dogulove blog--reviews-opinion-advice about mutts and dogs

Running Smart

2010-05-07T00:08:00.000-07:00

Something interesting happened on our late afternoon run yesterday. About 3 minutes into the run we came upon a big condo building on the beach that had just been tented and fumigated for termites. The tent had just come off but the "danger fumigation" signs were still on the building and I didn't want us to run on the adjacent sidewalk like we normally do.

So as we approached I said to Muffin "let's go this way instead" and gently nudged her onto the sand about 20 feet from the chemical doused condos.

Twenty minutes later we're returning, running the opposite way approaching the building.

Muffin was now running ahead of me leash free.

Instead of taking the sidewalk as we always do, she stayed on the sand and avoided the building without me saying anything.
She had remembered what we did earlier and did not need to be told again.
It was 20 minutes later, we approached from the opposite end, and 1000 times before had always taken the sidewalk adjacent to the building. This is one dog with real intelligence and at 7 years old she still easily outruns me.

muffin...morning workout

2010-04-28T12:00:00.001-07:00

muffin...morning workout
Originally uploaded by dogulove

My little athlete loves to run and play ball.

Our Duncan (in Diaper) falls asleep on the red carpet

2010-04-22T22:36:00.001-07:00

Duncan sleeps next to JLo during the red carpet photos

Nubbins Actually Not a Disabled Dog

2010-04-22T21:08:00.001-07:00

In "The Back-Up Plan" Jennifer Lopez' character owns a socially conscious pet store. Hmm, now it's sounding interesting. I have a weekness for dog-centric movies–and this appears to fit the bill. Otherwise I would have steered far away from this one. Perhaps JLo would get along with our real-life wheelchair-bound, diaper-wearing, incontinent little pug–Duncan

Duncan–happy disabled boy

black pug in a white diaper

Nubbins–Wheelchair Dog Makes it Big

2010-04-22T20:44:00.001-07:00

Nubbins–a boston terrier– shines a light on disabled dogs everywhere. We have a disabled pug named Duncan. A black dog in a white diaper.

jonathan adler dog

2010-04-16T23:56:00.001-07:00

jonathan adler dog
Originally uploaded by dogulove

Muffin April 14–2010 in a little beach town in southern California–prepared for a very rare rain soaked morning walk–we got through it–and muffin made it touching and wonderful. We understand each other completely–I am with her far more than any other living being–we communicate effortlessly.

is your dog leash aware?

2010-03-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

You're walking your dog and approaching a tree or pole. Does Fido walk on the near side, close to you, avoiding a leash situation or does he take the far side forcing you to detour or reach around the tree with the leash?

In my post a few weeks ago about practical dog intelligence, I neglected to mention leash awareness.

Yes, Muffin is leash aware and does not walk on the wrong side of trees, poles or whatever obstacle we approach. On that rare occasion when it slips her mind, a gentle leash nudge is all it takes to correct her.

It's something I take for granted until I walk a dog like Sophie, a less experienced walker who seems to be absolutely clueless about the leash location, consistently taking the wrong route. A fun walk can be become a real drag if the dog is not leash aware.

Diaper Wearing Wheelchair Bound Pug

2010-02-26T19:18:00.000-08:00

Duncan: He plods around in his wheelchair with a runny nose, wears diapers, bumps into stuff and sleeps lots--stapled butt in the air and head buried in his heating pad.

It's not easy being a handicapped 13 year old pug.

Surrounded by lots of love, the increasingly frail and tired little guy hangs on. He and fellow pug, Reiley, are very close. Reiley will just sit there allowing Duncan to incessantly lick his face and body every chance he gets.

Besides love, feeding time is a joy he still relishes as he gobbles his wet food with gusto, leaving much of it smeared on his face. He'll swallow hard treats almost whole and can't chew very well so he's now limited to only the soft stuff. When hungry before his breakfast and dinner, he'll yelp like a hoarse seal. When not eating he sleeps or combs the yard for poop with an ability to uncover the most miniscule nugget hidden in the grass. Although lately he seems a bit too foggy to engage in this repulsive pursuit.

Like too many pugs Duncan is the victim of shamefully exploitive breeding. His spine, after two operations and extensive rehab has continued to degenerate. Over the past few years his hind legs slowly failed him as he was rendered incontinent. Sharon delayed getting him wheels because they would surely have eliminated what little strength and movement remained in his hind quarters.

It was remarkable to see how his spirit and vigor returned when he got his wheels almost a year ago. Until that time I had only known him as handicapped, slowly dragging along, chest and front legs getting stronger as the rest of him weakened. He had his good days where his legs seemed to work pretty well, and others where he could barely get around.

The moment he got his wheelchair, little 10 lb. duncan was on Red Bull, zipping around the yard like a bumper car gone wild. No training or treats were needed, he just zigged and zagged like he was born on wheels. He even devised a way of sleeping while in the wheelchair and it's actually better for his delicate, sore-ridden, stapled buttocks to remain elevated. When it's warm outside he'll bake in the therapeutic sun for hours. When the early evening chill sets in, he does his seal yelp and demands to be reunited with his heating pad.
Through it all Duncan has it pretty good: big yard, warm climate, caring mom (Sharon) and his doggy mates Reiley, little Sophie and Muffin--who ignores or growls at him--and his 2 coveted meals. He's also been battling reoccurring urinary tract infections but his determined little spirit propels him onwards.

MUTTS RULE!!!

2010-02-17T17:42:00.000-08:00

A couple of Peta protesters disrupted final round of the Westminster Dog Show last night at Madison Square Garden. Good for them!!! All dogs are wonderful and should be celebrated, but shouldn't brains and struggle count for something too? These shows are simply vapid expensive beauty contests featuring coddled dogs, only required to look right and walk around in a circle. Thank you Peta for telling these nudnicks what many of us mutt people needed to hear. And as for the winner, Sadie--George W. Bush had a Scottie and it was the only thing I liked about the guy, but who wants to be reminded of those years!

Muffin Got Me A Valentines Card!

2010-02-14T22:54:00.000-08:00

Would you rather have spent valentines day with your pet than your partner? I spent mine with both, but a new poll shows that in the US 27% would rather spend it with their pet. Muffin even gave me such a sweet card today. Here is it...

Practical Dog Intelligence--Does your dog have it?

2010-01-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

First let me get this out of the way--Muffin is the smartest dog I've ever known and probably smarter than all the dogs I don't know.
OK, now you're mad because your dog is smart too.
A smart dog understands what is expected of her and acts accordingly with all of her spirit, playfulness, and dignity intact.
Many of the smart tests online are more than ludicrous. Some involve throwing a towel over your dog's face and measuring how many seconds it takes to fling it off. Or putting a treat under a low surface or in one upside down cup out of three and determining her ability to remove the treat or identify the correct cup.
Ohh Puhleeeze!
Muffin would ace these (she can sniff out balls 20 feet above, 5 feet in the ground, anywhere in the car, and hundreds of feet away on the beach) and I wouldn't even insult her intelligence by subjecting her.

Practical intelligence is far more important, useful and enhances every moment we spend together.

Below are 10 examples of practical canine intelligence.

I often hear excuses for dogs that rip up couches or topple the trash when they are left alone. "Oh my dog is so smart that it needs to occupy himself this way"--Pure Bull. A smart dog understands this is wrong and and won't do it. An uncanny thing about Muffin--she has never touched anything but her own toys and balls here in the house. Never picked up a slipper, never chewed a pillow, never went near the very accessible trash can, nada!
Muffin is tuned into me at all times, looking directly at me often. Exploring the beach or walking ahead on the sidewalk, she will always check back to see where I am, always staying within a reasonable distance. She's loyal, dedicated, and we're always on the same wavelength.
Leash free walks are stress free. Again there is a psychological connection. She knows to stay put at curbs and wait for my command "OK!" to proceed.
She's wary of strangers and doesn't blindly cling to strange people or dogs. When strangers approach her she won't automatically let them touch or pet her and scurries away. My reply: "you have to earn her friendship and trust". That's how it should be. Sweet but savvy.
She'll bark at external things when at home, but never at me. If she needs something she'll sit quietly or touch me with her paw. If I can't find her ball, she'll look towards where it is (i.e. under the couch) and then look back at me. Her bullysticks are always on top of the refridge--I'll say "what do you want?"--she'll look up there then back to me.
When she wants to play ball, she'll sneak it next me and there it is when I turn around. She aces the intellegence toys immedietely too, like the IQube Puzzle Plush Dog Toy and the Kyjen IntelliBone Puzzle.
Muffin has a remarkable ability to know if I'm going to leave without her, picking up the most subtle cues and remembering them even after a long walk. For instance--if I closed the sliding doors slightly and put on something decent to wear--she won't want to come back inside after a walk. And won't chase her ball down the stairs making me retrieve it while she waits at the door! When I do finally say "you're going to stay here"--she goes to her spot on the couch and mopes.
She never forgets routine things like knowing where to go when it's time to brush her (out to the porch) or hulking under the desk when I take the toothbrush out and making me follow her into a corner in the closet. OK, so this does cause some anxiety and she's not the ultimate angel here, but eventually she does get her teeth brushed, they look terrific and her breath is great!
If I'm on the phone she waits until I say "bye" or "talk to ya later" before asking for anything.
Her vocabulary is immense, she always understands what I'm telling her, and reacts to the the most subtle body language. Her understanding of words is more about the tone and emphasis rather than the word itself. She uses her ears, eyes, expression, and body language to talk to me.

Yes there are some things I wish she wouldn't do. There are a few dogs in the hood she just seems to hate--her anger becomes so intense (heavy breathing and pulling) that I need to leash her and hold her back. Usually they are terriers or the 2 Shar pei's that drive her nuts whenever she hears them walking by outside.
Sit, stay, paw, lie down, yeah she does all that, but smart goes way beyond the rudimentary stuff. Muffin communicates constantly and wants you to reciprocate. She just gets it.

Balls Beach Rain and Dogs in CA

2010-01-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

Yes it was a most unusual week in Los Angeles. It rained. When it rains around here streets flood, roofs leak, people can't drive, dogs don't want to poop.
Hah! Just got a hard face licking from Muffin, she's hungry. OK back to rain. Although we took no runs together this week she got in a couple of great beach workouts.
Muffin lights up and goes nuts as she quickly comprehends that we're hitting the beach with whatever tennis ball she's into that week. This week it's been a full-size yellow one that she found at the front of our building and wouldn't put down when I told her it was too dirty. I've since cleaned it.

She jumps up at me and barks on our entire 50 ft walk to the beach. My first throw sails above the sidewalk adjacent to the beach, she runs, catches it after the first bounce, then hits the beach and starts digging a hole. She likes to find a shallow pre-dug hole, drops the ball in and furiously digs around it, then jumps back and waits for me to throw it.
She races as the ball soars 200 feet or so makes a sliding stop as she fields it with her mouth and runs back to me and the hole. After a few throws and lots of digging she flops down in the hole and rests for a few minutes before the digging begins anew. Her face has a huge energized smile the entire time.

Sometimes she'll fling the ball out of the hole and I can't find it. She then will just look at and pivot her face back to me until I see it.
Brilliant little girl.
She'll be seven next month but has barely slowed down and can run with the best of them. Thanks to her I've become an expert thrower, on the beach, in here against the door, down the stairwell, she always makes a Derek Jeter like play and brings it back.

We get back to my place--I think she's done and ready to collapse, but every time she still wants to do a few stairway fetch runs and then collapses on her side. When she lies on her side, I know she's tired.
After the rains the sand and sky looked like a different planet, the moon meets the mojave.

Another sublime little experience with my little girl. Sorry to be corny, but I really have the best times with her.

Signs That Piss Me Off!

2009-09-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

Where I live we have lots of beach but very little actual green grass.
Dogs love grass, it's one of their few simple pleasures.

We like to think we live in an enlightened era, accepting of dogs, but do we? Here in LA you cannot bring a dog anywhere but a pet store and the few brave cafes who will sidestep the law and allow them on the outside patio. Dogs are technically not even allowed to even touch the sand on a beach with a leash -unless it's one of the very few dog beaches!
Between the houses near our bungalow are these compact grass courtyards that Muffin enjoys peeing on, pooping (of course this gets picked up immediately), and sniffing, but I can't let her play there anymore with her ball--not when every single courtyard now has signs reading--"CAUTION: THIS LAWN HAS BEEN TREATED WITH A CHEMICAL THAT MAY BE HARMFUL TO YOUR PETS".
Wow.
What if the word pets was replaced by KIDS? And what does this mean exactly? Instead of signs threatening to poison my little girl, why not something instead that threatens the owners, like "Have fun but you better pick up the poop and limit the peeing and we're watching you". Pets face enough hazards already. Why create more while depriving them of yet another place to frolic?

First post from iPhone

2009-07-31T23:39:00.001-07:00

Muffin lying in her freshly dug hole a liitle spent after all the
frenzied digging.
This is fabulous exercise for the little girl. Between the digging--
our runs together--and the fetch the ball and run up and down the
stairway--she is truly a physical specimen with amazing running
jumping and mental acuity.

dumbest dog product ever

2009-07-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Looking for a useless, expensive, cumbersome, and totally ridiculous mess of a product to futz with while walking fido? We’ll I’ve found it for you...The Pawsby PooPatroller could easily be mistaken for a joke, but it appears to be real since they bothered to take out a quarter page ad in Modern Dog magazine in addition to a professional looking website with flash video. Why anyone would want this thing is beyond me. It’s a clumsy contraption with a built in crank flashlight, hygienic concealed poop bag holder, removable water bowl, attached hemp leash--you actually have to hold this thing while it’s attached to your dog--which gives you no control of sudden leash jerks or pulling--and it has little compartment that holds a few dog treats. The price--$84.95 includes 350 biodegradable waste bags, which would be it’s only saving grace. You can actually buy only the 350 bags on their site for $53.50.
That’s still a very high price compared to an Amazon seller where 700 Biodegradable, Dog Waste Bags, Pet Waste Bags - BLUE + FREE Dispenser
can be had for only $19.98. Perhaps this contraption’s only purpose is to grab your attention so you’ll buy their bags..that must be it!!
Their own promotional video does a horrible job of trying to sell this. Just watch how much time and effort it takes to load a single bag onto the holder!
If you’re too squeamish to pick up your dogs poop you shouldn’t have a dog. Poop cleanup with with a bag in your hand should be second nature. Apparently you can place the loaded bag back into the device until you find a trash can. Ughhh. If anyone actually has this thing, please tell me all about your experience!

treats--food--collars--bowls...everyday muffin stuff

2009-06-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Muffin's everyday stuff...

muffin waits for dinner

2009-06-06T21:26:00.001-07:00

Special dinner tonight--tripe!! Whenever I add some canned tripe to her Honest Kitchen Embark--Muffin becomes mesmerized and hyper focused on her meal. She absolutely craves the tripe and can smell it right through the unopened can. Tripe--as I have mentioned before--is a superfood for dogs--very very healthy. Slide the narrow bar below the photos to see them all.

who would you save? husband or wife or dog? correct answer--DOG

2009-06-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

A tsunami strikes--a real life possibility here on beach near venice, ca--in a split second you must decide who to save--your wife/husband (or girlfriend) or your dog. For me this was easy--although I deeply care about Sharon--I'm diving for Muffin first.

If you were really honest I’m sure many would answer the same way. I know muffin would do anything for me at any time unconditionally--no ifs ands or buts. Would Sharon do the same? I’m sure she would but I’m still saving muffin first. She was a little upset after the earthquake because I leeped for Muffin first. Sure I’m shooting myself in the foot--but I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

You probably already heard about the man who rescued his very cute 2yr old 14 lb rat terrier from the jaws of a shark in the Florida keys last October 2008. Remarkably after getting stitched up from the bite wounds Jake the dog was not critically injured and made a full recovery. The owner dived into the sharks head like a battering ram--arm extended--fist first--punching the shark--and releasing Jake from its jaws. Tough situation to fathom, but I certainly would fight with everything I had if this happened to Muffin. I’d rather be dead then live after seeing her go this way. What do you think...

Earthquake Tonight!! Dogs are Fine!

2009-05-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

Wow--the house was shakin' tonight and it was violent and scary--luckily everyone is OK and nothing fell down. I was here at Sharon's in Redondo Beach--very close to the epicenter in El Segundo.
I pannicked and my first instinct was to protect Muffin, but she was fine and I banged my foot into the kitchen doggie gate! After 15 seconds--always feels longer though--it stopped. I was in LA in 1994 for the big Northridge Quake and all the quakes since then. This was definitely very intense--I really thought the house was going to crumble, worst one I can remember since '94. Didn't even check the garage yet, where lot's of boxes are stored above the car. The Cal Tech earthquake gurus said it was only a 4.7 but it really felt more like a 6.0. Well, going to try to sleep now--Muffin, Sophie and Sharon are already in bed. The pugs--Reilly & Duncan--are asleep in their kitchen bed.

Doorbells on TV and Barking Dogs

2009-05-15T01:16:00.000-07:00

Does your dog bark when she hears the TV doorbell?
Why so many doorbells on TV??
Muffin lets me know she's just heard a TV doorbell by barking and running to the door--ready to tear the invisible man behind it to shreds.
We don't even have a doorbell--I think she's rarely if ever actually heard one. Either I'm watching too much television or there are too many ringing doorbells on TV. Luckily she doesn't do this every single time and isn't a big TV watcher unless she hears a TV squeaky toy.
Tune in now and you'll hear doorbells on...

pizza commercials
dog shows like Dog Whisperer and It's Me or The Dog--not a big fan of hers
pizza commercials
hmmm--just about any show or commercial

Now I shudder every time I hear the damn TV doorbell--and they never stop!
Look for my set-top TV Doorbell Silencer soon.

REVIEW--Secret to a Shiny Healthy Coat and Less Itch--Dr. Harvey's Health & Shine

2009-05-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

These little capsules have probably improved Muffin’s appearance and health--and she was always beautiful--more than any other product. About 3 years ago the soft silky lustrous coat she now wears was slightly coarse not too shiny and quite itchy. Back then I just figured it was in her makeup and let it be. As I acquired more dog smarts--better foods definitely made some subtle improvements but not enough.
The secret is omega 3 fatty acids or fish oil. The benefits of a diet rich in omega 3’s are HUGE for both humans and dogs.
What can fatty acids do for your dog? Where do I begin?
• nourish the skin-promote a shiny coat-reduced shedding
• anti-inflammatory properties fight joint pain and arthritis
• can treat allergies, high cholesterol, kidney disease
• promotes a healthy heart and better circulation
• slows cancer growth
• improves immune system
• promotes a healthy brain and can slow mental decline
Certain dog foods have some omega 6 fatty acids, but if you’re feeding dry food your fido is definitely lacking in the crucially important omega 3’s.
Now here’s the big problem with adding an actual oil to your dogs food--they are messy and the fishy smell stinks up everything from your counter top and hands to your dogs mouth. You also want a very pure oil free of the toxins found in fish and oceans. Some brands seemed to soften her poop too much--and it’s important to experiment with the dosage until you get the perfect poop. Do not do what I once did--gave Muffin my own Trader Joes Omega capsules. After a day or she smelled like stale fish and was probably way too high a dose!
These Health and Shine capsules are EASY and don’t stink. Doctor Harvey’s has an actual pioneering veterinarian behind it--Dr. Harvey Cohen--who uncovered the importance human grade pet foods and over-vaccinating--and helped many dogs lead better, longer lives. Muffin’s food--Honest Kitchen-- needs to hydrate in warm water for about 10 minutes--so the capsule begins to dissolve beforehand. You’ll see the effects after a couple of weeks--and as I always say--the extra money spent now on things like quality food and supplements will save you a bundle in present and future vet bills.
• A jar of 90 capsules--muffin gets 1/day--should run about $20-$25.
This is simply great stuff--start using it now.

Bath Photos of Muffin & Sophie Using Doc Ackerman's Shampoo

2009-05-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Top photo--me bathing Muffin with Doc Ackerman's Botanical Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo--look at that incredible lustrous healthy coat right after the bath! Sweet little Sophie in the tub--lower right.

REVIEW--Give The Dog A Bath--The BEST Dog Shampoo

2009-05-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Look no further--this is the best shampoo for dogs. Most dogs have dry or sensitive skin and many shampoos--including baby shampoo--are too harsh--irritating--artificial--and heavily scented--for our sensitive dogs. Doc Ackerman’s Botanical Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo
has proven itself time and again with our combined 4 dogs. Yes, you can find hipper bottles and trendier brands--the name sounds a bit hoaky and lenghthy--and the Doc’s website looks like it hasn’t been tweaked since 1995. But 10 years went into developing this stuff--the company has been around since 1979 and in today’s fast track culture this company retains a homegrown authentic pedigree. And you get a very generously sized bottle for only about 12 bucks. Colliodal Oatmeal is very finely ground or pulverized oatmeal and has been utilized for centuries to treat skin problems. It supposedly binds to the skin--moisturizing and softening--all natural. Unlike my Pantene shampoo (which I’m going to stop using)--Doc Ackerman’s has no Lauryl Sulfate--a harsh irritant deemed somewhat toxic yet found in myriad consumer products. We’ve used Doc Ackerman’s on Muffin and Sharon’s three dogs--pugs--Reilly and Dumb Duncan-who at 12 is incontinent and pees on himself--and little papillon mix--Sophie. It leaves all of them soft and silky and much less itchy--with a light vanilla bean scent--fresh but not over-powering. It certainly doesn’t have that cheap cologne scent common in many dog shampoos. I love Muffin’s natural frito-like scent and after a week and a half it comes back again as the shampoo fades. If you have very smelly dogs like pugs, I reccomend leaving the shampoo on for at least 10 minutes and scrubbing very thoroughly! It won’t hurt their eyes and rinses out well. Don’t bathe your dog more than once a week with any shampoo or you’ll wash off their natural oils. Brushing is a great way to mantain a healthy glossy coat. I use the Furminator--wow the price on this has really come down!--on Muffin 2-3 times/week and she glows aftwarwards. She also gets a Dr. Harvy’s Health and Shine Essential Fatty Acid Supplement every day. Review coming soon--these are fabulous--with huge benefits for Muffin’s coat--reduced shedding and itching--and overall health. You won’t find these great products--aside from the FURminator for an inflated price--WOW $45 at Petco online and probably more at the store --at your typical corporate pet emporioum--but I urge you too seek them out or use my links. You and your doggie will not be dissapoointed.

Runyon Canyon with Muffin & Sophie

2009-05-01T00:13:00.000-07:00

Me & Muffin

Muffin & Sophie

So a few weeks ago we hiked Runyon Canyon--right in the heart of hollywood, ca--it’s a nice hike with some stunning views--but the best part--it’s all about the dogs. Dogs rule at Runyon Canyon and thats really what makes it special. Many dog-centric celebs frequent the park too, but I really couldn’t care less about that stuff. It was a rare chilly, windy day in socal--wish it could have been a little more balmy. Anyway--if you’re headed here from the 101 freeway via the Barham exit--DO NOT trust the directions given on the iPhone! Navigating the myriad steep, narrow mountain roads with tons of little turn-offs proved too challenging for Sharon’s iPhone--as much as I love the thing.
We started the hike from the top--off Mullholland, worked our way down and back up again. Certain sections were designated off-leash and I wanted to just keep Muffin off the leash the entire hike.
BUT--
my last hike with Muffin went very badly through no fault of her own. We hiked Coral Canyon in Malibu. Usually Muffin leads the way with a big smile and lots of energy. On this hike about halfway through she became very clingy with me and seemed uncomfortable. Finally when we took a water break I saw something crawling on her little head--TICKS!! I panicked! I tried to pull them off her but there was little I could do until we got back down. I put her on a bench, and Sharon had a brush but there were still too many all over the place. I was having a heart attack as Sharon drove to the vet where Muffin got a tick bath. After getting her home we pulled about 6 more dead ticks out of the poor little girl and for the next month I was feeling her constantly expecting to find more--and a couple more turned up!! I said NEVER AGAIN--our hiking days are OVER!! Until Runyon Canyon.
These memories were still fresh when I asked a nice dog walker about the tick situation here in Runyon Canyon--he said there are definitely ticks out there but his dogs had Frontline on and it kept them at bay. Well, I try not to use these poisons unless absolutely necessary and I’m striving to be all natural these days with my flea and tick treatments. Muffin had nothing on--no poison and no natural stuff. SO the entire time I kept here on shortish leash in the middle of the trail while thoughts of ticks jumped around my nervous noggin. Naturally we did not enjoy the experience as much as we should have, but at least she emerged tick free.
For all of you that don’t have my hang-ups it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours and finding anyplace that welcomes dogs in LA is not so easy. There were more dogs than people and all were well behaved, except for the few people that were too busy to notice their dogs were pooping. We read a few reviews saying that poop was everywhere and be careful not to step in it--well that really wasn’t the case. I’ve seen more poop on my beach in Marina Del Rey and on New York City sidewalks than I witnessed on this hike, so don’t worry about that. If Muffin had some kind of tick repellant on her and I wasn’t such a nervous nellie, we could have had a much better experience. But simply spending time with my little girl is ALWAYS a great experience!

DOGA--Yoga With Your Dog

2009-04-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Now instead of doing it alone, you and your four legged better half can bond even further through DOGA. Yes, Doga, yoga you do with your dog. OK, at first glance today's New York Times Doga article was downright ridiculous. Combining massage, meditation with some light stretching, Doga unites human and dog on the yoga mat.
Yoga is something that's always scared me a little. I picture myself clumsily flailing about in a pool of sweat while lithe lovely young models just a few feet away snicker and sneer. However...if I could yoga with Muffin--and she already knows the downward dog-- yes I would try it immediately. Dogs break the ice, the tension, the stone cold seriousness of most any situation. And that's where Doga may excel, the more stuff Muffin and I can do together the happier we are. As the article illlustrates, you need the yoga, your dog needs your attention, and the bonding benefits the health of pet and partner. "Were it not for their pets, many people would never take daily walks in the park. By extension, it’s easy to see how taking your dog to doga may be a surefire way to make certain you do yoga yourself." --NYT Photo by Michael Nagle for The New York Times