It was all dogs, models, prizes and clothes at St. George's Banquet Hall in Waterloo for the KW Humane Society Fashion Show fundraiser on Sunday. Adorable pooches met adorable models and adorable fashions on the catwalk for the 2+ hour long event.

Prior to the show, guests, some 250+, mixed and mingled while browsing the silent auction items and shopping from local vendors.

We snuck back-stage to take a peak at the dogs getting primped and prettied for the big show and we couldn't help but get swept away with all the glitz and glamour!...and fur.

Pups strutted their stuff in both elegant and practical coats, life vests and bandana's. Once the canine's wagged away, guests enjoyed women's fashions ranging from feminine day-wear to stunning evening dresses and flirty lingerie.

The guys weren't left out, though! Both edgy and classic styles were showcased. But, the highlight of the show were the adorable little-ones in their trendy designs.

A huge shout-out to the KW Humane Society for presenting this spectacular event for the 6th year in a row. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to helping the shelter's orphaned animals. Keep up all the great work!

A growing trend in the grooming world is “pet tuning”, a lighter version of grooming which alters the pets appearance to their owner's life-style. It allows for more creativity, such as nail painting and fur colouring.

Some pet owners have used “human” nail polish on their animals, unknowingly introducing them to dangerous toxins. Human nail polish contains ethyl acetate, a respiratory tract irritant, and formaldehyde which can cause skin rashes. Dogs have especially sensitive noses that would become extremely irritated if the wrong product was used on their nails. Worse yet, if they tried removing the product themselves, ingestion of the chemicals could be quite dangerous.

So if painting Fido's claws a bright red is in the cards for her this summer, make sure you use a pet-safe product, which is non-toxic (colourants are free from lead, arsenic, DBP and formaldehyde).

The same rule applies with fur dyes. Using dyes that we use on our own hair will not only introduce foreign chemicals to our beloved pet's immune system but also damage the hair quality.

 

Bonus tip!

Finish off your perfectly pampered pooch's look with an adorable bow. You can tie these decorative strings into their fur to offset their outfit or compliment their new manicure.

To make an easy bow, measure a 7.5 inch piece of ribbon and cut the ends at an angle. Cross these ends to make an X with a loop and push the loop to meet the center of the X. Place a small rubber or latex hair band on the back side of the bow. The circle of the band should be flat against the back of the bow. Bend the band over the top of the bow where it will meet the bottom of the band and give it a tug to tighten it.

Many long-time dog owners know the benefits of having such a close, furry friend. Several clinical studies prove that pets have a positive impact on general mental well-being, helping with stress through mood-boosting, and through touch by helping lower blood pressure. Dogs and cats also help with sick patients in hospitals by improving their over-all sense of happiness.

But, dog owners have a special perk  - simply having a pooch means the responsibility of making sure they have adequate exercise. With a society that is becoming increasingly sedentary because of long commutes followed by long days at a desk, walking Fido every day may very well save your life.

Let's start with a few facts. There are many of us who spend 7-9+ hours a day working at a desk and perhaps another 30 min - 1hr (or more!) commuting. There are plenty of sources online that tell us this is bad, but why exactly? Muscles need to be used regularly to maintain flexibility and strength. If unused, they can can atrophy. Additional pressure to the muscles on the back of your thighs (hamstrings) can affect your circulation significantly and cause leg pain. If they feel tight after a day of sitting, that's your bodies way of telling you that you need to stretch. You need to move. You need to do squats and lunges at work (like we do!).

The journal of the American Heart Association, Circulation, published a public physical activity and public health report in 2007, after consulting an expert panel of physicians and exercise scientists. They concluded that 30 minutes of exercise a day would be the most beneficial. To many of us, that might seem like a lot of time to dedicate, but considering the increasing epidemic of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, it's time we must take.

In the April 2005 issue of Diabetes Care, The National Public Health Institute in Finland reported that moderate physical exercise, like walking every day for 30 minutes, significantly reduced the risk of heart disease by 39%. Those who were more active reduced the risk by 48% and benefits were the same for both women and men.

Such exercise was also proven to reduce heart disease risk factors even more than drugs. Another study, conducted by the U.S National Institute of Health's Diabetes Prevention Program, determined that those who were high risk for developing heart disease or diabetes (either due to genetic disposition or because of their lifestyles) who included 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, like walking, their risk was lowered more than taking the drug Metformin! On-top of that, the good cholesterol, HDL (as found in eggs) rose significantly while the bad kind, LDL, dropped. High blood pressure also reduced significantly.

But health isn't all about how fit you are. Overall wellness also includes mental and emotional health, too. Research indicates that improved mental, social and physical health are associated with the presence of greenery and being outdoors (the CFLRI 2011 Series on Outdoor Activity).

That's where Fido comes in.

Big dog, small dog, lazy-attitude dog or hyper-all-over-the-place dog - they all need exercise. And unless they're outdoor dogs and can run around and entertain themselves all day while you're away, those 30 minutes can take care of two tasks at once. We'd say "kill two birds with one stone" but that doesn't sit too well with us ;).

And keep in mind that the risks we expose ourselves to by not being mobile applies to our pets, too. They need it just as much as we do for their own health. Their muscles can also degrade if not used, their cardiovascular health can diminish and this puts them at increased risk for disease.

It doesn't have to be a chore, either. Allow yourself to enjoy the scenery, take deep and long breaths of fresh air and enjoy the mental downtime you have. You can make it a social event, too. Bring a family member or friend to maintain those bonds or create new ones by meeting new friends in a dog park or trail. There's no doubt about it. The benefits to being outside with your pooch might very well help manage your stress levels and improve your over-all well being.

So go ahead, jingle that leash. You know what happens next.

We're celebrating an early spring with a great contest! Enter your adorable, wacky and creative photo's in our Easter 2012 Photo Contest. Submit 1 original photo of your pet in Easter-themed costumes (bunny-ears, eggs, little chicks, etc) and be entered to win one $50 Gift Card to use in-store or online!

GOOD LUCK!

Contest Rules

Contest runs March 19th-April 3rd, 2012.
Submissions will only be accepted online.
No retail stores will accept submissions.
Limit 1 photo per contestant, please. Sorry, Canadian entrants only.
Winner will be notified via phone or e-mail on April 5th, 2012.
All entrants will be required to answer a Skill Testing Question.

Submission Options

Please send all email entries, subject titled "Easter 2012 Photo Contest" to kris@renspets.com
You may also post your image or private message us with your entry on Facebook.