Wednesday, June 25, 2014

8th Annual Downtown Dog Day Afternoon - Los Angeles




Registration is now open for Dog Day Afternoon at the Cathedral from 6-9 pm on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Plaza.

Downtown Los Angeles residents and their dogs are invited for mingling, music, and pet-related vendor displays at this annual community event! 


Dodger dogs, snacks, full bar & beverages by Levy Restaurants available for purchase. Celebrate our four-legged furry friends who help create community in Downtown LA. Numerous (local) vendors will be on site and there will be lots of fun things for you and your pup to do.

Free Admission | Registration Required
Parking: $5 flat rate at the Cathedral 
Dogs must be social, live in Downtown LA, and be on a leash.
*Downtowners without dogs & out of towners are welcome, too!




For more info visit downtown LA.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Yappy Hour at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel




Follow Fido to Yappy Hour, a monthly cocktail party for canines and their companions at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Pooches, hounds and pups enjoy complimentary hand-made dog biscuits and lapping up refreshing libations, thanks to bacon, chicken, cheese, beef and liver flavored water, while their companions can purchase burgers, brews and wines. This year’s proceeds from Yappy Hour will support the Wounded Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions for Independence, and will help offset some of the unique costs associated with Canine Companion’s Southwest Region puppy raising program. 

Canine Companions has had more than 360 volunteer puppy raisers in Orange County and the funds raised through Yappy Hour will be dedicated for puppy training and obedience classes, transportation of puppies to their new puppy raisers, spaying and neutering, and boarding costs for puppies in heat.

2014 Yappy Hour Dates 
Held on The Dana Lawn from 5 to 8 p.m. 

  • June 19, 2014
  • July 17, 2014
  • August 21, 2014
  • September 18, 2014

Location
The Ritz-Carlton
1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629
For info call: 949-240-2000

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Gotta Have My Puppuccino


Are you sitting there thinking, what the hell is this girl talking about? Well, no need...I'll explain.

While you sit there drinking your delicious Starbucks coffee drink your pup is probably just sitting in front of you with it's head cocked sideways wondering why he can't have one of those delicious things. Well your pup's in luck because Starbucks offers the "Puppuccino" for dogs!

Don't freak - there's absolutely NO coffee in it...it's just a little cup full of delicious whipped cream.




note: Gigi didn't eat all that whipped cream. We stopped her a good quarter of the way through.
Too much sugar is no bueno.

The few times we've had Gigi with us when visiting a Starbucks we always ask for a puppuccino for her. The first couple of times the barista asked "I'm sorry, a what?" and then laughed when I explained it was just a small cup of whipped cream for my dog.

So yeah, don't be shy in ordering one of these for your dog when ordering your own drink, but don't freak if they have no clue what you're talking about. Guess not everyone's privy to such fabulous menu items ;)

Also, sometimes you'll get larger cups. The first time we got a cup the size of a Grande and the second time we got a kids hot chocolate size cup. Either way, your dog will love it!


NOTE: I've never been charged for this so I can't give you a price. Hopefully they'll give it to you for free too!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Dogs Need Sunscreen Too!


Gigi needed a little boost to get her sunbathing on.

Summer's here and humans everywhere are reaching quickly for the sunblock - but, lets not forget our furry friends.

Yes, dogs need sun protection too!

Like humans, pets should have sunblock applied to sun-sensitive areas such as tips of ears, nose, underbelly, and groin. Typically they're all going to be areas that have sparse hair coverage or where pigmentation is low.

Avoid giving your dog a "summer cut" if they have a light colored coat or thin(ing) hair. Yes this cute cut,  keeps your long haired pal from getting matted or being uncomfortable in the summer heat but can also be the cause of their sunburn.

Personally, I have the groomer give Gigi a "summer cut" all year long because I don't care for all her shedding & scruffy face look, but then again she rarely goes outside for long periods of time between 11am - 5pm. My girl loves her air conditioning.

  • Use pet-safe sunscreen, if possible - try Epi-Pen Sun Protector, the only FDA approved sunscreen for dogs. ($17.95 on Amazon)
  • Baby sunscreen is a-ok to use on your dog. (Most human sunscreens have ingestion warnings because the ingredients can be toxic if a child or dog ingests them, so if your pet is likely to lick it, look for a pet-specific sunscreen.)
  • You should re-apply regularly during sun exposure.  It is recommended to use at least 1 tablespoon of lotion or cream for each body area treated!  Sunscreen should be re-applied every 4 to 6 hours during the brightest time of the day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • If your pup has a sunburn, give him a soothing bath with cool water and a gentle, soap-free product.
  • Try adding Neep Oil to the shampoo. Non-toxic Neem works quickly and safely to heal heat as well as chemical burns.
  • Stay away from zinc oxide - it's toxic to dogs!

Please consult with your veterinarian prior to using any human products or medications on your pet.