No, I didn't mean in your bag, I meant on! These dog park totes are a casual way to carry your pup's goodies around town and a cheat sheet if you end up in a new neighborhood – just hold the bag at an arm's length like you're admiring it, and remind yourself how to get where you need to go. They're offered in six cities ($25), I'm thinking about picking up a NYC one for nostalgia's sake!
North and I love going to Baker Beach here in San Francisco — it's by far our favorite place. And even though we have our pick of parks in the city, we don't really have a fave like we did back in NYC.
Some pups are pretty particular, especially since their neighborhood pals probably all take their romps at the same park every day. Does your pup have a favorite park in your city?
Do you practice good dog park etiquette? Did you even know there was such a thing? I've encountered a problem pooch a time or two at my local dog romp, and it makes me long for a magic wand to transform those wild dogs and unaware owners into perfect playmates. As you may know, owners play a huge role in how well a play session goes at the park. A proactive and attentive owner can make things go a lot smoother than one who just lets Fido off leash and loses track of him in the crowd.
Check out my list of helpful hints and make sure you're ready to practice good dog park etiquette before you head outside!
I've made my way to Vancouver a number of times, by train and by car, and I have to say it's one of my favorite cities and is always a pleasure to visit. From their fab Stanley Park to amazing shopping (especially on Robson St.), really makes for a cool city to spend some time wandering around in. To me, Vancouver always seemed to be ahead of the trends when it came to sustainable living, and now, they are on point to start another trend for condo and apartment living: decks made for your pups built right into luxury apartments!
A 33-story high rise dubbed The Beasley, located in the trendy Yaletown district of downtown Vancouver, has a number of standard amenities that you would come to expect in any new development including a gym, meeting area, and outdoor patios for bbq's, but it's definitely the first of its kind dog deck that sets it apart from other surrounding high rises. To hear more about the unique feature, just read more
Q: When I bring my pup to the local dog park, she keeps getting humped by other dogs. It's very frustrating to me, especially because many of the owners won't do or say anything until I point out their pets' actions. I consider our trips there to be QT between the two of us, but others are too busy sitting on the sidelines, talking on their cell phones, chatting with each other, or just not paying attention. Help!
A: Wow, as tempting as it is for me to go off on disregarding pet owners, I'm going to tackle the violation issue only. Unfortunately, this can be a natural show of domination or playfulness by some dogs and, if the behavior isn't curbed early, they'll continue to do it. The problem here is that neither ignoring this behavior nor giving a strong reprimand will make a big difference . . . in fact, that can often make matters worse. The best approach is to offer a quick correction (e.g., gently pushing the dog off) followed by an immediate distraction to hold his attention after the fact. Now, because the offending dog is not yours, I wouldn't recommend touching him during this process. Try to divert your own pup's attention with a toy or treat causing her to come towards you . . . and away from the other dog. Distraction can help the other pooch too so see if you can redirect his attention as well. Varying the behavior you cue as the disruption from humping (sit, fetch, come, etc.) will keep your intervention interesting for the dogs, and avoid encouraging new obsessions as well.
Welcome to Week Three of PetSugar's Out and About travel feature! There are so many amazing dog parks in the Seattle area, that it seemed appropriate to highlight one of my favorites to start off our week in Washington. Located along the shores of Lake Washington, Warren G. Magnuson Dog Park is part of Seattle's second-largest park (totaling 350 acres). This is the best spot for water babies – and the only off-leash area in Seattle where pooches have beach access (they're not allowed on beaches elsewhere within city limits). For dogs who haven't quite mastered "down" and "off," the compact gravel on the footpath makes it possible to leave here (relatively) cleaner than visits to parks with solid dirt trails. Well, until the pups discover the water that is.
Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Washington continues!
Who knew New England's smallest state had so much to offer?! In addition to the many great forest and beach walks and hikes for leashed dogs, there's a growing number of off-leash areas, too. In the last two years alone, several new dog parks have opened up including the first-ever, official dog park in Providence and a huge park in Warwick (about 12 miles south of Providence). The 33,000 square foot Warwick Dog Park includes grassy and shady sections, fire hydrants, and a crucial "airlock" area to unleash and leash pets upon entrance/exit.
Have travel tips to share about your hometown? Click here to share ideas with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned for a new state next week!
