But, the internet makes shopping convenient for everyone (thank goodness for Paypal)… We were able to buy Shantee a pair of sunglasses online!

The ad I saw on the Dogster newsletter was actually on Doggles—doggy goggles—but I found the dog sunglasses much cuter. Besides, the K9 Optix Sunglasses for Dogs that we bought had matching sunglasses for humans

Now Shantee and I could walk around the village both feeling cool! We actually already did, and our sunglasses really caught the attention of the neighbors we met allow the way. Other owners walking their dogs could not help but ask us where we got them.

Our matching sunglasses are shatter-proof and UV-protected. Perfect for the tropical weather here in the Philippines, where the sun could get really hot and blinding.

I was actually a bit skeptical ordering at first. The shipping cost of a product from the US to the Philippines is sometimes even more than the actual product itself. So to be sure, I emailed Doggles LLC and inquired how much it would cost to have the K9 Optix sunglasses delivered here in the Philippines.

It was a great customer service experience. Doggles LLC are genuinely concerned about their customers, even those who are just inquiring. They referred me to their Australian distributor so the cost of shipping won’t be too high, and Jill of ModPet Australia was ever so helpful. She patiently answered my questions and helped me choose the perfect size for Shantee. She even waived the shipping costs since my being in the Philippines doesn’t require me to pay Australian taxes.

The sunglasses fit Shantee perfectly. We’re training her to feel comfortable wearing it, associating the sunglasses to walks and treats, and she’s slowly beginning to get used to the sunglasses day by day. Good thing too, because my fur-baby will be a dog model for a planned photo shoot at a local park! And of course, she’d be showing off her sunglasses

But after having Shantee groomed at Bam’s Pu$$ies and Bitches Pet Shop and Grooming Salon, I think we found a close second

When Marc and I decided to have our weekly date at Metrowalk, we brought Shantee along with us so she could give the salon a try. We’ve long wanted her to try their services, but we haven’t really brought Shantee along until that time.

We left Shantee to have dinner… She wasn’t too happy about it, I think she wanted to come along with us When we came back, we were able to catch the last moments of Shantee’s grooming session. Yes, she wasn’t happy about it at all!

Like Georgette’s Closet, the guys at Bam’s take the time to fix Shantee’s hairdo (or rather, fur-do). She has unique markings on her face, and it takes good grooming experience to highlight those markings. Bam’s does it well. They even gave her fancy pink ribbons that really fit my little fashionista’s posh personality

Another thing I look for in a groomer is the way they treat their “clients.” Marc and I met the owner before during the first few days of their store’s opening, and he seemed to really love animals. His staff is the same—they even play with the store’s residents, the pretty dogs up for sale. And yes, they made Shantee feel like a princess… They even took her picture as souvenir.

It’s really important that groomers care about the animals they’re handling. That’s why I observe the first few moments they meet my dog—I wanted to be sure my Shantee is in good hands. Bam’s definitely passed that qualification In terms of cost, they’re almost the same as Georgette’s Closet… Around Php400 I think. I can’t remember for sure, but I do know they’re much cheaper than that of the Pet Central in Eastwood City, Libis.

Unfortunately, I lost the contact info for Bam’s. I’ll post it here if I find it. You can visit their shop at Metrowalk in Ortigas; it’s located at the back of the restaurants near the parking lot.

Ribbons and dog hair clips are nice, but the thing is, they can easily fall off as the dog romps around. I usually keep the pretty ribbons groomers put on Shantee after they fall off, and just put them on her whenever we’re going out on trips to pet-friendly malls and restaurants (or even parties). But for every day use, I knew I had to find an alternative to these fancy dog hair accessories.

I tried the regular rubber band (you know, the one you can buy in boxes at National Bookstore and used as an office supply?), but it didn’t take. The office rubber band is too big for Shantee’s hair.

Then there’s the Goody-branded hair rubber brands we humans use. It’s the perfect solution, but just a tad too expensive for a dog’s every day use. The Goody bands are exactly what I needed for my furbaby, but I needed something cheaper—something that can fall off or snap without me feeling bad about the wasted expensive band.

Luckily, my sister (Joyce) and I found a very cheap alternative:

Joyce saw these cheap bands at our village’s convenience store, and cost us only Php20 (about US$0.50) for six little plastic bunch of these bands. I think these hair rubber bands will cost even cheaper if bought at Divisoria, but I didn’t really have time to go there anymore. A little bunch of rubber bands just isn’t worth the long trip to Divisoria, you know

But for now, these will do!

Shantee is a lap dog (she’s a tiny Shih Tzu, not a standard-sized one), which means, she gets to be on people’s laps often. She doesn’t only have to be clean, but she needs to smell good as well.

I’ve long wanted to buy Shantee this Crazy Dog Wild Cherry scented grooming spray ever since I saw it at a pet shop near our old house, but Marc and I thought it was a bit too expensive. I always saw the Crazy Dog grooming spray at every pet shop / grooming salon I went to, but they didn’t have a cheaper version so I settled for a small bottle of Top Dog cologne instead.

Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I put Shantee’s Top Dog cologne during our move. Our house is still being renovated at the moment, so we still haven’t opened up the moving boxes yet. I didn’t want Shantee to smell bad just because I couldn’t find her cologne, so I managed to convince Marc to get her another one instead.

Luckily, I saw a 59ml bottle of the Crazy Dog cologne at the Animal House Pet Clinic and Grooming Center in SM Megamall a few weeks ago. The expensive ones come in the big bottle (which, unfortunately, was what we always saw at pet shops and doggy salons until now), and this small one costs the same as the Top Dog cologne I got before: Php150. Same price, but the Crazy Dog cologne is smaller than the Top Dog one (which, I think is quite normal since Top Dog is a local brand anyway).

The reason why I really like this cologne is the fact that it really smells good—it smells like candy. I’d use it myself if only it wasn’t made for dogs

Animal House Pet Clinic and Grooming Center
5th Floor Building A, SM Megamall
Edsa cor. Julia Vargas Ave.
Mandaluyong City
Phone: 631-1873
Website: http://www.animalhouse.com.ph

On this trip, I managed to smuggle some doggy treats for my furry friends: a bag of Pro Pac Smart Rewards Strips!

This doggy treat seemed similar to beef jerky. It smelled like it, though I can’t be so sure—I haven’t tasted it eww. But the dogs seemed to love them. Choknat is a bit picky with dog treats—his brother Harry’s the one who usually end up eating the treats Choknat spits out—but he seemed to like this one.

A bag of Pro Pac Smart Rewards Strips from Bio Research costs Php175 (that’s about US$4.30). It’s a bit pricey, to be honest, but I wanted my dogs to try out some “gourmet” dog food at least once in a while. Maybe it’s cheaper elsewhere? If you guys know where to get this doggy treat at a cheaper price, please feel free to leave a comment!