"We have a bandana for that!" Part3: KoaBear Bandanas

Siouxsie in our first KoaBear Bandana.

We first were introduced to KoaBear Bandanas after winning a contest on Instagram. I hadn't really had the crew wear bandanas before. I never saw any locally or even online that I really loved. KBB was the first bandana brand that we connected with.

Lucy and Molly in matching KBB bandanas and bows.

KBB was started in January 2016 in Maui, Hawaii. Creator, Tina Timboy uses her own fur baby, Koa, as her main inspiration for her designs.

KoaBear, CEO of KoaBear Bandanas

Mr. Koa

KBB specializes in custom made bandanas ranging from casual to formal wear. Most bandanas are reversible too! We love having the option of two different prints on one bandana, it gives you more bang for your buck!

We love donuts!

We typically go for the "original style" that just slides onto a collar. KBB also offers a "bib style" that has a Velcro closure, perfect for pets that do not wear a collar.

Bib style bandana with matching hair bow.

If your fur baby likes to be on the formal side, the Fancy Paws Collection is where it's at! 

Hawaiian Fancy Paws Collection pieces.

These are so cute for the furry gentleman in your life!

Below are a several more designs my crew wears on a regular basis and for holidays.

Halloween is our favorite time of year!

Personalized "ugly Christmas sweater" bandana.

Candy bandana and matching bow.

Kawaii inspired on our little "derp" cutie.

You can check out all that KoaBear Bandanas has to offer at the following:

Website: http://koabearbandanas.biz

Instagram: @koabear_bandanas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koabearbandanas2017/

"We have a bandana for that!" Part 2: Nulu Bandito

Bijou and I matching David Bowie garments.

I first discovered Nulu Bandito on Instagram several months back. Their bandana with the cast of Golden Girls on it caught my attention and I had to check out their Etsy shop to see what other great items they had available.

Daphne in Nulu Bandito's Seinfeld bandana.

Lucy is all "ears" in the corn on the cob design.

Cali and Blakely. Clouds and chrysanthemums.

Nulu Bandito carries some of the quirkiest and fun prints. Many are nods to pop culture and people/pups favorite foods.

Molly basically is a gummy worm.

Alexander is cheesy.

Vector knows milk is best with cookies!

Luca loves some Campbell's soup and Andy Warhol.

If you are looking for cool bandanas for pets big and small check out Nulu Bandito:

Website: https://nulubandito.com

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NuluBandito?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nulu_bandito/

Email: nulubandito@gmail.com

"We have a bandana for that!" Part 1: Paws 'n' Claws Couture

The Fluff Dog Crew likes to model the heck out of bandanas. Paws 'n' Claws Couture has a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles for your fashion needs. 

Paws 'n' Claws Couture also makes collars, leashes, bows and scarves to keep your pups looking cute whether they are at home or out for a walk around the neighborhood.

Fall is right around the corner and Paws 'n' Claws Couture has begun carrying new designs to reflect the Fluff Dog Crew's favorite time of year. Halloween, leaves changing color and pumpkins among all the autumn goodness! 

Check out their super cool designs on their website and social media accounts. Enjoy free shipping on U.S. orders (they do ship worldwide) and use our code to snag a 15% discount with code: vanitycult15 and be sure to tag us on Instagram to show us how pawsome you look in Paws 'n' Claws Couture gear.

Social Sites:

www.pawsnclawscouture.com

www.pawsnclawscouture.etsy.com

https://www.facebook.com/pawsnclawscouture/

https://www.instagram.com/pawsnclawscouture/

https://twitter.com/pwsnclwscouture

Rescued from the streets of Korea to newest Fluff Dog Crew member: Meet Daphne the Shih Tzu

I had no intention on getting a third dog. Yet, two weeks ago I came across the face you see above on my favorite rescues website. This little cutie was up for adoption from SASS Rescue and I couldn't get her out of my mind. Her original name was "Owho" and she came all the way to Ohio from Korea. She was taken in by Domo's Friends who rescues dogs in high kill shelters in South Korea. Her early background isn't clear, but she is around 2 years old and a little firecracker of energy. 

Now named "Daphne" after the character from Scooby Doo, she has been a part of our family for a full week now. She is super loving and sweet. Daphne loves to burrow in blankets and is already very attached to me and my husband. She is also super mischievous! Like a cat, she likes to jump up on counters looking for food! 

I look forward to sharing her with everyone and getting her acclimated to her new life. She already knows how to take a great photo and be a perfect snuggle buddy.

From Puppy Mill Survivor to Spoiled in Suburbia: Meet Molly the Shih Tzu

Our family had never rescued before. All of our dogs had come from breeders. Some we learned later were not reputable to say the least. After being so involved on social media for a while, we were learning that the stigma of rescue and shelter dogs weren't always accurate. There are instances when best intentions don't work out, but we kept seeing so many happy stories. We found that so many wonderful fur babies had adapted and flourished when they became part of a family with love and care. We began following SASS Rescue on Instagram after I had researched for a Shih Tzu rescue here in Ohio. The work that they do for these dogs is incredible. My mother and I literally fall in love with a pup every week! I already had two dogs and was unable to have another at the time when we first saw Molly. After seeing her photo, we had to figure out a way to adopt her. She was a puppy mill survivor, age unknown, with a sweet little tongue that stuck out all the time due to her lack of teeth.

Molly went to live with my parents, brother, and Lucy their Brussels Griffon in October 2015. She was very shy and timid, but eager to embark on her new life. She still makes great strides to this day. She has become such an affectionate and sweet little girl. She loves her cozy beds and blankets, she dances for her meals and enjoys things that the first several years of her life she was deprived of. Rescue dogs are not less than desirable or irreparably damaged. They can and will become wonderful companions and family members if given the time and patience to allow them to thrive.

Our family is so grateful to SASS Rescue for all the love and hard work they put into these amazing pups.

Glamour Pup Shih Tzu: Meet Bijou

Wearing KoaBear Bandanas

For me, writing about the early days of how Bijou came to be my fur baby isn't easy for me. Bijou isn't my first Shih Tzu. Prior to her was Lola, the fluffy love of my life. Lola was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Disease at 6 months old and had passed over the Rainbow Bridge October 23, 2012 at the age of 4 1/2. To say that I was devastated is an understatement. I devoted my life to her care, making sure she was as healthy and comfortable as possible during her time with us. She was my shadow, always with me. She had to be touching me at all times. At night, I had to be facing her in bed or she would scratch at the back of my head until I rolled over! She was such a contrast from Siouxsie who is fiercely independent and not affectionate. After Lola had passed, not having that constant companionship was very difficult for me. I had hoped that maybe Siouxsie would become a little more warm towards me, but that simply was not the case.

Lola: 5/28/2008-10/23/2012

At first, I didn't think that I could possibly be ready to open my heart to another pup anytime soon. I had started on Instagram just a few months prior and because I was having such a difficult time falling asleep, I would lay in bed on my phone scrolling through Instagram until I could not keep my eyes open any longer. Even back then when the IG dog community was much smaller than it is today, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support offered to me. These people had never met me, didn't even know me well, but they understood. The words of comfort and encouragement, and the cards and personalized gifts really helped me thorough the most difficult loss of my life.

Bijou at about 6 weeks old.

Bijou at 3 months old.

It had only taken two weeks after Lola passed that I started looking at puppies online. I felt guilty and angry that I was even looking already. Though in my heart, I knew that Lola would want me to give my love to another pup if she couldn't be physically with me anymore. At the time I wasn't as educated or aware of rescues, so for me, that wasn't really an option. I was looking at reputable breeders here in Ohio and I discovered That Puppy In the Window. There were actually 3 little females that caught my attention. One was a little red girl that the were calling, "Natasha". She would be 8 weeks old right around Christmas. She was born exactly a week after Lola had passed away. I was drawn to her and after discussing with my husband, we decided to go ahead and see about getting her.

One of her first top knots!

Watching t.v.

Bijou is a French word associated with a "jewel" or "trinket." It is also the name of a song by one of my favorite bands, "Queen." I have liked the name since I was 12 years old and thought it would be perfect for a little puppy diva. 

Bij has quite the personality. She loves people, but is very aloof with other dogs. If it wasn't apparent by her photos, she thinks she is a human girl. I truly believe that! She doesn't mind being dolled up and posing for photos as long as she doesn't have to do anything too physical. Bijou is dubbed, "the laziest lady in all the land" because she certainly is. She wants nothing more than to sleep, eat and be fawned over at all times.

FabDog Sweater

Bijou loves to chew on Whimzees and PetQwerks Flavorit bones, have me braid her luxurious hair and get back scratches from her dad. 

Fun fact: Bijou's birthday is October 30th, the day before Halloween!

Sassy Senior Pekingese Dog: Meet Siouxsie!

Siouxsie is my first fur baby. We named her after one of my favorite musicians, the goth/punk pioneer Siouxsie Sioux, of Siouxsie and the Banshees. My husband and I decided to get a puppy when we moved into an apartment that allowed pets. We weren't aware of puppy mills and backyard breeders at the time. We knew we wanted either a Shih Tzu or a Pekingese.

I started searching online and the first day of looking came across her picture. I was immediately drawn to her cute little face and unique fur markings. I didn't want to jump into making a decision so soon, so I continued looking for a couple more weeks, but kept coming back to her photo. She was in Missouri and we are in Ohio. I contacted the breeder and despite my intuition that things were not as they seemed on their website and their demeanor on the phone, I was already in love and had to have her.

Siouxsie as sent on a plane and my husband and I picked her up at the airport. She was stubborn and independent from the start. She was a terror to potty train and was steadfast in doing things her way, on her own time. Despite this, we adored her.

Several months after getting Siouxsie, I found many articles online about the breeder we got her from. Many people complained about their breeding practices and not much later they were deemed a mill and shut down. I was so upset that I helped support a puppy mill without knowing it.

Siouxsie is now 13 years old, she will be 14 in October. She has been with us most of my adult life now. She is in good health and still quite active. She has arthritis, it doesn't slow her down as much as it should. She loves laying in her yard and letting the breeze blow through her hair, guarding the neighborhood and sharing my dinner with me.