dog owner.

There's the typical tee or sweatshirt. Perhaps a tote or notecard set. What's harder to find is good quality pet jewelry. Now normally jewelry can be a tricky thing. You may not know exactly what a person's tastes are, what ring size they wear, if they like bold jewelry or are more the dainty sort. Even with these obstacles, it is inherently a given that pieces such as this prove you've been paying attention. You not only remember their dog's name, but also their dog's breed and have taken the time to pick out a special gift that certainly won't be returned on Dec. 26th!

I created a Treasury of items you can take a peek by clicking here. I've provided pics for some of them below and links to each when you click on a photo. Not the right breed? Be sure to check out each seller's store as many carry various dog breeds and personalization options so you can truly give a custom and unique gift someone will cherish for years to come.

Etsy Store Profile: Chilly Paws

In our second installment, we'll get to know Danielle Baker and her Etsy store, Chilly Paws.





1. Name: Danielle Baker

2. Etsy Store: ChillyPaws http://www.rendachs.etsy.com/

3. Year Founded: 2009

4. Is this your first online store? ChillyPaws is my first venture online - I joined Etsy in 2008. I lurked about for a while - deciding how to best showcase my items.

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because... I liked the venue that Etsy offered, being in a 'store' with other dedicated shop owners along with Etsy's reputation was enough to get me interested in opening a shop. I am able to reach a broader audience.

6. I would describe my store as.... A place to purchase the highest quality items for your pets. The 'go to' place for discriminating pet owners. I offer a product that rivals Mercedes Benz in luxury and quality for the doggy Divas of the world.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... The following my shop has from customers outside the U.S. Etsy has truly helped me become an 'international' seller!

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: There are not enough hours in the week for me! My business is steady and growing - except for the holidays, which is my busy time - I love it! I work at least 65 hours per week - either sewing, shopping for unusual materials, working on new creations or just talking about it!

9. My most marked characteristic is... You are able to pick out items from my shop by the quality of the materials used, the detail of the design and the durability of my items. The most marked characteristic would be the originality of my designs. My items are tried and true -My dogs used my bed - my cart covers, my toys and my towels. My dogs insist on quality control - I work for the woofs and wags. If my dogs didn't use my Snuggle Sacks and blankets, how would I know my products are as good as they are? My grandcub Cairo, a white Bengal tiger also wiggled his furry bottom in my snuggle sacks as a tiny cub - so you see everyone enjoys a ChillyPaws Snuggle Sack.

10. In my spare time I... My spare time is limited. I enjoy reading, I love the beach and I am blessed with amazing friends. During the holiday rush I sleep in my 'spare time'!!

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: It took 3 weeks for the first customer to take a chance on one of my items - I was so nervous. I held my breath until my first positive feedback. What a rush!!! someone loved my items - My first sale was a pink shopping cart cover.

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... a shop without new listings gets no sales. Stale merchandise lingers.

13. I market my store by...ads on twitter, squidoo, facebook and referrals.

14. I wish I knew how to... Relax and enjoy the moment.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... I would like to be able to cope with daily pressures better - to relax more and worry less.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: having instant access to an international market. I can work in my PJ's with my dogs all around me...that's the best!

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: Never being able to actually walk away for a few days for a get-away. Also, I work alone - and sometimes it would be nice to have more direct interaction with customers.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is... You have to be dedicated as you establish your store. Listing consistently and getting involved with the Etsy community. Customer satisfaction is paramount to your success. Make sure your product is well made and well advertised....and promote! Promote! Promote! Business cards - hand them out to everyone everywhere.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... Microwave potholders - from http://www.handmadebit4u.etsy.com/ - They're perfect for the "too hot, ouch" out of the microwave bowl of soup or stew or to insulate your hands from an ice cold ice cream bowl. I can't live without them.

Danielle didn't add an item to promo from her shop, so I figured I'd add my two cents! With the wind nearly knocking me over today and temps plummeting, when I saw the picture for this listing all I could think was, "Could this dog look any more comfortable (or adorable)!" If your dog could use a new bed or you're looking for the perfect gift for that special relative or friend who has a dog, be sure to check out Danielle's Dog Bed (it also includes personalization)!

Thanks again Danielle for sharing your thoughts and experiences and giving advice on how others can enhance their own Etsy shop!

Etsy Shop Profile: Twenty Little Lights

Here's our very first Etsy Shop Profile!

1. Name: Ann

2. Etsy Store: Twenty Little Lights, http://www.etsy.com/people/TwentyLittleLights

3. Year Founded: 2011

4. Is this your first online store? yes, it is.

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because.... I wanted to be creative again, after having a period of several years wherein I didn't have the time or space to paint and create. I wanted to do something for the local cat shelter, but my working hours and the fact that I am rebuilding my house didn't permit me to do voluntary work at the shelter itself on regular times. So I decided to paint when I had the time, and try to sell these paintings to give the shelter part of my profits.

6. I would describe my store as.... really colorful and full of cats! :-) At the moment I have a lot of cat-related items because of the link with the cat shelter. My plan is to expand my themes in the future, and have items with different subjects.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... the fact that Etsy sellers support each other so much to promote their items. It really feels like one big community that works very hard to keep that community growing. Instead of seeing each other as rivals, they help each other out wherever they can.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: That really depends. Sometimes I spend at least two hours a day on my shop, other days it's just ten minutes. That's the fun of being an Etsy seller: you can spend as much time as you want. However: I do notice that it pays to spend more time promoting.

9. My most marked characteristic is... that I love cats! I'm on the border of being a crazy cat lady, trying very very hard to keep the number of cats I keep to a limited number. :-) I dream, paint, breathe cats. They make me laugh, comfort me, make me feel at home. I attract them wherever I go, I don't know why.

10. In my spare time I... read a lot. At the moment about interior design because I'm rebuilding my house. I also love movies and always try to discover new treasures. I'm a big Almodovar fan and have a soft spot for animated stuff.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: about a month and a half. It's nerve-wrecking! :-)

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... that bad pictures don't sell your items. As a real amateur when it comes to photography, it's not easy to make beautiful pictures that do your items right when you don't have a professional camera or lighting. Practice makes perfect, and I still need a lot of practice!

13. I market my store by... having a Facebook and Twitter page. When I get the opportunity to be featured on a blog, I will try to do so, but most blogs ask astronomical fees for advertising. Something that's way too expensive for people who have just opened their stores, or just see it as a hobby.

14. I wish I knew how to... make great pictures, and to market myself better! But I find the tips that Etsy gives to their sellers very useful.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... to be less impatient. I do have patience when I'm painting or making stuff. But when it comes to achieving things in life, I tend to run before I can walk.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: meeting people from all over the world, and the feeling of being part of a real community that buzzes of creativity. It's a real boost for my own creativity.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: the frustration when sales are down. Wondering what you are doing wrong and if you're even good enough.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is... I believe I can't say I already have a succesful store yet. It takes more time to achieve that. But if I can give advice to fellow creative people: keep doing your own stuff, creating your own style. Try to keep believing in your own specific style.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... a stack of very colorful and quirky fabrics to make more plushies and lots of wooden buttons for those plushies!

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is: Mr. Giggles. It's my first plushie. I made it after a lot of tips from my mother, who is a professional seamstress. It was fun to be able to ask her for advice and to brainstorm with her.

Thank you Ann for sharing your experiences! Remember if you'd like your shop profiled and have pet-related items you sell on Etsy, email me at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com or convo at my Etsy Store, LoveAtFirstBark.

Make your Etsy Store Stand Out From the Crowd

Back in the day when I was a reporter for my local newspaper, I was in charge of two special features. One was a 20 Question profile where I had to find an interesting person and have them fill out a questionnaire about themselves. The other was a small business profile where I reached out to new businesses and wrote stories about them to give them local exposure.

I've decided to resurrect these items and combine the best attributes of both as I think they help not only provide more information about the Etsy stores that are created, but also a bit about the people behind the businesses.

If you'd like to participate and have your Etsy store featured on my blog, simply fill out the questionnaire below and email it to me at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com. You can also provide me with a link to a product you'd like featured and describe why you chose it and this information will also be added to your profile.

ETSY STORE PROFILE

1. Name:
2. Etsy Store:
3. Year Founded:
4. Is this your first online store?
5. I decided to open an Etsy store because....
6. I would describe my store as....
7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been...
8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store:
9. My most marked characteristic is...
10. In my spare time I...
11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale:
12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was...
13. I market my store by...
14. I wish I knew how to...
15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be...
16. Best part of having an Etsy store:
17. Worst part of having an Etsy store:
18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is...
19. Last item I bought on Etsy was...
20. Product I chose to feature from my store is...and I chose it because...

Thanks for your participation. My goal is to help spread the word about Etsy stores and their products. There are so many wonderful items available by creative and talented people. Let yourself stand out from the crowd! Feel free to email me at: loveatfirstbark@gmail.com or convo me at my Etsy store LoveAtFirstBark

Doggie Needs a New Pair of Shoes

We've already had some biting days in the Midwest and as I walked my shepherd Xella yesterday, I realized that soon the path we currently enjoy at a local golf course will be covered in snow, then plowed and heavily salted. It's nice for me because it's one of the few places that I don't have to wear my Get-A-Grips and can walk normally in my tennis shoes, but the large amount of salt they use on the path in order to make it nice for me makes it horrible for Xellie's feet. Even trying to steer her around some areas, if she even looks at the salt she seems to start limping.

Last year we whipped out the dog booties I had stored in the deep recess of the hall closet. I like the idea of the booties, but it seems that whoever we put them on, be they puppy, adolescent, or adult, the booties have always gone flying off their feet and it's very difficult to get them back on when the wind is howling, the snow is deep and the dog is jerking his or her foot out of my hand every two seconds.

So we're off to find new shoes this year. Shoes that will actually stay on their feet, won't turn on their foot and give them the protection they need from the snow and ice. I just came across these shoes on Etsy and they look promising. These would stay higher up on their leg which I like for shepherds and the fact that the store, Woofsdogboots, take's my dog's dimensions into consideration, makes the probability of a better fit more likely. While Xella has little feet, Hasko's feet are huge so obviously the same pair of shoes won't work.

Even more that a dog coat, a good pair of shoes goes a long way for the cold winter months. They keep your dog's feet dry, protect them from ice that can cut their paws and salt that can burn and won't allow them the opportunity of ingesting salt or other chemicals should they lick their foot after a walk. So if you're like me and your dog is in need of a new pair of shoes, I'd check this store out!

Healthy Eating Options for your Dog

We all love our pets. There's an article on Yahoo today that highlights some things we can do to help our pets live longer. Among them is keeping a healthy weight. Our shepherds have never really had an issue with this before, but now that two of our dogs, Rainer and Jenna, are over 8 years old, they had gotten a little on the heavy side.

A big reason was the food we were feeding. I'm all about good quality ingredients and was feeding them Taste of the Wild, Wetlands formula. The dogs really like it and have done well on it, but it does have a protein content of 32% and fat of 18%. Feeding Rainer and Jenna just three cups a day was keeping them tipping the scale a bit.

So I started doing some additional research and tried a bag of Solid Gold's Wolf King. They also liked that formula (actually there's not a dog food they won't eat), but I noticed that after feeding them this food for a few months, the weight was starting to come off. They were still getting 3 cups a day, but I found that this food's protein and fat content of 22% and 9% was really helping them get back into the shape they were when they were 6 or 7 years old.

They're now at the point where they look lean and healthy again (and have both gotten their waists back) so we've decided to up the content again a bit so they don't lose any additional weight. We've gone back to a line we fed a few years back, but got too expensive for our pack: Blue Buffalo. At 24% and 14% protein and fat contents respectively, it should be just the right fit.

Now that everyone's weight has been managed, it's important not to blow the whole thing by feeding too many treats. The dogs don't mind, but we don't want to pack on the weight again. We've gone healthier with the treats we feed. A current favorite--dehydrated sweet potatoes! Rainer loves bananas and dried apples are also appreciated.

A dog treat that combines these flavors is carried by newbie Etsy seller, WaggingTailsGourmet

As someone who reads every label and hasn't fed my dog anything I can't pronounce well over 15 years, it's always nice to give your dog homemade food and treats that are better for their digestion, and overall health.

What's your dog's favorite treat?

Happy Birthday Jager and Ilsa!

November is a birthday month in our family, specifically of the canine kind!




I can't believe that Jager is now 4 years old today! It seems like only yesterday we were picking him up at the airport. He came to us from Germany, via the famed Kirschental Kennels.





Ilsa turned 5 on November 4! Even though she's of German bloodlines, she came to us via a kennel in Illinois. A shorter drive and no issues involving being in a airline crate for 10 hours, then an airplane hanger after that. Remember that if you ever import a puppy to bring waterless shampoo, towels, paper towels, water, a collar and a leash because you don't get anything but a little puppy inside a pee-soaked crate!


I don't know if you're like me, but every dog in our house gets a birthday cake. I love homemade items and our dogs always devour their cake in a matter of minutes. I like knowing what's in the food they eat and I'm not into anything that's colored bright red or green and filled with so many preservatives it can be kept for the next 20 years.


Here's the recipe I use:

1 cup white or wheat flour (one of my shepherds suffers from allergies so I substitute oatmeal flour. Just put some instant oatmeal in a food processor and pulse into flour, then use just like you would any other flour)

1 teas. baking soda

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup oil

1 cup shredded carrots

1 teas. vanilla

1 egg

Put everything in food processor and incorporate. Bake in a greased cake pan at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Store leftovers in a plastic baggie or container. There won't really be much in terms of leftovers however!

Life too hectic to bake yourself? Then check out an All Natural Happy Birthday Cookie Cake, care of Elizabeth and her Etsy store, Shorty's Gourmet Treats.

Etsy Holiday Dog Breed Christmas Cards

The holiday season is now upon us and holiday cards will soon be making their way to mailboxes across the country. I've created a Treasury List at my Etsy site, LoveAtFirstBark of some of my favorite card designs. I've also added some new ones here (as a German shepherd owner I had to give a shout-out to my favorite breed). Just click on the pics for more information!

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome all to my new blog, Love At First Bark. I've created it as a venue to not only talk about all things canine, but also to showcase Etsy sellers who create neat products you might not otherwise see.

There are thousands of sellers and millions of products on Etsy, so like everything else online, trying to stand out from the crowd can be a hard thing to accomplish.

Just how many Etsy seller's are there? I checked out the site Handmadeology.com and found that as of this past February, there were close to 300,000 sellers. That's a lot of competition!

While I can't feature everyone, I've decided to narrow the field with targeted canine-themed products you (or your dog) might enjoy. Rather than go to the same old pet stores, please check out the handmade products Etsy sellers create. Buying an Etsy product helps make someone's dream of seeing their ideas come to life a reality!

If you have any products you sell on Etsy you'd like to see on this site, send me an email at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com You can also convo me at my own Etsy store, LoveAtFirstBark.

Elizabeth