Simply the Best for Your Pets
We found the best places to search for toys, food, supplements, clothes and carriers. No kidding! Now whether you’re a cat person or a dog person, you’re likely among the 85 million families in the U.S. who own a pet and spend an average of $1,285 a year (for dogs) and $915 a year (for cats). All told, pet owners spend $72 billion on their pets every year, more than the combined GDP of several countries in the world!
We love our pets, don’t we?! And we want the best for them. So, at Colliers Hill we made it our mission this week to look high and low for the best products, party ideas and treatment for pets – from toys and food to clothes, carriers and communication!
DIY Projects to Make Your Dog Happy
You can always buy a pet bed and a tasty treat at the local PetSmart in Castle Rock, or even the Costco across from Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree. But look at the amazing DIY creations on the DIY Network for pet beds and dog toys, like turning an upcycled nightstand into a slumber space for Fido, and even a modern end table that lives in your living room.
And HGTV has a tutorial for building a raised dog cot from PVC pipes and durable outdoor or upholstery grade fabric.
Wanna have some fun with your pooch or kitty cat? You can keep your dog busy for hours with a simple DIY puzzle toy. Just drill holes in a 12-inch length of PVC pipe, fill it with kibble or dog treats and cap both ends. He or she can roll it endlessly to make it “lose” treats over every square foot of your house! For six more smart toys you can make for your dog including an agility course, visit Emily Fazio’s HGTV pages.
The DIY Network also has recipes for Marvelous Mutt Loaf, Peanut Butter Bones and Dry Dog Shampoo – how can you deprive your fur-baby of any of those?
Cat Beds, Toys, & Condos
For 40 DIY cat toys that every cat and cat-lover will enjoy, check out the Morning Chores gallery of projects from toys like the ones made from feathers and wine corks, to healthy treats with three ingredients: egg, flour and salmon.
The Cat Trapeze accommodates kitties lo
ve of soft cushions and a place to climb, play and rest and the Skratch Kabin offers a cozy place to sleep with an outer surface designed for scratching. The Skratch Kabin comes in three colors with a washable cushion and a sisal mouse for extra fun.
And since cat toys are never as much fun as the box they came in, here’s an HGTV tip for turning a cardboard box into the purr-fect recreational “vehicle” to cruise any corner of your living space.
We found pages and pages of great gifts for pets and the people who love them at Baxter Boo and Chewy.com. Whether you want to get or gift a Halloween costume or a pet teepee. 
We think the name of this pet products website might be tongue-in-cheek, but we’re not 100 percent sure! Funny Fur is the place to go and scroll for everything from pet furniture, jewelry and eyewear (protective, not costume!), to backpacks and bows. Yes, bows – like long hair bows. Because what self-respecting Yorkie would be caught without one?!
The Best Pet-to-Human Communication
It’s important to be able to understand what your pet is trying to tell you about all these products and projects. Right? And they all have a vocabulary that can give you a an idea about what they’re thinking – especially if you study body language and learn to interpret vocalizations.
The Humane Society is a great (and amusing) source of information about cat chats and dog dialogues. For example, they say that cats mean LOTS with just the one all-purpose “meow”. A cat may be saying meow as a greeting (“Hey, how ya doin’?”), a command (“More food now”), an objection (“Touch me at your own peril”) or an announcement (“Here’s your {dead} mouse”). For more tips on what your cat is saying, check out their list of chirps, hisses, meows and yowls interpretations.
If you don’t have one of the more talkative dog breeds (Siberian husky, beagles and Yorkshire terriers) take a look at the illustrated guide to dog communication through body language at Shareably.net or Rover.com. You’ll find out what those yawns, nose licks, and curved bodies mean.
The Best Pets are in Crystal Valley!
Out and about in the master-planned community of Crystal Valley you’ll see people and their pooches – no matter what the weather’s doing – along Loop Road and at the Pinnacle Park dog park! The miles of trails around Castle Rock make buying a brand new home here where you’re surrounded by nature, a great place to explore and enjoy. Tour the 10+ beautiful models and move-in ready homes from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes, Century Communities and D.R. Horton – ranch and two-story designs, priced from the $300s.
