Griffith Park Dog Park

Bo and I spent our sunny Saturday at the dog park in Griffith Park enjoying the company of some very happy doggies. This is our default dog park since it is the closest one to my house and we absolutely love going! The big decision we always have to make when we get there is which section to go to: Big Dogs or Small Dogs. He loves to play with and follow the big dogs (because he thinks he is one…) but he also loves to run with the fast little dogs! This time around, we ended up going with the Small Dogs area because there was a clumsy but adorable Weimaraner puppy in the Big Dog section who was playing a bit too rough for Bo. Plus the Small Dogs section was packed... including an entire family of the cutest little shitzou puppies who loved Bo! Anyway, this dog park is a great FREE way to spend a Saturday afternoon! 

Location: Griffith Park

Busy Weekend

There are a million things going on this weekend so if you have recovered from your Halloween candy hangover, make sure to go enjoy the beautiful weather with your dog. Plus all of these events are free (unless you are adopting or shopping of course) so you can entertain yourselves without spending a dime!

Saturday November 6-

Santa Monica Pet Fair and Chip-a-Thon- If your dog doesn’t have a microchip, definitely stop by because the Red Cross is sponsoring free microchipping from 9am-3pm at Clover Park on Ocean Park Blvd. There will also be pet adoptions, training demonstrations, and low cost vaccinations.

VCA Animal Hospital’s Pet Zone Adoption and Education Event- The VCA Animal Hospital is hosting an adoption and education event at the Rose Bowl. There will be a drawing for lots of great prizes (including free veterinary services! We all know that every little bit helps when it comes to vet bills…). There will be many pet specialists available to answer questions and vendors giving away free shwag! Bring your pup and enjoy the free advice/giveaways!



Sunday November 7-

Best Friends Animal Society Fall Super Adoption Event- Yes, this is truly SUPER because the Best Friends Animal Society will be bringing HUNDREDS of dogs looking for families. HUNDREDS. Talk about having your pick… and all in one place: the La Brea Tar Pits from 10am-4pm. And not only will there be the usual adorable, lovable mutts but there will also be a handful of breed specific rescue organizations bringing purebred pups such as German Shepherds, Labs, Poms, Golden Retrievers, and more! If you are looking to adopt, this is the place to be. If not, just go for the spectacle of the whole thing… hundreds of wagging tails all in one place!


Just get out and enjoy the sunshine!
  

Howl-Oween x2

Ahh Halloween… the one day a year I make Bo tolerate being dressed in clothing.  I know some dogs wear clothes all the time, but Bo will have NONE of that!  However on Halloween I get to at least dress him up for pictures! This year Bo was a pirate pooch and I managed to snap a few pictures before he tore the costume off of himself.

For those of you whose dogs enjoy the fine art and tradition of Halloween costumes more than Bo, there are many dog-friendly Halloween parties/parades happening throughout the city on Sunday.  Two of them sound particularly fun, but I have also included a list of a few others so you can find one near you!

Ok, so the main reason that the Haute Dogs Howl’Oween Parade in Long Beach sounds awesome is because there will be a bulldog kissing booth!  How adorable is that!?  In addition to a slobbery kiss from a fat lovable stranger, there will be a giant costume parade (over 400 dogs participated last year!), pet adoptions (not sure if the dogs come pre-costumed?), and vendors galore!  The event is from 12-5pm and the parade starts at 2:30pm.

Another fun option is the Downtown Burbank Howl-Oween Celebration for Kids and Canines.  This would be my pick for families because there will be trick or treating for the kids from 4-7pm and a parade for all of the costumed pups at 6pm!  I love Downtown Burbank and have no doubt they will throw a fantastic Halloween party.

Santa Monica- Healthy Spot Howl-O-Ween Carnival (Today)
Palm Springs- Dog Day Afternoon Halloween Extravaganza (Saturday)
Long Beach- spcaLA Halloween Pet Parade
Hollywood- Zoom Room “Doom Room” Halloween Party

And to finish things off, here is an old Halloween costume of Bo’s… and a video of him trying to destroy it.  Obviously Bo is the Scrooge of Halloween… party pooper!

  

Race for the Rescues

For all of you runners out there (I envy you… I wish I had the discipline!), there is an amazing 5k or 10k race for you to participate in on Sunday October 24th.  The 5th Annual Race for the Rescues event will be taking place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to raise money for local shelters.

For those of you non-runners- you can walk instead and still support the cause! There is even a special 1-mile race for kids so you can bring the whole family.   Plus, this will give everyone a chance to burn off all of the expected Halloween candy in advance!

The walk/run begins at 8:30am and is followed by adoptions, an auction, and even a dancing dog demonstration… hmm I’m intrigued!  Leashed doggies are welcome to the event and they can participate in the walk/run if they are ok in crowds.  If not, make sure to bring a friend to sponsor you and play with pooch while you run!

I won’t be able to make this one but hope there are some of you out there that can.  On your mark… get set… GO!
  

Good News for Me, Bad News for Blog

I have some exciting news to share!  I just got a great new job that begins in the November which will actually give me more free time to find that mythical life/work balance everyone talks about.  However, the bad news is that I will continue working part-time at the television production company where I am currently employed through the end of the year to help them out.  That means two jobs for the next two months… YIKES.  At least my pup is more than welcome at my old job (actually I think they all prefer him over me but let’s not talk about that…) so he can come hang out and play in the evenings that I have to pop into the office.


The reason that I am sharing this is because Trail of Pawprints is likely to be a bit quiet for the next couple months.  I plan on spending my very limited free time with Bo and friends… not in front of the computer!  But I shall return in full force in January with an abundance of energy and free time. Wish me luck!

Hiking at Eaton Canyon with Atchi!

There’s nothing better than a beautiful, sunny November Saturday in Los Angeles!  Today I took Bo on a hike in Pasadena with my friends Sean, Matt, and Dave.   Dave brought his dog, Atchi (short for Atchafalaya- the town in Louisiana where the beagle/black lab mix was adopted!), who Bo has known since Atchi was only a few weeks old!

The hike was at one of my favorite spots: Eaton Canyon.  It is a 1.5 mile hike that ends at a 60 foot waterfall (then you have to turn back so it is a 3 mile hike in total).  The beginning of the hike is a fairly flat, wide walking trail.  There is very little shade during this part, so be sure to wear sunscreen and bring lots of water for you and your doggy.  The second part of the hike is a winding little hiking trail along the stream.  We had to do a bit of stream stomping, as the trail often crosses the water, much to Bo’s delight!

Once we arrived at the waterfall, Bo was the first one in the water!  The pool around the falls is very shallow, with a gradual decrease to about 3 feet deep at the waterfall so it is perfect for puppy swimming.  Atchi had never been swimming before so he was hesitant at first.  But after a few tosses of a stick into the water, he was swimming like a fish in no time!

Puppy butts!  Look at Bo’s crimped little pantaloons!

Although dogs have to be on leash during the hike for safety/wildlife reasons, it didn’t seem to bother Bo, Atchi, or any of the many other dogs we saw along the way!  Overall this was a great, fairly easy hike for pups and people alike.  The swim at the end certainly helped on a hot day too!  Bo and I will definitely be enjoying this hike again soon!


View Larger Map
(parking and beginning of trailhead are at point A)

Mid-Week Wine Fix!

Does anyone else feel like this has been the longest week of all time? Well, I have good news- The Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar in Santa Monica has Wine Woof Wednesday tomorrow!  While you can enjoy a glass of wine on their pet-friendly patio anytime, tomorrow they have a free dog walking service provided by Big Sky Dogs!  You drink and your dog gets exercise- sounds good to me!

By the looks of it, there will also be puppy treats by Dogswell (and a delicious menu of human treats too!).  Tomorrow is the last Wine Woof Wednesday for the season so be sure to stop by!

Sorry Culver City Dogs... :(

Bad news for all Culver City pups and parents!  According to the LA Times:

Methane gas closes Culver City dog park

"Culver City officials said Friday that the municipal dog park has been closed until further notice because low levels of methane gas have been found at the site of an unexplained water seep in the portion of the park reserved for large dogs. 

Representatives from the city, Plains Exploration & Production Co. and the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources have investigated the matter, but have not yet determined the cause of the seepage. But, city officials said in a statement, “preliminary air samples indicate a very low level of methane gas is present.”

Although outside experts concluded that the low concentrations of methane did not pose a risk to public health or safety, the city decided to keep the park closed to make it easier for Plains Exploration & Production to investigate further and to allow for any necessary repairs. The company holds drilling rights to the area’s Inglewood Oil Field.

The dog park is on Duquesne Avenue in Culver City Park, east of Overland Avenue and south of Jefferson Boulevard. "

How sad!  But not to worry, there are plenty of other off-leash parks nearby!  Here are just a few in Santa Monica, including the Airport Park dog area.

Pet Insurance?

After taking Bo to the vet with his THIRD broken fingernail this year (long story- what a spastic dog!), I am beginning to realize that perhaps I should look into pet insurance.  But after researching for an hour or so, I am utterly baffled.  There are so many different plans and options.  Some just cover a percentage of everything and others only cover certain illnesses/accidents.  And yet other articles/blogs I read suggested that it is a waste of money all together!

After a lot of reading, the best bit of advice I think I walked away with was to put away the money you would spend on a pet insurance plan each month into a special (high-interest, of course!) savings account for future dog needs.  That way you can slowly build up a cushion for any puppy emergencies, routine care, or even for a rare splurge you would never have spent otherwise.  Plus there are no restrictions on what is/isn’t covered since it is just cash.

Even if it is just a temporary solution until you decide if pet insurance (and which kind of plan) is for you, I thought it wasn’t a bad bit of advice.  I felt like I should pass it on… it never hurts to prepare for those ghastly vet bills! Thoughts?

Dog's Gotta Eat!

I don't know about your dogs, but mine is like an endless pit when it comes to chow!  So in order to save a little cash, head on over to Centinela today because it is the last day of their Food Frenzy Sales Event.  With locations all over LA, it makes it easy to save a few bucks!

Bow Wow Bungalow

What to do with the pup when you get invited to a fun weekend away?  For a while I didn’t think I would feel comfortable boarding Bo, especially in a place that was just rows of indoor kennels.  Then I found the Bow Wow Bungalow in Burbank and I couldn’t imagine a better puppy paradise if I tried!

The website says it best: “The BWB offers it all, from daycare and boarding to grooming and training… With names like the Bone Zone, Heartbreak Hotel, and Aint' Misbehaven, the accommodations are as fun and creative as the sunny colors that coat the walls.  When not sleeping peacefully, the lucky patrons can stretch their limbs by racing around the vast private dog park and swimming in the enormous raspberry-colored bone shaped pool, complete with a cascading waterfall and several fountains, tunnels, bridges, toys, and plenty of playful, energetic staff complete the picture, making recreation time at the BWB a canine fantasy come true!”

This place is amazing!  The dogs all play together in a giant open yard (or the indoor “Jungle” in poor weather), enjoying the pool, the sunshine, and the belly rubs from the staff.  The staff members are so fantastic- they are attentive, helpful, and so sweet to all of the dogs.  Not only do they share stories of your pup’s adventures when you come to pick them up, but they even email you pictures of your pooch during the stay!  It is such a treat to get a picture of my ecstatic swimming pup in my inbox when we are apart.  And if you really miss your dog, you can watch them on the website's webcam!!

While doggie daycare and boarding are never cheap, this place makes it WELL worth the $40 daycare fee or the $65 boarding fee (per day).  They even offer discounts when you buy a package of daycare visits.

Long story short, the Bow Wow Bungalow makes me so happy to know that my dog is enjoying puppy paradise while I enjoy some time of my own as well!

Strut Your Mutt- UPDATE!

Looks like the total for Sunday's Strut Your Mutt walk was $203,100 raised by over 1,100 participants!  Congrats pups and parents!

Click here to read an article about the event from the Best Friends Animal Society website.

Ready, Set... STRUT!

What a success! This morning was the Strut Your Mutt walk at the Santa Monica Pier and it was so fantastic to watch pups and parents walking to support "No More Homeless Pets."

 

Beginning with some yoga and stretching (for both humans and their canine companions!), the walk kicked off at 8am with participants grouped into over 20 dog packs. Sean, Bo, and I walked as a part of the Best Friends Dog Pack LA to raise money for the organization that hosted the event.

Well, let me rephrase that: Sean and I walked and Bo was carried because he hurt his foot on Thursday and it was all bandaged up!  Let me tell you- 15 lbs. of dog in your arms gets VERY tiring after a while…

Regardless, Bo was a trooper and we all enjoyed walking through the fog with many happy pups.  After the walk, there was a doggie festival with music, belly rubs, food & treats, contests, local vendors, free swag, and LOTS of fun!

I believe that Best Friends raised over $200,000 in pre-registration alone, so I really look forward to hearing the grand total.  There were also some dogs there looking for a new family so I hope there were a few adoptions as well!

 

Who's Your Daddy?

I was on a plane today and decided to entertain myself by flipping through the SkyMall Magazine.  On one of the first pages this caught my eye and I was oh so tempted...

Canine Geneology Kit

While it is only $60, I know that if I were ACTUALLY to try and find out what makes up my adorable bundle of love, I probably wouldn't buy the kit from SkyMall Magazine (no offence, SkyMall- I love you).  Also, I have heard an urban legend about a friend-of-a-friend sending in a DNA test for her dog through a reputable company and receiving a response that essentially said "your mutt is too mixed to tell."  Despite my skepticism, I am genuinely curious to know if these tests work.  Any experience or insight?

Camping at Castaic

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you are all out enjoying the sunshine.  I spent the long weekend camping on Castaic Lake with Sean and Bo.  So here’s the scoop...

If you are looking for a quiet, remote, secluded camping trip, this is NOT the place to go.  However, if you are just looking for fun, pet-friendly lakeside get away that's not too far from home then this fits the bill!  Perhaps our experience was a bit rowdier than usual, as it was Labor Day weekend and everyone was out celebrating.

 

The campground is pet-friendly, as long as you have your dog on leash.  However, we just used a 10ft rope to keep Bo within the confines of our campsite and he was perfectly content. The one issue with our campsite was that there was no shade so we had to create some with what we brought.  In hindsight, it would have been really smart to bring a shade canopy.  However, despite the lack of shade, make sure you get a campsite on the water (not in second row because it feels like you are camping in a parking lot) and on the outskirts of the campground.  The main campsites are on top of each other and it looks like a tailgate party, whereas we had no one behind us (we were at C15, but C17 might have been the nicest).  Definitely bring LOTS of water for you and your dog also… it is so dry out there and it’s easy to get dehydrated.

We spent most of the trip enjoying the lake.  The first day we discovered that dogs couldn’t go to the swimming beach, but humans couldn’t swim anywhere but the designated swim area.  So even though we could not swim with Bo, we realized that we could let him swim on leash by our campsite while we lounged in the shade.  The campground also allows dogs on the grassy area just behind the swimming beach, so you could spend the day on the grass in the shade and go swimming with an eye on your pup.

Another fun way to take advantage of the lake was to rent a kayak for the day and bring the dog with us.  It was a simple two person kayak that was perfect for Bo’s first boating adventure.  One important tip: bring a puppy life jacket with you!  A dog life preserver is required if you want to bring the dog on the boat, but (unlike human life jackets) they do not provide them.  In fact, the guys who rented us the kayak said that Bo was the first dog they had ever let onto a boat because we were the only ones to ever bring a life jacket.  We are such pioneers!

I got Bo the Paws Aboard yellow life jacket and it was perfect!  It had a handy leash hook so the jacket doubled as a harness on the way down to the beach.  Most importantly, it had a study handle on the top of the jacket so if your pup took a swim, you could just lift him out by his handle!  I assume this would be more difficult with a large dog, but it was perfect for my 15 lb. furry friend.

Bo absolutely LOVED kayaking… especially jumping off the boat to swim and torment the ducks.

The second day, we took Bo on a hike down an old entrance road to an abandon 1970s campground back from when the dam was constructed.  It was shaded by giant pine trees and looked out over the dam, the main lake, and the old campground ruins. 

It was only about 1.5 or 2 miles down and back, so it was a short, easy hike for a hot day.  The trail head is at A (and there is a loop at B to head back):

View Larger Map

We spent the rest of the trip sitting by the lake in our camping chairs reading, eating, and chatting while Bo swam in the lake and napped in the shade.  It was wonderfully relaxing!

As far as a pet-friendly travel destination for the weekend, Castaic certainly worked for us.  I would say that as long as you come prepared (sunscreen, some kind of shade, lots of water, doggie life jacket, and earplugs) and are creative with the way you spend your time, then you can have an enjoyable, inexpensive outdoor mini-vacation!

Looking to Adopt a New Friend?

For all of you wannabe pet parents (yay congrats!) who are not travelling this weekend, be sure to check out some local adoptions.  It is a great way to meet a bunch of potential pups from shelters and rescue groups in your area.  If you see a dog on the organization’s website that you are particularly excited to meet, be sure to contact them ahead of time to ensure they bring that little guy to the event!

If you are a Valley dweller like me, definitely stop by the Burbank Animal Shelter Adoptions on Saturday at Centinela on Olive.

If Burbank isn’t near you, don’t worry because there are adoptions all over town! Here are a just a few taking place this weekend in different parts of LA:

• Hearts for Hounds- Long Beach
  http://www.heartsforhounds.com/
  Special Adoption Event:
  Saturday September 4, 2010 at 11am
  1354 Obispo Ave, Long Beach, CA  
  Long Beach Alamitos Bay Marina's Farmers Market:
  Weekly Adoptions take place every Sunday at 10:30am at:
  E. Marina Dr. South of E. 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803  
  (adjacent to Marina Pacific Mall)
  

• Save A Live Rescue Shelter- West LA
  http://www.save-a-life.org/
  Weekly adoptions are Saturdays and Sundays from 1-6pm at:
  Petco, West Los Angeles
  1873 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 20025
  

• Voice for the Animals Foundation- Pacific Palisades
  http://www.vftafoundation.org/
  Weekly Adoptions are Sundays from 10:00am-1:30pm at:
  Pacific Palisades Farmers Market
  15305 W. Sunset Blvd. Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
  (corner of Sunset and Swarthmore)

• Hounds of Hope Dog Rescue and The Mutt Movement- Larchmont Village, Mid-Wilshire
  http://houndsofhope.com/ and http://themuttmovement.com/
  Weekly Adoptions are Sundays from 11am-3pm at:
  Larchmont Village Farmers Market
  147 N Larchmont Boulevard,Los Angeles, CA 90004
  (between Beverly and 3rd- in front of Blockbuster video)

And remember that even if you don't find your new best friend at an adoption event, don't be too disappointed because you have taken one step forward in learning what dog will be right for you. The more dogs you meet, the better your understanding of the size, breed, and personality that suits you!

Strut Your Mutt- Sept 19th

Walk your dog with hundreds of other dogs on the scenic Pacific Ocean... and raise money to help protect and find families for homeless pets while you do it!  You certainly can't beat having fun for a great cause!

The Strut Your Mutt walk will be taking place on the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, September 19th.  Remember to set your alarms because registration begins at 6:30am (yikes!) and the walk kicks off at 8:30am sharp!  Registration is only $30 to join the walk and your friends, family, coworkers, etc. can help sponsor you and your mutt as well.

Why walk?

1. MOST IMPORTANTLY- it is for an amazing cause!  Help raise money to support local rescue groups in their mission to find every four-legged friend a loving home.  Click here to find out more about the mission of the Best Friends Animal Society (and its local rescue groups).

2.  It's only $30!  That is less than you would pay for a tank of gas or a haircut!  Plus, you also get a free tee shirt with a cute dog on it.  Bonus! :)

3. Two words- Doggy Festival!  After the walk until 1pm, there will be a festival to celebrate everyone's efforts.  According to the website, the fun includes:

• Belly Rub Hub- free dog massages!
  
• Downward Dog- free yoga for you and your pup to unwind after your walk
  
• Canine Cafe- free canine treats from local vendors
• Doggie Boutique- shopping, shopping, shopping.
• There will also be games, contests, photo ops, music, food, and even a pet communicator and psychic!

 

*Get more info and register today!*

Beach Boy!- Long Beach Dog Zone

One of our favorite places to play on the weekends is the Long Beach Dog Zone.  It is a 3-acre section of the beach designated by cones where dogs are allowed to play off-leash.

Bo and I on the dog beach.

Look at all those happy pups!

I have always had a really great experience at this beach.  Owners are engaged and attentive and the puppies are oh so happy!  It is always a great way to spend a few hours and doesn't cost a dime.

The beach is located on E Ocean Ave between Roycroft Ave and Argonne Ave.  I have never had trouble finding free street parking right outside, even if it took a lap or two.  Be sure to bring your own baggies and some water for your pup.

Hours: 6am-8pm
Directions:

View Larger Map

Here are more pics from our Saturday outing:

Looks like someone will be napping for the rest of the day...

A Few Great Memories

I suppose to kick things off, I will recap a few of the adventures Bo and I have taken to date.


1. Road Trip from Los Angeles to New York

Bo joined my best friend and me on a 10 day road trip across the country in May 2008.  It was the first ultimate test of his travel skills and he passed with flying colors!

 

All packed and ready to go with a short summer cut!

Hiking in Zion Canyon

(look at that face!)

Testing out each hotel's comforter coziness!

2. Bo's First Snow- Ithaca, NY

Bo had his very first snow in Ithaca, NY, on November 17, 2008.  He wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but by December he was a true snow bunny!

First Snow

Snow Pro by Christmas

(with his sister Koda)

3. Bo and Erika Find a Bo-Friendly Apartment

Bo and I finally settled down into a really wonderful apartment in Los Angeles with a yard and a dog door in August 2009!  It was a very lucky find after a lot of searching.  We are so happy here!

There are many others, of course, but I just wanted to get the ball rolling!

Welcome!

Welcome to

-L.A. the Dog-Friendly Way!

Please visit the About Bo page for a bit of history on the wonderful canine that inspired this blog.  I want to share my experience as a Los Angeles dog owner and the adventure that brings.  Please enjoy and do not hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, or suggestions!

Nice to meet you!