Spoiling tendencies are ripe this time of year for pet parents, too. Of
A year-round upgrade to your pup's snooze spot, this elevated bed from Aspen Pet products situates dogs off the floor, keeping them warmer in drafty cold weather and cooler during hot summer temps. With a durable frame and a "chew-resistant," moisture-resistant fabric covering over the top, the bed can be used indoors and out, and is of course customized with soft bedding, blankets and other cozy things on top. Staff at Duncan's, the Coeur d'Alene pet shop that celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, recommend and use this product for their own furry pals. The store regularly stocks the brand's large size (32-by-43 inches) bed but can order in other smaller dimensions at customers' requests. $72 • Duncan's Pet Shop • 1302 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene
FELTED WOOL TOYS
Got a dog who just won't stop eating the stuffing from its toys or a cat who thinks everything is meant to be ingested? These all-natural, 100-percent felted wool toys from the brand Lollycadoodle are highly recommended by the Urban Canine staff, who shared with us that both cats and dogs can digest sheeps' wool if accidentally (or intentionally) eaten. With a ton of choices for cats and dogs both, including little mushrooms, mice, fish, manta rays and snakes, these toys are colorful and durable, even when playing tug-of-war with your pup. Kitties can get an extra kick with a dousing of dried catnip. $10-$15 • The Urban Canine • 2915 E. 29th and 6320 N. Ash
VITAL ESSENTIALS FREEZE-DRIED TREATS
So I'm convinced these are addictive, at least for my Dellie cat, who is so hopelessly obsessed with the brand's freeze-dried minnows (for both cats and dogs) her rabid feed-me freak outs are so frantic I can barely get the bag open fast enough during treat time. Fair warning to fellow pet owners: These tiny dead fish don't smell great. There are plenty of equally gross-sounding options for pets of different preferences; Vital Essentials' bagged treat line includes beef tripe, chicken hearts, bully sticks, rabbit ears
CHURU LICKABLE CAT TREATS
Plenty of cats love yogurt, and this is sort of like kitties' own yogurt-on-the-go treat due to both its packaging and creamy consistency. Best of all, this product first made popular in Japan is finally available in Spokane. With appetizing flavors like chicken with crab, tuna with scallop and chicken with cheese, "Churus" are designed to be slowly squeezed out of the tube while your kitty licks away. In all seriousness, this cat treat is a viral trend I first learned about on my mostly cat-filled Instagram feed. Each package comes with four individual tubes, which I usually split into two servings to avoid upset or overfeeding, keeping the leftovers in the refrigerator for a day or two. $3/package • The Yuppy Puppy • 830 W. Sprague and 9511 N. Newport Hwy. ♦
