inside vs. outside dogs…

is your dog an inside dog or an outside dog?  I tend to agree with the blogger below about outside dogs… it is cruel and inhumane to leave a dog outside 24/7 especially chaining it outside… with no human contact, no social interaction…. this neighborhood where we are right now is a great example… whenever I take cici outside for a walk, she is bored and lonely in the yard, about 10 dogs start yapping away, they are confined to their yards and have nothing better to do but bark, sad… terrible… call the ASPCA, except I guess in this neighborhood, this is normal… too bad for the dogs.

one thing that cici does like is eating the grass in the yard and she likes to dig holes which does not go over well… she also likes to zoom around and take sun baths…

for now, I have no choice but to keep Cici outside, for a VERY temporary situation, but I take her for walks, take her with me wherever I go in the car, sleep with her outside in the tent, and we are supposed to be in the RV, but she didn’t like it, seemed afraid of climbing the stairs to it, and play with her in the yard… she’s very good and mostly does not bark, mostly she sits by the door and hopes to come in one of these times… wags her tail at whoever comes by the door, I feel bad… and cannot wait until the situation changes… cannot wait for me and my happy dog to be together INSIDE the house again…

http://funstufffordogs.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/outside-dogs-benefit-no-one/?referer=sphere_related_content/

http://scottdinsmore.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/dogs-freedom-vs-intimacy/?referer=sphere_related_content/

just for fun… you know that you are a dog person when you sleep outside in a tent in the rain with your dog.. 🙂

http://keboch.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/you-know-youre-a-dog-person-when/?referer=sphere_related_content/

a dog by any other name is still a dog…  now this is one spoiled inside pooch!!!  🙂

camping out in November… raining cats and dogs…

Cici and I are camping out again… it rained last night but here in the desert, near Palm Springs, in a back yard, it is still pretty warm…  Cici has to stay outside in the yard, so I set up our camping gear, a tent with air bed, blankets, her special pillow, for her to sleep and rest inside… and I slept there last night with her just to get her used to the idea that for a little while, she cannot come inside the house (people are allergic)…

found out about Borrego Springs, about an hour from here, we may go visit there and Julian and the beach soon, depending…

but it occurs that with winter and rainy nights… that there are also rainy days, so what do you do with your dog when it is raining cats and dogs outside, hee hee?  here are 11 suggestions…

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/november292008/doggie_beaches_11-29-08.php

Take your dog to the beach anyway, who cares, let it rain, let it pour, the water in the ocean is wet and splish splash…

give your dog a treat and watch a doggy movie together like Lassie, Big Yeller, or 101 Dalmatians… woof woof woof…chestnuts roasting by the fire, cuddle up by the fireplace, if you have one and enjoy popcorn and doggie treats…

Visit the pet store, outlet mall or indoor mall where you can roam around with your pooch… Cici loves to visit folks so this has been a big hit when it has been too hot outside to breathe, but can also work on rainy days

Play fetch, tug of war or whatever your dog’s favorite game is inside, if you have the room/space…  when we were cooped up last winter, we still played games in the house… it was fun and Cici could zoom around the living room, now she zooms around the yard for exercise

Train your dog, catch up on teaching Fido new tricks, or just the basics, depending upon your dog’s ability level… Cici knows some things and can still learn… dogs are always up for anything that gets them some treats and attention

Take photos of your pooch, and post them online at your blog, or website, ot make a t-shirt, calendar, or screensaver out of the photos… or video your pooch and post the fun ones on youtube… be creative !

paint with your dog, get some watercolor paints and put pooches paws in the paint and onto some paper, like you would with a 2-3 year old and make some masterpieces… sell them for charity or show them off to friends… hang on the kitchen fridge… awwwwww….

have a spa day, give your pooch a bubble bath, clip her toenails, doggie massage, doggie yoga, and…

Bake a cookie, treat day, make some homemade doggie food, dog treats, and your dog will enjoy being chief sampler and tasting assistant…

catch up on your zzz’s, take a nap, snooze away, dreaming of a sunny day at the beach ….  zzzzzzz

dance with your dog, put the music on and dance and sway to the beat of the music… aloha…

a day in a dog’s life…

http://www.johnnyandran.com/comics1.htm

cute cartoons… from my alumni newsletter, Martin Van Buren high school… Van Buren high, days of yore…

anyway, ain’t it the truth…

happy turkey day, gobble gobble, gobble…

is your dog dreaming of turkey from the oven on Thanksgiving?  better not feed Fido any turkey bones… turkey is fine without all the trimmings.  Cici already got sick from a new food sample we tried this morning. She is fine now, she had to cuddle with me for an hour in the car and then she played in the park with some kids, licking away.

It is best not to give your dog expired dog food either. A couple of weeks ago, I had given her some Natural Balance and she broke out, got allergic bumps all over her body and her neck was all filled up with fluids. She was fine the next day but I found out it was because the food had expired !  I took it back to Petco and they gave me a new bag, but that was a lesson to read the labels!

No chocolate or pumpkin pies for the pooches either… stuffing is probably best for humans and not for canines. You can make or get your favorite K9 some special turkey or sweet potato treats for the occasion.

Well, this week Thanksgiving, before we turn around it will be Christmas, the trees are out and so are the decorations. The American Pet Product Association estimates pet owners will spend billions of dollars on gifts for their pets this holiday season, with more than half of all dog and cat owners — about 83 million households — purchasing presents for their furry friends.  from clothes and shampoos to decadent holiday treats and stainless steel water bowls, pet owners have a lot to choose from when it comes to picking the perfect holiday gift.

http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2008/10/14/appa-looks-to-holiday-season.aspx

Is your dog dreaming of his/her favorite pet friendly vacation?  33.2 million people will be driving this holiday season according to AAA (down from 36 million last year)… gas is only $2 or less in some areas in California, amazing, half of what it was a few short months ago.

Have a safe happy holiday with your pooches!

tuscany manor resort…

The Tuscany Manor offers 1 and 2 bedroom suites with kitchens, and all the modern amenities including wireless Internet. Each suite is appointed with southwestern decor and cable television.

All of the suites are located around the courtyard which offers views of the heated pool and spa plus BBQ.  Enjoy the fragrant flowers, or take a dip in the hot tub after a day of golf or shopping.

This is a nice place for an affordable home away from home family vacation or business retreat, family reunion, girlfriends getaway, mancation and more. Located a few minutes away from the busy downtown area, the peace and quiet is very relaxing and your dog will enjoy the grassy lawns inside and outside the gate. A safe place to walk your pooch.

puppy playtime…

oh yeah, yesterday was my birthday… had breakfast and went to see a movie, got some Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia… the movie was The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, kind of sad, but did not see anything else I wanted to watch… not as heartwarming nor uplifting as I hoped… very sad actually…  met a young guy at the Palm Springs Home Show and it was his birthday, too, 20 years old… geez… we were going to get ice creams together but he was busy… I did get a foot detox bath there, and tried out some beds, smoothies and samples of dog food, which did not agree with Cici, so we will not be getting any…  it maybe because it had liver in it and she has never had liver before…

we finally did it.. went to the Palm Springs dog park this morning… and were overwhelmed with the sheer number of dogs… Cici has been needing puppy playtime for awhile now (couple of weeks), so I broke down and took her… there is a place for little dogs… as we walked by them, they greeted Cici with barks and woofs… and for large dogs… I took her to the big dogs place since she is medium size…a couple of dogs came running over to greet her, and she ran and chased and played with about 30-40 dogs… there were mutts and pretty dogs and all sizes and shapes… I think Cici was overwhelmed at first, too, but then she fit right in…  got in some good play and run time… the owners were pretty welcoming, which was nice, too.

http://www.palmspringsca.gov/index.aspx?page=101

Location: Behind City Hall
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

The Palm Springs Dog Park consists of 1.6 acres of fenced-in rolling grass with fire hydrants, dual purpose canine/human drinking fountains, picnic tables and benches made from recycled materials, solar lighting and shade structures. Dogs run and play leash-free; park never closes. Separate play area for small dogs. Beautiful fence designed and built by artist Phill Evans; double-gated for safety.

http://www.palmsprings.com/points/dogpark/index.html

unlike at the Palm Springs Convention Center, we were there for a home show and the first night Cici was the hit of the party, everyone loved her, but security kept coming over and telling me she could not be there, we finally left, they said it was because they served food there… ok, but yesterday we went back during the day and they told me she had to leave because no dogs were allowed in the building… people do not understand that when you are traveling with a dog, there is no place to leave them, especially when it is hot hot hot temperature wise, you cannot leave the dog in the car or in the motel/hotel/inn room… so you have to bring them with you wherever you go…

don’t know what we would do without Office Depot and Pet Smart, two places that allow doggies… and have a/c… there are malls, but they are iffy…

anyone have tips about traveling with your pooch in hot weather?  (I realize the rest of the world is experiencing cooler fall weather but Palm Springs has been in the 90’s)…

we were at a rest area and she played for a few minutes with a long hair chi, little cute boy, first he was a  bit reluctant until cici won his heart over and then he was wagging his tail and they ran around a bit.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/dogs-play-at-the-park/page1.aspx

Dog Park Etiquette

New to the dog park scene? Here are some guidelines:

Only friendly, well-trained dogs are welcome at public dog parks. If you can’t control your dog off-leash, exercise him elsewhere.

Supervise your dog at all times in case play gets rough. Just like children, dogs sometimes get over-excited and that’s when accidents and injuries occur.

Wait until your pup is fully immunized (usually by 4 months) before introducing her to a play group. Until she gets bigger, play dates are best with dogs of a similar size.

Take a young or timid dog to a play group when there are just a few easygoing dogs, not when it’s a free for all. Peak hours on weekdays are usually just before and after work: 7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.

If your dog behaves aggressively or starts a fight, remove him from the park at once.

Keep your dog leashed until you are within the park limits. Also check for leash laws within the park; some don’t allow dogs to run free.

Spayed and neutered pets are less aggressive than non-neutered dogs. Leave dogs in heat at home.

Is water fresh?

Pick up after your dog. Many dog parks provide “poop bags.” If yours doesn’t, bring one from home.

choosing the first dog…

Time has a pictorial of dawgs in the white house from George Washington’s fox hound to the current occupant’s Scottish Terrier Barney, who recently bit someone…

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1830236_1746240,00.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/11/10/DI2008111001088.html?nav=rss_liveonline&referer=sphere_related_content

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110800805.html

Thank you, Barack Obama and family for saying that you will be getting a rescue puppy… a lot of people have been weighing in on what kind of puppy the first family should get… and Cici and I think they should get a Dalmatian/pit bull mix, for obvious reasons… a pit bull mix would be great to show the world that pit bulls can be GREAT sweet loving gentle dogs not the monsters some in the media have turned them into… here is what the LA Times, NY Times, Washington Post, and others have to say about the First Puppy….

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-obamadog15-2008nov15,0,1817929.story

Wanted: Presidential First Puppy. Should be less than a year old. Only hypoallergenic dogs need apply. Poodles and doodles especially welcome. Yorkies, bichon frises, Cairn terriers, Westies, cockapoos and wheaten terriers also encouraged. Must be doing time in a city or county shelter, foster home or private rescue facility. Will be vetted by incoming first daughters, Sasha,7, and Malia, 10. Position is highly competitive.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/the-search-for-the-first-puppy/

…

Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, have been talking about a dog for a while.

A goldendoodle (Photo: Rob Bennett for The New York Times)

He had said a year ago, while campaigning in Iowa, that his older daughter, Malia, now 10, had been investigating breeds and decided that because of her allergies, she wanted a goldendoodle, which is a cross between a golden retriever and poodle.

He said his daughter thought the goldendoodle “the optimal dog.”…

…In June, during an interview on Good Morning America, Mrs. Obama said they would get a dog next spring because by then they would be settled, no matter how the election turned out.

…“The deal on dog is a year from now, because what we know about raising a dog is that you have to be pretty stable, so you don’t drive your dog crazy,” she said.

the cutest puppies…

http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016

…What kind of dog do you think the Obamas should get?

here’s a word from the blogosphere..

http://www.blogs.com/2008/11/06/search-for-the-first-puppy.html

Name that puppy,,,  Hope?

http://www.nameobamaspuppy.com/

A Jack Russell?

idyllwild dog friendly…

If you and your dog seek peace and quiet and a cooler climate, a couple of hours away from Los Angeles, an hour from Palm Springs, why not visit dog friendly Idyllwild.

the town of Idyllwild offers pet activities and accommodations for four-legged friends and their owners.

Here are five dog friendly activities to enjoy with Fido and Fluffy…

l.  Idyllwild’s numerous art galleries welcome pets.

Oh My Dog pet portrait photographer Frank takes wonderful photos of dogs. Frank has taken photos for Cesar Millan and celebrity rescue dogs.  He has a gallery in LA and Idyllwild.

2.  Dine together

Cafe Aroma

The Gnome

3.   Don’t forget to visit the Arf animal rescue which houses kitty cats and fosters dogs while they are waiting to be adopted.  Also Living Free animal sanctuary is nearby.

4. And if your dog wants to visit the dog park, there is a little dog park that is fenced across from The Strawberry Creek Inn.  There are also hiking trails and the creek where you can take the pooch for a doggone good time.

5. A few places to rest with your puppy

when traveling it is nice to be able to stay in a cabin with all the amenities of home including a kitchen and several inns offer this kind of pet friendly accommodations.

If your dog is yearning to stay in a cabin in the woods, consider Quiet Creek Inn…  Innkeepers Jim and Mike offer studios and one bedroom suites with kitchens and fireplaces, suitable for couples looking for a romantic getaway, romping with Fido, and/or scenic inspiration… trees, trees, trees, babbling creek and views  mean stunning sunsets and sunrises.  Internet access throughout the property and a guest lodge with movies, popcorn and hot chocolate.

http://www.quietcreekinn.com/

The innkeepers of The Strawberry Creek Inn, Rodney and Ian, are taking over A Lodge and making it pet friendly… At the new cost effective property, there are 18 studios, each with kitchenettes and a patio plus two stand alone cottages. The level of service at the Strawberry Creek Inn surpasses many inns. The special touches, such as handwritten notes welcoming guests, as well as the delectable breakfast meal (apple pancakes like you have never eaten and chicken sausage), hor’deouvres in the afternoon (chocolately fudge brownies, a variety of snacks, cheese, egg rolls, little Mexican treats, and more. Plus, they are eco friendly, are raising chickens who will be producing organic eggs and a certified wildlife habitat.  The charming gazebo, patio, hammocks, and paths around the property make it very easy to enjoy time spent.   A four paws up memorable experience will be had by all.

http://strawberrycreekinn.com

The Fireside inn offers cute little homey cabins with kitchens and small private backyards, plus barbecues and movies. Internet access throughout the property. There are eight cabins, all are pet friendly.

The Fireside Inn offers comfortable, single-story, smoke-free, duplex cottages. The second location, is located on a larger, more private property, and is called the Fireside Cabins, and offers eight more spacious cottages, cabins and lodges. All but one of the sixteen properties come complete with fireplaces and kitchens, and many have bathtubs or Jacuzzi tubs.The Fireside Inn provides outdoor seating and barbeque facilities and daily feeding of the resident birds, squirrels, and raccoons…

Owners Larry and Pam Allen also own Wooley’s clothing, hats, gloves, sheepskin slippers…

http://www.wooleys.com/

Woodland Park Manor

offers a variety of redwood cabins, from studios to larger ones. All of the cabins have a fully equipped kitchen and all linens are provided. And they have telephone,TV and VCR/DVD.  Some have Hot Tubs, some welcome pets.

Bluebird Cottage Inn has 17 rooms, all are pet friendly, cabins and motel units, some with fireplaces and kitchens. All rooms include refrigerator, microwave, TV and wireless internet.  Owners were changing at the time we stayed.

Some nearby parks include:

Mt. San Jacinto State Park
No more than a two hour drive from either Los Angeles or San Diego, the mountain’s magnificent granite peaks, subalpine forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows offer a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy a scenic, high-country Wilderness area. 
www.sanjac.statepark.org/

Idyllwild’s wilderness offers over 275 miles of hiking trails. Choose from the easy Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail for the novice hiker or one of many more challenging hikes. Perhaps a long strenuous hike to the peak or a trip to Long Valley and the top of the Palm Springs Tramway.

palm springs pet friendly

the ONLY pet friendly inn that I HIGHLY recommend and the most charming inn in Palm Springs is the Casa Cody Inn, in the heart of downtown … this inn has heart and soul and peace and quiet… a wonderful place for a relaxing getaway…getting married, a wedding would be perfect here, it is VERY romantic, and for the pups, it has four huge grassy courtyards for dogs to sniff around and explore, when the cats are sleeping, that is,  there are three cats in residence, big mama, biscuit and marmalade… four paws up !

there are 27 beautifully decorated rooms at the Casa Cody Inn, with two pools, breakfast is from 8-10 am, we stayed in  Room #1,  a studio, with a fireplace, tv, phone, its own patio/courtyard, making it very easy to walk the dog… and room #21, with a kitchen, there is internet access,  lovely cool southwestern decor in both rooms… a drum table, elephant from india, overhead fan, gas wall heater, tile floors.. it is very quiet despite the street fair going on down the street.

the inn was built by harriet cody in 1917, she was the pampered wife of an ailing architect, so she became the family breadwinner… harold, her hubby was cousin of Buffalo Bill Cody..  a famous cowboy performer…

all rooms are pet friendly except for the adobe with original floor from 1910 and the cottage … the winters house is an original 1930’s california ranch house… citrus trees, gardens, lawn…  guests have included famous Hollywood film directors and actors, recognized artists, photographers, best selling biographers, musicians, diplomats, tv producers, newscasters, screenwriters and historians.

people travel here to casa cody from all over the world to visit including europeans, some people travel with birds and other pets…

casa cody is listed in frommer’s, lonely planet and other travel guides

in the area, most restaurants have outdoor dining areas where you can eat with your dog underneath the table…

casa cody is two short blocks away from beautiful downtown palm springs… with lots of stores and shopping galore…

there are also chain hotels/motels that are pet friendly…

but run do not walk from the following places…

A Place in the Sun, Villa Rosa Inn, Desert Lodge, Cambridge Lodge, Inn at Deep Canyon…

as we walked about town we discovered, there is a dog park behind city hall (although we haven’t been there yet) it is supposed to be artistic and representative of palm springs…

a few pet stores, as well as a storefront for the pet service / guide dogs… where they train dogs for the disabled and blind… quite impressive and nice to have a place to visit and find out about this important work… they have dog bowls of water outside, it is on a main street.

http://guidedogsofthedesert.org/

many of the stores are pet friendly, inviting dogs inside and have water bowls outside.  no treats though…

we found a wonderful healthy pet food store is Bones n scones nearby… http://www.bonesnscones.com cici had a lot of fun eating up the treats in the bins on the floor and everyone gave her belly rubs so she was a very happy camper, wagging her tail and giving lots and lots of wet sloppy kisses, practicing tongue foo !

Pet Specialty Store in Palm Springs: Cold Nose, Warm Heart

http://coldnosewarmheart.com/

 

Palm Springs Dog Park: http://www.palmsprings.com/points/dogpark/index.html

socks are a dog’s best friend…

http://www.examiner.com/x-1552-New-York-Local-Travel-Examiner~y2008m11d2-What-your-dog-eats-when-youre-not-home

 

What your dog eats when you’re not home

November 2, 10:21 PM
by Hillary Richard, New York Local Travel Examiner

New Yorkers love their dogs. You can’t walk down any street in this city without seeing a dog on a leash, in a purse, or at an outdoor café. With over 200,000 dogs and counting (according to the 2005 statistics), it’s no surprise that it was a New York veterinarian who compiled a list of the strange things dogs eat.
Dr. Jennifer Mlekoday, the Co-Chief of Staff at West Chelsea Veterinary, created a Top 10 list of non-food items that most appeal to canines based on her work experience.

The top inedible pick for dogs? Socks. Yes, that’s right – the socks dirty enough to be relegated to the laundry hamper are Fido’s favorite. Other items range from the bizarrely unappetizing (rocks) to the strangely specific (corn cobs). Also on the list:

2. Underwear
3. Tights
4. Rocks
5. Balls
6. Chew toys
7. Corn cobs
8. Bones and rawhide
9. Hair ties
10. Sticks

Mlekoday theorizes that many of these items appeal to dogs because they smell like their owners, and that others are accidentally ingested during play.

Next time you find a sock without a partner after doing laundry, think twice before you blame the dryer.

nydailynews.com/…/30/2008-10-30_bowow_dogs_swallow_pins_pens-2.html