Pet Tracks
Jan Jaeger
LET’S STROLL, LET’S SHOP

This week is schizophrenic. We gear up for the holidays with the Festivals of Wreaths and Trees, upcoming Stroll Weekend and decorating for the season, with hay bales and pumpkins in window boxes and surrounding doorways. I still need to remove a few myself.

Getting the shop converted from the oranges and rusts of fall to the reds, greens, silvers and blues of the Christmas holidays is one of the biggest challenges I face as a Nantucket retailer. Unlike mainland stores, which decorate for Halloween then jump into wreaths and roping, we use the small window between Thanksgiving and Stroll to make our conversion.

It’s a bit of a grunt to quickly morph from the warm, homey ambience of pre-Thanksgiving into full festive regalia with all of our holiday wares displayed and to get four large windows decorated, but somehow, in the midst of jovial holiday shoppers, we manage to complete the transformation.

Here, on our Faraway Isle, the Black Friday and Cyber Monday buying frenzies are just numbers and news from another world. With the big winners identified, we can apply their success to pet world products.

According to the experts, this gift buying season, shoppers prefer technology and entertainment, apparel, gift cards and toys as their top choices. Now that you know what’s in, if you have pets on your list, or pet people, you might consider the following newest picks.

Echoing the appeal for human entertainment, innovative items offer entertainment and stimulation for your pet. Kong Time bills itself as doggie day care in a box. Four medium size Kongs, those clever beehive-shaped heavy rubber toys which can be stuffed with treats or other goodies, are randomly dispensed from this device. Your dog can be entertained all day.

The Everlasting Treat Ball, available in three sizes, has been a huge success, and offers hours of chewing fun with specially designed treats that fit a high-tech soft yet durable puncture-resistant ball. The manufacturer claims the Treat Ball prevents destructive boredom behaviors. Their newest offering is the Fun Ball. Less elaborate, therefore less expensive, it is a soft, squishy ball which can be filled with treats or kibble.

Continuing on the intellectually stimulating, problem solving theme for pets, the Canine Genius is a hollow bowling pin-shaped toy with cross cut holes so several pieces can be connected together. Treats inside can shift about, increasing the challenge.

Apparel and accessories are always big for pets this time of year. Our top selling dog coat, Fido Fleece, is soft and cuddly, featuring an easy-on Velcro strip that quickly zips up the back. Offered in new colors along with the old favorites, so far, trendy pink is outselling tried-and-true red.

Pet beds are traditional Christmas purchases and this year our ever-stylish donut bed has rich new colors for winter such as eggplant, greenwich plaid, evergreen and cedar paisley.

Collars come with snowflakes or in Christmas colors that are patterned or gaily decorated with brass bells. One very glamorous collar new this season features a gorgeous tapestry ribbon flecked with gold on a black backing. Jezebelles, those fun, flirty ruffs of filmy fabric strips and sparkly trims are available in bright red, red and green or a Victorian mix of burgundy, hunter green and gold jewel tones.

Very popular for this year, gift cards and gift certificates have lost their stigma as a gift of the last resort. The no-more-hassles solution to gifting, recipients appreciate the ability to make their own choices at a preferred vendor.

We have brought in some unusual gift items this year. One is the Dog Advent Calendar. Just like for people, except behind each of the doors is a dog treat. From distant Newfoundland, we found a line of natural hemp products. The knotted ropes for dogs are naturally abrasive when chewed and purportedly prevent tartar buildup. The hemp-woven catnip mice are filled with organic catnip.

Greenies, the extremely popular and practical treat for dogs, now offers a treat for cats. Available in four flavors, the tiniest of toothbrushes are a real hit. Sweet potato treats for dogs, or “veggie rawhide,” is low in calories and high in anti-oxidants.

A gift from the Fresh Wave product line might be appreciated by any pet person. A clean smelling, all natural deodorizer is available as a candle, crystal gel or spray for home or travel.

Enjoy your shopping this weekend.

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo’s, Ltd., Nantucket’s pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer’s Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Millie guinea pig and three budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com.

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