Posted by: twodogtales | August 16, 2010

Delicious Dogma birthday

Chatham, Sundae and I stopped by Dogma Bakery & Boutique in Shirlington on Saturday afternoon. To celebrate owner Sheila Raebel’s dog Bailey’s birthday, they were serving free dog ice cream and cake.

The cake had safe-for-dogs chocolate-like icing.

The shop carries a number of different flavors of dog ice cream, and from the looks of the dogs in the store, they are all delicious. The only problem seemed to be keeping the cups from sliding across the wood floors, but Chatham figured out a solution.

She wasn't in the corner as punishment!

Dogma has a great selection of toys, treats and natural foods for dogs, along with dog-themed home decorating and gift items. According to their website, Raebel bought the original Arlington store in 2008, and added the Shirlington location this year.

Chloe and Max sharing their cool treat.

With more than a dozen restaurants that all offer outdoor seating, Shirlington Village makes a great dog-friendly weekend outing. After you’ve had your fill of Thai, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, American or other fare, you can take your pup to Dogma for a treat. Then you can head across South Arlington Mill Drive to the Shirlington Dog Park to get some exercise and work off the treats you just indulged in!

While others shared, Sundae's stance clearly said "over my dead body will you take my ice cream."

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Posted by: twodogtales | August 14, 2010

The insurance question

Especially in a high cost of living area like DC, the cost of pet health care can be overwhelming. And that’s just for the run-of-the-mill stuff. If you get into serious health issues you can spend a month’s or even year’s worth of mortgage payments. Not to mention the stress of being forced into valuing your beloved pet’s companionship against your budget’s capacity.  

So I thought I’d share this article from USA Today that came out a few days ago: Popularity rises for pet health insurance

It provides a good overview of the industry, names some providers, and gives you a good idea of what premiums cost. I have to say I wish I had it during the last couple years of my last Golden’s life. As she battled a ruptured spleen tumor, epilepsy and various other old age conditions, I spent thousands. Not that it would matter, but you never get a “Over the next 6 months this will cost you $8,000.” It’s always cumulative. $500 here, $750 there. As with all insurance, it’s a gamble whether you, or the insurance company, will benefit in the end.

Be safe and enjoy your weekend!

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Posted by: twodogtales | August 12, 2010

Lab Rescue summer fundraiser this Sunday

Lab Rescue is holding their summer picnic fundraiser this Sunday, Aug. 13 from noon to 3 pm at Downs Memorial Park in Pasadena, Md. Since the dog beach at Quiet Waters closed this year due to erosion, the dog beach at Downs is the only place in the area I know of that you can legally take your dog to swim off leash. Downs Park is at 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena, MD 21122.

For $15 a person or $40 a family you can enjoy grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, a variety of side dishes and the company of lots of labs! Dogs are free, and they don’t have to be a rescue, or a lab. Tickets are available online at the Lab Rescue e-store.

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Posted by: twodogtales | August 3, 2010

Puppy love at Barrel Oak

Headed out to Barrel Oak Winery’s Dog Days on Sunday, and came this close to adding a third dog to the family! Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation had a litter of adorable puppies for adoption, and those sweet puppy kisses almost did me in.

Is there anything cuter?

The weather couldn’t have been better, with a nice breeze and much cooler temperatures than we’ve had for a while. As usual, Barrel Oak held a great event for dogs and humans alike.

(left to right) Sundae, Chatham and Bailey enjoyed the weather and human company.

For anyone who brought dog food, Barrel Oak gave you a full wine tasting–which is about a dozen wines–and the food was donated to the Fauquier County Animal Shelter.

There will be some happy pups at the shelter!

The entertainment, other than dog-watching and puppy-kissing of course, was provided by Great American Disc Dogs.

Disc dogs wowed the wine tasters.

Barrel Oak has done a great job of creating a family- and dog-friendly venue perfect for a relaxing day in the country. And kudos for always sharing the wealth by tying their events in to an animal charity! 

This little guy got right in the middle of the action...

 

While this guy luckily kept his paws on the ground!

Here are a few more puppy pictures, just in case you’re less able to resist than I was, or you don’t already have two dogs at home!

 

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 31, 2010

Dog Days at Barrel Oak Winery

Barrel Oak Winery (BOW)(see July 2 post) is holding its annual Dog Days of Summer celebration this weekend, July 31 and Aug. 1. BOW is always dog-friendly, but this weekend features special activities like a cutest and ugliest mutt mug contest with prizes and live music from Poor Ellen Smith. On Sunday, there will be two performances by the Great American Disc Dogs. 

Barrel Oak Winery

BOW has plenty of space to relax with your dog.

 There will also be dog toys and shirts to buy, puppies and dogs for adoption, and free samples of Chow Now’s organic pet food and frozen treats. If you bring a donation of pet food, BOW will give you a full wine tasting for free, which I believe is worth $10, and all donations will go to the Fauquier SPCA.

Barrel Oak Winery wines

A selection of BOW wines.

Every time I’ve been to BOW the staff has been incredibly welcoming, nary an eyebrow is raised when dogs put their paws on the tasting counter, and the water bowls and treat jars were always full. I also have to sing the praises of their Chocolate Lab dessert wine–talk about the best of both worlds, a sweet, rich red wine with more than a hint of chocolate.   

Even with all the space at BOW, Goldens still crowd their owner.

BOW is at 3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane, Virginia 20144.

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 29, 2010

Dock Dogs in Bel Air, Md. this weekend

Ever catch a dock dog competition on one of those cable tv channels? This weekend you can see one in person, just about an hour’s drive from DC in Bel Air, Md. From Thurs. July 29 to Sun. Aug. 1, the Harford County Farm Fair presented by Royal Canin will hold competitions at the Equestrian Center at 608 North Tollgate Rd, Bel Air, 21014.

Here’s a clip from last year’s event:

Is your dog a water-lover? You might have a hidden champion! You can enter your dog in classes like Big Air, Speed Retrieve and Extreme Vertical. Registration fees range from $20-40 per dog per class. Rules and policies are on the website.

I found this in-depth view of the sport, including interviews with trainers, descriptions of the different types of classes, and footage from the 2007 competition in New York City:

This is your only chance to see a dock dogs competition in the local area this summer. Now if only there was a class called “drowning your sister,” Sundae would be a shoe-in for champion:

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 27, 2010

Eat out and help animals Tuesday at Busboys & Poets

Need an excuse to go out on a Tuesday night? Now you have a dog-friendly one! Busboys & Poets in Shirlington’s “Nonprofit Tuesday” this week features Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. Five percent of the evening’s revenue will be donated to Homeward Trails, which is an Arlington-based charitable organization that finds homes for  dogs and cats rescued from kill shelters or surrendered by their owners. More information is on Busboys & Poets Events page on their website.

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 22, 2010

Take your dog out to breakfast this weekend!

Open Kitchen, a Falls Church bistro and cooking school, is holding a Saturday Morning Paws event this Saturday, July 24 from 9 to 11 a.m.

They will be providing treats for both dogs and humans on their dog-friendly terrace, and also serving custom omeletes for $15.

Open Kitchen is at 7115 Leesburg Pike, #107, Falls Church, VA 22043. 703-334-1504.

Get out of the house and bring your dog to breakfast before the afternoon heat hits!

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 19, 2010

What would you do?

The girls and I just got back from two weeks on Cape Cod, where they had a great time chasing sea gulls on the beach and bunnies in the yard, swimming, and either rolling in or trying to eat any dead crabs or decomposing fish they found. Definitely a life I wish we could live every day! But the one stressful part of the trip every year is the 9 or more hour drive from DC to the Cape in the summer heat.

With two people, no problem. But by myself, I have to run–literally–into rest stops with only enough time for the neccessary task at hand, I can’t risk the extra minutes to buy snacks or get caught in a line with the temperature at 95 degrees and the sun beating down on the car. I really wish the rest areas would create more shaded parking areas, or get porta-potties in the summer months so dog owners can, albeit awkwardly, hold the leashes while they take care of business. Sadly, hoping that they’d relax the “no dogs inside” rules in the summer is a long shot.  

Watch this segment from the ABC show “What Would You Do?” to see how bystanders react to a dog left in a car on a hot day: 

 

Some things you can do to prevent heat stroke in your dog include:

  • Never leaving him/her in a parked car on hot days, internet sources say the interior temperature on even seemingly mild 70 or 80 degree days can rise to 100 or higher in minutes.
  • Always provide access to water and shade.
  • Don’t muzzle your dog (panting is one way dogs regulate their body temperature).
  • Restrict exercise and/or only exercise in the cooler early morning or evening hours.

Here is an article from Peteducation.com about heat stroke, including symptoms, treatment and prevention guidelines.

One other thing to help your dog keep comfortable in the heat is to let them swim, as you can see my two enjoyed that option quite a bit:

Enjoying high tide on the bay

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Posted by: twodogtales | July 2, 2010

B.O.W. — wow!

Last Sunday Barrel Oak Winery threw a great GRREAT fundraiser!

About an hour’s drive from Washington, the winery welcomes leashed dogs throughout the property, including in the tasting room.

The winery's main entrance door

Barrel Oak's front door

The winery donated $6 of every $10 wine tasting to Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training, as well as 10 percent of all purchases from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

The owners have two Golden Retrievers, named Barley and Justice. According to their website, they have donated 10 cents from every bottle of wine they have sold to GRREAT since opening in 2008.

Some of Barrel Oak's wines have dog-themed names

GRREAT President Louise Davidson and her Golden Ruby greeted the attendees, which, no surprise, were mostly Goldens and their owners.

Ruby makes a friend

The winery staff made sure there was plenty of fresh water both on the large outdoor patio and inside the tasting room, and even set up a “cooling tent” with a sprinkler to keep the dogs comfortable in the heat. Most people stayed in the tasting room and listened to live music by singer Lexie Hayden, but some were brave enough to sit outdoors.   

There's room for people and dogs at the tasting counter

Here’s a suggestion for a great day trip with your dog. Head out to Sky Meadows State Park for a hike (they have 12 miles of trails and it’s just about 10 minutes from Barrel Oak), then reward yourself with a wine tasting and lunch at Barrel Oak.

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