Love your dog but are distressed over all the leather products made for him or her? Then take a gander at House of Dog, which offers only 100% cruelty-free pet products made from fine faux materials. Products from all the main dog categories are available: collars, leashes, apparel, beds, carriers, toys, bowls, and even wedding sets, which I presume are special items so your dog can participate in a wedding (while collar, white leash, white carrier). House of Dog's signature creations feature a Luxist favorite -- handset Czech crystals. Click on each category to see the offerings, and take a look at the gallery for a selection of some of the products and the price ranges. The Signature Paw Bag shown, for example, is $320, and comes in seven colors. (Celebs love House of Dog; go here to see.)

Today is Blog Action Day, a day to celebrate greenness and highlight the need for a focus on climate change. To wit, small changes start at home, and can involve pet products too. Here are a few "green" brands that make pet products:

Eco-Me: products to keep your dog clean as well as with which to clean up, plus treats; more here

Natural Woof: exercise products, cleaners, toys & treats, beds & bowls, collars & outerwear, travel items, and homeopathic remedies; small-home dwellers, try this

Dress My Pooch: the name says it all -- clothing for dogs plus all kinds of other essentials

Zia & Tia: organics for every member of the family (humans too); pet lovers, go here for toys, beds, and apparel

Urban Leash & Treat: smaller, lower-priced items, but still all the essentials as well as some fun things (cat stuff too)

Metro Dog: all you'd expect for city dogs. Tip: keep them off your one sofa by giving them their own bed. You also can meet some real city dogs, who are allowed on the furniture, in my friend Shira's blog, Saving for Sesame. Follow The Real House Whippets of NYC on all their adventures!

If you need even more info on luxury pet products, some green (let's hope lots green), save the date for the Luxury Pet Pavilion, March 12-13, 2010, Los Angeles.

It's full of cat fur now. It's been obsessively shop-vaced clean, but when something is as comfortable as the Puppy Hugger's pet beds, you're not going to keep sybaritic animals away. Of course, I had to wrest it from the clutches of my children first. They thought it made a fine television-watching lounge pillow. Yes, that's right, the bed is made by The Puppy Hugger, and we used it for cats and kids, not a canine in sight. That doesn't change the fact that it's a super-luxurious pet bed with a great design.

The Two's Company bed that my lounge-tastic kitties are trying out has two hollows in the middle that will hold smaller dogs, and of course cats, in hammock-like comfort. The deeply padded sides of the bed give animals something to snuggle up against, a posture that's comforting to many stripes of beast. Covered in a variety of very soft faux fur, and filled with polyester fiber that's marshmallow soft, the handmade beds cuddle your pets when you can't. Don't be offended if Muffy starts to prefer it over your lap.

Continued after the jump.

Photos copyright ©2009 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.

Have you ever been walking along, noticed a lovely, large-ish purse, and then, upon closer inspection, saw a little dog in it? Seems the days of utilitarian Sherpa Bags are over, at least for on-the-go, sophisticated dogs and their owners (unless you're flying, then they're the best). Anyway ... Here's a high-end, attractive dog-carrying bag, if you're into Swarovski crystals. And if you've ever read Luxist, you know we love our Swarovski crystals. The "Bella" dog carrying bag by Coats N Totes is made of the finest Italian leather, is trimmed in large Swarovski crystals in the front and back, and has two large pockets on either side. It includes a soft padded floor and collar snap. Available in black, pink, or tan, made in the USA. $800

Gallery: Coats N Totes "Bella" Dog Carrying Bag

On our way back from a summer sojourn to Nova Scotia a few weeks ago we had to seek refuge from Hurricane Bill, and wound up at a luxurious, historic seaside resort in New Brunswick that turned out to be the highlight of the trip. Built in the 1880s, the Tudor-style Fairmont Algonquin, in picturesque St. Andrews overlooking the Passamaquoddy Bay, is a veritable castle by the sea. A Canadian Maritime tradition in its second century of impeccable hospitality, the hotel has played host to many notable personages over the years including the first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, President Theodore Roosevelt and Diana, the Princess of Wales.

The hotel was originally the enterprise of the St. Andrews Land Company, established in 1883 by wealthy American businessmen who found the town to be the ideal vacation spot; a 1902 brochure described it as '"an incomparable resting-place and retreat from the cares of business and the heat and dust and bustle of the city." During this period most guests arrived by train and so it was only fitting that the Canadian Pacific Railway Company took over ownership in 1903. The hotel was sold to local interests in 1970 and the Province of New Brunswick leased the property in 1973. The Province eventually purchased The Fairmont Algonquin along with two golf courses and a private beach in 1984, and it is now run by the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts luxury group.

The hotel now has 234 impeccably-appointed guest rooms and suites retaining the resort's classic style, updated with modern amenities. Many rooms have ocean views and look over the lush gardens, swimming pool and tennis courts. The public spaces are elegant and inviting, with fireplaces for cooler weather and plenty of spots to relax indoors and out, while the charming town of St. Andrews is only a few minutes walk. The nearby Bay of Fundy lays claim to the highest tides in the world with rising and falling water levels nearing 55 ft. in some areas twice daily. That provides the scenic backdrop for the award-winning seaside Algonquin Golf Course and Academy, home to two of the top ten golf tees in Canada, while others may choose to go on whale-watching excursions or explore the scenic surroundings.

They love their Tibetan Mastiffs in China. Back in 2007 I wrote about the popularity of the lovable guard dogs among China's elite and the puppy love has only grown since then. Now a new record has been set. A woman has paid around $600,000 for her new dog. The Chinese millionaire identified only Mrs. Wang is shown above with the Tibetan Mastiff, Yangtze River Number Two. The dog is 18 months old and various reports have the young woman on the quest for the perfect specimen of this ancient breed. The large dogs were domesticated in the mountains of Tibet 6,000 years ago and are considered to be the oldest, biggest and fiercest domestic dog. They are prized as loyal guard dogs and are seen as a status symbol. The dogs with pure bloodlines fetch high prices because of their rarity. Mrs. Wang found the dog in Qinghai and it was flown to her home. At the Xi'an airport a motorcade of luxury cars greeted the top dog on arrival.

Not all Tibetan Mastiffs are this pricey. The American Tibetan Mastiff Association has more information on breeders in the U.S. including pics of dogs given up for rescue.

Fall is coming, and that means pampered pups are going to need a bed to keep them off the cold, hard floor, or the thin, unforgiving carpet. Never fear -- you can get Chien Vivant Couture Beds here! Barron's House of Treasures, which offers all kinds of luxury pet items, was offering 14 styles of Chien Vivant dog beds when I looked today, retailing for $1,496 - $1,748. The beds all have French-ish names, such as Le Bijou and Napolione and Marseilles. I viewed the Marseilles, and discovered it's custom (no returns) and is made all the high-quality materials you would demand for this price. Options, which cost extra, include monogramming and Swarovski bed legs. For more details, click on the bed of your choice from this selection.

Barron's has a full line of luxury items for pets, including jewelry, strollers, clothing, shoes, carriers, toys, accessories, and spa care (coat care). Plus there's a store just for fancy felines, Kitty Kat Boutique. My 17-year-old cats wouldn't tolerate clothing, but they might like something that's more up their alley, such as these comfy and fun items.

See the gallery for a random selection of Chien Vivant dog beds.

[Via Daily Kibble]

Cats and dogs enjoy their food more, and have better digestion, when feeders are raised off the floor. Seattle-based These Creatures makes attractive, sturdy feeders that will make your pets more comfortable as well as look better than old bowls on the floor. You position the feeders by hanging them on the wall, thus customizing the height for your pet. The bowls are stainless steel and the feeders are 12 gauge, powder-coated steel.

The feeders are available in 45 breed-specific images for dogs, and in 3 picture designs for cats (not breed-specific, but more generic: cat w/bird, cat sitting, and squirrel). There are five color choices: limesicle, coral, pearl, parakeet, and charcoal. The feeders come in two sizes for cats, XS ($155) and S ($175). For dogs, the the size offered corresponds to the breed's size, so, a miniature Daschund style would be small, for $155, while the German Shepherd style would be larger, for $175, the Whippet style is $195, and the Labrador style is $235. You get the idea.

N.B. to the the company, however: I'm happy you have a style for the German Shepherd, but note the spelling: It's not Shepard.

Check out a few styles I selected at random in the gallery below.

You know how awful your luggage sometimes looks after being batted around in a plane's cargo area. As a responsible pet owner, why would you put your pet through that? Not to worry -- Pet Airways has launched and is ready to help your pet travel safely and comfortably in the main cabin. Just launched this month, inaugural cities are New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. You needn't (and in fact, can't) fly with your pet. He or she flies with other "pawsengers," all safely ensconced in appropriately-sized Pet Airways-provided carriers and cared for by attendants on one of Pet Airways' five planes. Here's how it works. Fares right now range from $149 - $299; info can be found here.

You may need to do just a bit extra, though -- the airline flies out of smaller, regional airports right now, so an extra trip may be in order for you to drop off your pet, and the Pet Airways flight takes longer than a standard flight due to stops along the way. MSN did a good piece that offers more details.

As a pet owner, I offer my thought that traveling sans the pet and then picking him or her at the airport makes for a happier trip for all.

Nobody likes a smelly dog in the summertime (or anytime for that matter). For your pooch freshening needs, Pepper & Tanky offers relief. This new brand of dog perfume uses natural oils and less alcohol so as not to irritate sensitive skin. The brand creators recommend that you spray Pepper & Tanky eau du parfum onto your hand or washcloth and gently massage or pet your dog. The scent should be applied after bath and can last several days. Today we are giving away a two-ounce bottle of Vanilla Woof, a chypre floral fragrance, with fruity hints and sweet vanilla. To enter the contest leave a note telling us about your dog.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Friday, June 12, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive the Pepper & Tanky Vanilla Woof dog perfume valued at $44.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is closed. Thank you for your participation.

Expensive and opulent pet accessories abound for those who wish to spoil their furry friends including where they rest their fluffy heads at night. The Dog Pod by designer Glenn Ross is no exception offering contemporary design with a comfort and utility. Constructed from bent ply wood which curves in a "C" shape holding a removable and washable faux fur pad, the Pod surrounds your pooch and comforts it into sweet slumber. Size wise I'm not sure if they only accommodate lap dogs or big beasts but I appreciate the sleek design which will easily blend into any home's surroundings. Choose from a variety of finishes including maple, cherry, wenge, and bamboo or aluminum for an extra $100 on top of the $730 price tag.

A dog perfume you might want to spray on yourself? Pepper & Tanky is a collection of fine French, animal cruelty-free eau du parfum for dogs that use natural oils and less alcohol so as not to irritate sensitive skin. It comes in a couple of sweet scents Vanilla Woof and Peaches n' Cream as well as a pair that are more complex. Puppy Love is a bergamot-amber-jasmine blend and Big Dawg is a less floral combination of bergamot, neroli, lavender and musk. Pepper & Tanky is at upscale boutiques, pet-friendly hotels and pet spas and sells online for $44 for a two-ounce bottle.

Your dog is an integral part of the family, there's no doubt about that, so it's no wonder people are always looking for new and fun ways to treat their pets to some luxury and show off their little personalities. The Weizhi Pet Collection features collars and leads for dogs of exotic skins like snake, ostrich, and crocodile along with accents of pure silver and jeweled hardware. Weizhi was founded by designer Zhoucheng Shi and is based in Japan, with offices in Los Angeles. $3000

Mija Dog Beds, manufactured by Wowbow and offered through the Swedish online store PID.se, offer a clean-lined, more modern look than many traditional pet beds. Crafted from 10mm thick acrylic and furnished with luxury faux suede cushions filled with shredded memory foam, the line is from London-based designer and dog owner Kim Bull, who got tired of dog beds emblazoned in plaids or paw prints. The bed comes in small (8,332 SEK = $911, in today's exchange rate), medium (9,723 SEK = $1,062), and large (12,505 SEK = $1,366) and in different colors.

The title of this post does a good job at explaining exactly what this product is: it's a very large, very pricey house for your dog. I would argue that it's really more of a kennel because it has both a 6' x 8' fence-enclosed play area with a separate sleeping nook that's actually the dog house. The exterior is Victorian-themed with gables, gingerbread trim, and darling little shutters on the windows. Be careful if you have kids -- they'll probably want to take it over as a playhouse! $4,300

Via Bornrich