Between potty stops and smell breaks, you can end up short on exercise and long on time when walking a pooch! To help us out, I've rounded up the five categories I'd consider the top distractions for dogs. Check out the slideshow to see my tips for dealing with each type. Happy trails to you!
North and I have never been Down Under but, if we ever make it there, the new PawPaws Urban Retreat is first on our list. The grand-opening (complete with a green carpet) welcomed pampered pals and their people to a three-floor hotel for dogs in Sydney.
Not only do the services sound pretty sweet (doggie detox!) – and the design looks impeccable – but the location includes a rooftop playground and spa with nannies, chauffeurs, and even a concierge to make sure your lil one is well-taken care of in your absence. This is the first establishment of its kind in Australia, which reportedly has one of the highest pet ownership levels in the world with around 40 percent of households including at least one dog, with an estimated 3.75 million dogs in the country.
See facilities and furry faces close up when you read more
Just like that cute vicuña, I had no clue what creature to expect when I opened these images of endangered Chacoan Peccaries. Turns out the pig-like animals feature similar snouts, but belong to a different taxonomic group, than "true pigs."
Native to Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay, the animal was thought to be extinct until 1972 when the species was discovered to still exist in the Chaco region of Paraguay.
There are only 11 zoos in the US exhibiting these creatures – including the Los Angeles Zoo where four new babes live. Have you ever seen one? I sure haven't but in the spirit of the season, peek at the photo of a peccary piglet picking at pumpkin (phew!) when you read more
During a recent trip to LA, I took a jaunt over to a little shop called Healthy Spot in Santa Monica and was blown away by all the cool products they have stocked on their shelves. Not only could they be called the one-stop-shop for all the high end and quality products you could want, but Healthy Spot offers up grooming and pet sitting services as well. Located a few blocks from the Santa Monica pier, Healthy Spot is a pretty cool place to be, and lives up to their motto of being the leading provider of fine products, services, and care. Check out my slideshow of their shop, and see some products they offer that you may have a hard time finding anywhere else!
Although, Torre Argentina is best known as the section of ancient Rome where Julius Caesar was murdered by Brutus (“Et tu, Brute?"), the archaeological ruins now host hundreds of stray cats. A Sugar staffer recently visited Italy's Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary and made this great video – tune in and learn all about these felines!
Summer's almost over, but it's not too late to take one last getaway with your pets . . . if only for a weekend or day trip. What kind of vacation did you (or do you plan to) have with your furry friends? I'll be sharing ways to take a not-too-spendy trip and some bring-along tips for each of the locales below – which is your favorite?
It's no secret that I've got pets on my mind 24/7 . . . and friends love to pass along any animal information to me. It's rare to hear something I've never covered or even thought about but such is the case here. 
After having an enjoyable evening at NYC's Red Cat, caligirlnyc suggested a post about bars and restaurants named after animals . . . and to have readers post about ones in their towns, too. Quick brainstorming brought to mind places like Mad Dog in the Fog here in SF or Fat Black Pussycat in NYC, just to name the first two to come to mind. Now I want to hear from you – please share your own local establishments with names including dogs or cats in the comments below!
While my lil guy was off having a blast, I couldn't get him off my mind! So, when I was doing some shopping in Portland over the weekend, I was delighted to spot this sign.
I totally fell for the puppy dog eyes and followed the arrow to an absolutely adoro shop! The Hip Hound stocks the cutest stuff for your pets from a kitty corner for the felines to a clothesline of gear for your pooches. The first thing that I noticed was the super selection of outdoorsy gear . . . I guess Oregon has some sporty pups who need things like hiking backpacks and life jackets for their own summertime fun.
I know if I called that place my home, I'd need to get North started on a super new cardio routine pronto 'cause he's got enough trouble with the hills of SF. Either way, I picked him up a special pressie right up his city life alley – stay tuned for a slideshow of my own doggie model later today! – 'til then, check out some shots of the store below.
I've alluded to my fave home-away-from-home for my lil guy in other posts, but I've never taken the time to explain why I love it so much. First off, North's practically a celebripup at Pet Camp – I think his hyperactivity must be pretty impossible to forget! I always feel comfortable dropping him off there and I know he's having a blast.
What's he doing you ask? He's scampering on artificial turf with a playground that rivals many parks for two-legged kids with slides, tunnels, and other equipment for him to explore. There's both a group and individual yards for friendly or friendless days on over 6,000 square feet of outdoor fun!
To find out what special treats they offer read more
Of all the wild events offered across the country, I've always wanted to attend the Santa Barbara Dog Parade and Canine Festival! Held on the first weekend of June of each year, it's one of the largest dog parades in the country bringing animal lovers and families from all over the U.S. to southern California to show off their stuff. All the pictures make it look like a blast!
Proceeds from this annual event go towards the Big Dog Foundation, a non-profit that has helped raise millions of dollars for dog-friendly charities like search-and-rescue teams and animal sanctuaries. Lucky for us, Renees3 brought B-Bop and doggie BFF, Qi to this event earlier this month, adorably dressed as Mark Anthony and Cleopatra – and shared her pictures with us! Check them out, and let me know about any fun canine festivals in your area, too.
To see the rest of the images, read more
