Twitter's Newest Target Market

Mattel is one of the newest companies joining the Twitter bandwagon by creating Puppy Tweets. This gadget is made so you can find out what your dog is doing on Twitter. The person opens a Twitter account for the name of their dog.

How Does It Work?

The Puppy Tweets toy comes with a plastic tag and a flash drive to be hooked up to your computer or smart phone. On this plastic tag, there is a microchip that contains pre-recorded tweets. The plastic tag measures the dogs movements and sounds. If your dog is taking a nap, the tweet will post this: "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button!"

This product expects to launch in the fall. Although Mattel makes its products for kids, I think the sophistication is intended for adults. The toy will retail at $29.99 USD. It appeals to all the Twitter savvy dog owners out there.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about this product you can read the article in full at CNNMoney.com.

Let's Discuss

What are your thoughts on this? Is it a great invention or a cheesy fad? Would you buy something like this for your dog? Personally, I'm on the fence about this. I can see the fun of it but don't know if I would want to spend my time doing other things since I use Twitter quite a bit for myself.

Bring Fetch To A Whole New Level

Dogs Playing Fetch

Fetch has been around probably as long as dogs have been. Some dogs will fetch a ball, some will chase a frisbee, and others will run down a plush squeak toy. Then there are dogs who will look at something being thrown then look back at you and say "What do you want me to do with that?"

Still, the game of fetch is a great way to keep your dog in shape during the winter months and lots of fun outdoors. I've come across these gadgets made specificly for this purpose.

Ways to Play!



• Chuck It Launchers

I first learned about these when I went to visit my brother in South Carolina a couple of years ago. He had bought one of these for his dog Cassie, a golden retriever. We all were at the local park and I was amazed how far the balls would go. John was really good with it. I wasn't nearly as good because I had never used it. However, after using it I did notice a difference in my tricep. So an unexpected bonus is that it will tone up your throwing arm. These launchers come in different sizes and start at $4 USD.

• Hyper-Dog 4 Ball Launcher

This works just like a slingshot. It can shoot tennis balls into the air as far as 220 feet. It also is made so that a person can pick the balls up without touching the ground. It also comes in a mini-launcher for smaller-sized pups. You can find it at Amazon or local pet stores. It costs around $25 USD.

• Double Whammy
This toy works two ways. You can fling it as if you were playing in LaCrosse or swing it like a baseball bat. Even better is the fact that it has a built in retriever so you don't have to touch the tennis ball. You can find this in stores for $13 USD.

• Doggie Driver
Ideal for those who can't get enough of the greens this golf club will launch a ball as far as 300 feet. It is priced around $35 USD although you can find it for much less at places online.

• Tennis Dog
Made to work like a slingshot but resembles a tennis racket, this gadget will launch a ball up to 75 feet. It's a reasonable price at $10USD. A good place to find this at is ActiveDogs.com.


• GoDogGo!
For those of you who like to take it easy, this automatic ball machine may be exactly what you're looking for. It is very similar to those ball launchers you see on a tennis court, but made especially for dogs. It will launch tennis balls anywhere from 15 to 30 feet. It can run on electric or battery power. It even comes with a remote control. It will cost you quite a bit at $120 USD, but if you love to lounge, it's a small price to pay.

Let's Discuss

So what are some of your favorite ways to play fetch?

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Workouts for Owners and Dogs

Bark 4 Beer Dog Collars

Sometimes, you just catch notice of a wild gadget. I've not much of a beer drinker. On a good day, I'll have a Corona with a lime and the lime is what makes all the difference. Still, I couldn't turn my head away, when I heard about this intriguing gadget.

The Inspiration

Our dog accessory of the week is the Bark 4 Beer dog collar. This came about when the two creators were sitting by a pool one day drinking beer. There was no beer bottle opener to be found. That's when they came up with this idea. It's neat because you don't lose the bottle opener and the beer will not spill onto the dog because it's retractable.

You can get the collar for $14.95 USD. It only comes in the color black. Even better, they offer a matching leash and collar for $22.95 USD. These collars are best suited for medium to large dogs. If your dog has a neck that's smaller than a Cocker Spaniel or other similar dog, this would not be ideal for them.

New Year's Eve

With New Year's Eve being one of the biggest drinking holidays out there, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday celebration. Most importantly, don't drink and drive. No celebration is worth the risk, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. If you are going to drink abundantly, have one of the people you're with be a designated driver. Nothing is worse than regret.

If you would like to learn more about these collars or order one for yourself, please visit the bark4beer.com website. See you in 2010.