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Time to roll out the makes-me-happy products I am in love with this month.

Glittery faux diamonds collars and shiny metallic harnesses don’t cut it for me. I like to smile so I am drawn to silly and fun products such as the new collar line by Paul Frank.

Orange background and funky monkey faces? I’m happy and feel like a kid again while walking my dog, Gigi. Just watching her trot around with this monkey collar and lead causes the neighbor’s kids to giggle.

Priced at $28 for the set, you can buy it at a Paul Frank store or many online retailers such as FunnyFur.com.

What else is on my happy toy list? Toys shaped like plush dog bones or toy animals like squirrel and ducks just never end up in my shopping cart.

A must-have for this pet lover is Fez or Miyagi from the new line from Pet Flys named Knit Knacks. Yes, the company slogan is “Knit Knack Paddy Whack Give a Dog a TOY!” (Did you hum along to this? I did!) Great for smaller breeds, these organic cotton crocheted toys are not just for little girly dogs. The Ninja (Miyagi) and Fez Monkey (just love those monkeys!) topped my wanna buy them list. You can find them for $8-$11 on the web.

What is it with me and monkeys you are asking? Well, about three years ago I attended NYC Pet Fashion Week (this year it is August 21-22) and the company rep from Pet Flys gave me a sample of their famous Monkey toy. Roxi, my Chihuahua, has carried that monkey around for 900+ days. Every day she brings it down the stairs to be near her and every night she carries it up the stairs to her bed.

Hmmm. Would the new Pet Flys Fez Monkey replace her old Pet Flys Monkey? Not a chance. She chose to keep old Monkey in her bed for cuddle time and now she plays fetch with Fez Monkey–  because his squeaker is newer than old Monkey. But you just can;t replace a dog’s favorite plush toy- even when it is old, squeak-less and smells.

Here is a video of me being goofy displaying the toys on my computer.
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In this video you will  see how loud the toys squeak.
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Why has Pet Flys been so successful with their toys? My take: Roxi was a shelter dog with a broken tail, so I imagine Roxi had a rough puppyhood. Pet Flys new toys have great attributes for this suckling – little protruding features such as the piggy tail and tough stubby little arms on the Foo Foo Rabbit. I think of these toys as nurturing. But Funny. And Hip. I’ve now named a new toy category: fun, nurturing, hip, weird name, oh, and organic. Geez, we pet owners expect it all nowadays, eh?

Yes!