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

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?

Cutest Dog Competition

2009-08-19T14:34:00.001-07:00

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.

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.

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.

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

A Dog Show for Mutts! Nuts for Mutts

2009-04-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Sick and tired of stuffy ridiculously lame purebred dog shows? Oooh look, that lovely little Yorkie can stand still while getting its butt inspected before walking around in a circle--on a leash!
Now let’s do it all over again with another 100 or so carefully bred professional dogs that probably can’t do much of anything.
How about a dog show featuring the best dogs in the world--MUTTS! And these mutts compete in interesting categories like...
• Most Vocal
• Best Physically Challenged
• Best Smile
• Cutest Mutt Couple
• Most Toy/Ball Crazy (Muffin should enter this one!)
• Best Kisser
• Best...Lab Mix--Shepherd Mix--Pit Bull Mix
• Best Trick
And over a dozen more! Nuts For Mutt’s Dog Show and Pet Fair near Los Angeles celebrates the mutt and 2009 will mark it’s 8th year. Sorry, no purebreds allowed--you guys can enjoy your Westminster snooze fest--kudos to 10 yr old Stump.
The show raises funds for New Leash on Life Animal Rescue, a local non-profit that rescues and rehabs homeless pets. Over 500 dogs will compete and you can bring your dog even if she is not competing. Over 10,000 dog lovers will attend on May 17, 2009. See the Nuts for Mutts website for pricing and tons of other info.
Sounds like a lotta fun.

Want this Apt ? Must Have A Dog or Two !!

2009-04-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Now how cool is this??
If you happen to be looking for an apartment for you and your pooch most of the time you’ll be slammed with something like--“no pets”--and if you’re lucky maybe the ad will say --“pets OK”.
But when was the last time they hit you with--“Must Have 1 or 2 Dogs”!!
Ahh some truly enlightened souls still do exist in California despite the high taxes, traffic, and smog. This ad was found in the Feb/March issue of The Pet Press, a local free paper here in Los Angeles.
If you have actually shuffled through any apartment listings lately you probably noticed lots more “Pets OK” thanks to the recession. Your local greedy landlord just cannot afford to be Mr. “NO” anymore. So despite all the gloom and doom blather, it’s actually a pretty good time to be looking for a pet friendly rental apartment, and rents have actually come down a little too. And I’m usually the glass is half empty guy!

REVIEW: The BEST Bully Sticks -- MOO

2009-03-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Most dogs have never run into problems from chewing on rawhide, but the dangers are real.
Rawhide consists of actual animal hides whose origins are largely unknown and virtually unregulated! In short the hides are treated with harsh toxins and bleaches leaving behind residues of formaldehyde and arsenic! I certainly would never give these to Muffin after reading this must-read article from my friends at Tails of Santa Monica. The hide can also expand in the stomach, resutling in serious gastrointestinal issues like intestinal blockage.
Thankfully there are plenty of great alternatives. Muffin’s favorite chew would be the bully stick. She loves chomping on these sticks almost as much as playing with her mini blue squeak tennis ball. Air Kong Air Squeaker Balls, Extra Small

The best ones I’ve found are Moo Free Range Dog Chews from a company called Free Range Dog Chews. What’s great about them?
• They are odor free as result of correct manufacturing procedures (some bully sticks smell awful!)
• Sourced from 100% Brazilian Free Range cattle
• They are free of hormones, antibiotics, and animal by products
• Manufactured in the company’s own facilities, inspected through every processing step and meet all strict USDA standards.
• Very digestible and may benefit teeth and gums (although not a substitute for regular brushing)
All I know is that they are much safer then any rawhide and how many companies can actually claim these high standards?
All the dogs crave these, and Muffin will literally sit next the refrigerator alternately looking at me and then to the top of the re-fridge where I keep them. She’s 18 lbs and I give the 6“ or 7“ sticks. She’ll usually make it halfway through one in about 30 to 40 minutes. I’ll tell her she’s had enough, she’ll take a big drink of water, and I’ll save the other half for next time. Although she’s a very thorough and conscientious chewer, I’ll usually ask her to put it down when 2” or 3” are still left just to make sure she doesn’t accidently swallow a big chunk.
She’s inherited my yuck factor of not taking things from someone else’s mouth! If Sophie or the pugs start the stick, muffin won’t go near it! And like her daddy, she’ll almost never drink from someone else’s water bowl, especially if it looks the slightest bit dirty.Such a smart little girl.

REVIEW: SPIKE Lighted Collar $29.00

2008-11-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

Me and Muffin are night owls.
I almost never walk her at night without a lighted collar. Much of the time by the beach she is off leash. With a lighted collar I'll never lose track of her and it gives me piece of mind to that drivers will see her also. She also tends to like to pee in dark corners, blending into the shadows.
The quality of these varies greatly but the new one I just found, The Spike Lighted Dog Collar, blows the others away!
WHY THIS COLLAR ROCKS:

It's built like a tank. Almost military spec with a very rugged rubber on/off button that seems to be sand & waterproof along with a tough rubbery plastic enclosure and clasp.

NOT made in China, made in Canada. The company also leans green, claiming that whenever possible the materials are recyclable and reusable and 2% of the proceeds go to dog-friendly organizations! Nice!

It's flexible like a regular collar. My previous one (The Visiglo-NOT recommended!) was very stiff and uncomfortable. I was always trying to bend it to conform to Muffin's neck but it stayed more triangular than circular. This one feels thin (not flimsy) and very flexible.

BATTERIES! It takes 2 regular boring AAA batteries!! WOW! I must have wasted $100 on ridiculous and EXPENSIVE watch batteries for the Visiglo. Almost every 15 hours I was out spending $8.50 on 2 new watch batteries. And after a few hours the Visiglo was noticeably dimmer! It's been almost a month now and I'm still on my first set of AAA bats and the SPIKE is as bright as ever! Very very impressive.

It's WIDTH (1.5 in) seems excessive at first especially for a smaller dog. But there is a reason for this--it prevents Muffin's fur from covering the collar. Great idea! The Spike won't get buried in a long coat!

Speaking of dog hair, it has protective piece of material that prevents Muffin's hair from getting caught in the sliding clasp when you're placing it on her neck. Hard to explain, but a darn good idea.

Even if the collar is turned off, it's remains extremely reflective.

At $29.00 it may seem a little expensive, but the build quality, innovative features, and battery life will actually save you money in the not so long run. Remember, I probably spent almost $100 on batteries in under a year during my time with the poorly made Visiglo.

I bought mine at a great doggy boutique store in Venice, CA called The Modern Dog. The Spike website does not seem to have a working "buy" link.

Oh, just one more thing. Apparently it made the coveted "O" List, the stamp of approval by Oprah.

RATING KEY-- 1 BONE=Stinky Poop to 5 Bones=Muffin Love (The BEST)

RATING

REVIEW: Best Dog Groomer-BUBBLES PET SPA, Torrance, CA

2009-02-25T00:52:00.000-08:00

Before finding Bubbles Pet Spa my dog grooming experiences left me frustrated and unfulfilled. I stopped going to one after they cut Muffin's nails too short. They bled all over the carpet when we got home. Sure mistakes get made, but it would have been wise for them to inform me. That way I would have tried to keep her solitary for a while and avoided a mess that Muffin felt absolutely awful about.
Here a few things you should expect from a dog groomer...
• Is the facility clean, freshly scented, and open, with no secret back rooms?
• Is is staffed with dog people who understand how to relate to me and my mutt?
• Are the dogs already there happy and calm?
• Are they open 7 days a week with the option to book online?
YES YES YES and YES to all of the above at Bubbles.
• Do they keep all previous instructions and prior groomers readily accessible on their computers. YES
--i.e.: I should not have to specify each time that I don’t want their whiskers cut and leave the ears as long as possible.
• Is the name of last groomer and length of cut also in front of them? YES
• Hair Length-I love that they have an actual chart showing me exactly the different length options. I would always have to tell my old groomer, “well umm make it pretty short but not too short...” Now WYSIWYG!!
• Are they fast, yet thorough and gentle?
YES, they are always done sooner than expected and when I arrive Muffin and Sophie are in large clean cages patiently waiting with their sweet pink bandanas.
• A regular grooming includes a brushing, bath, haircut, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and excess hair pulled out, anal glands cleaned.
• Paws are always perfectly tapered and trimmed, coat is cut evenly and super silky soft, and they smell clean and fresh for days . Although I must admit, I love Muffin’s natural corn chip-like aroma!
• They offer many other special services like pickup and delivery, furminator treatments, special shampoos, do it yourself wash, “Hydro Bath”.
• Coupons and discounts are frequently mailed out.
This review is for the Torrance Location. Other location is in Manhattan Beach, CA.
We’ve been there about 6 times, usually with just Muffin and Sophie. Sometimes with Muffin, Sophie and the dumb pugs.
Very comprehensive website with all the info:
http://www.bubblespetspa.com/

Happy Sixth Birthday Muffin!

2009-02-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

Muffin, born on the streets of East Los Angeles, turns six years old today.
She’s in great shape, very happy but always a little cynical. Hard to believe she’s almost a senior already. It scares me! We have such a limited window with our dogs and it’s now so hard to imagine an existence without her. Sure I may be getting ahead of myself, instead focusing on the here and now. Yes, every single day that she is here with me I am truly blessed. There is no greater love in my life and if that sounds weird, than either you’ve never had a dog or you’ve never truly bonded with one.
Kudos to Mickey Rourke for thanking his dogs and being honest about how important they are in his life!
Without saying a word we can say volumes to each other. Her eyes, ears, and face are constantly speaking to me. I thought we’d start the day with a good 26 minute run this morning. She was smiling the entire time and then wanted to do the ball throwing stair workout when we got back home. She’s propelled me to run faster and happier. No longer focused on my aches and pains, instead watching her compact athletic frame and happy face setting the pace as we run through life together.

CENTINELA GREED

2009-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Centinela Feed is a store that I strive to like but alas always leave angry or upset.
They are a homegrown so-cal chain and stock a pretty good variety of high (and low) quality dog foods (although not Muffin’s Honest Kitchen food), treats, toys and accessories.
I certainly would go there way before stepping inside the national rip-off chains like Petco or Petsmart.
But I may have finally endured my last visit.
Every Sunday I diligently clip their coupon from the LA Times. It's always promised 15% off whatever you buy. For a couple of weeks they actually raised it to 20% before quietly reverting back. These coupons are good for 13 days.
Keep in mind that minus the coupons their prices are solidly on the high side and there stores always feel kinda depressing and strange, like the feng shui is just way off.
Anyway I’m in there last Sunday buying a flea comb and they tell me they will not accept my coupon because it expired the day before!!! Give your local customer a break!! I took the time to clip the damn thing and kept it in my wallet all week!! At Bed, Bath & Beyond the coupons NEVER expire and Ralph’s usually accepts expired coupons too. They gave some excuse about the bar code and the policy blah blah.
Now comes the really sneaky part. Last night I stop in to pick up some bully sticks for Muffin (at the rip-off price of $3.99 each no less!). I diligently made sure I had the current coupon with me and proudly handed it to the cashier. She points out that this coupon is only good on a $50 minimum purchase. WHAT!! When did this happen?? They just snuck that in there for the first time!!! Up until now there was never a minimum.
Ah yes, now “EVERYTHING” doesn’t actually mean everything unless you spend $50.00!!
CENTINELA GREED.

It's a new day finally! Muffin is ready for HOPE & CHANGE!

2009-01-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Little Muffin has known only one president in her years here on earth, that guy whose name rhymes with tush. Now we’re elated about President Obama!
We got up early for our morning walk the day he was sworn in.
The beach just radiated with a heavenly other-worldly glow. The light, lifting fog, sand, ocean and cloud formations were spectacular. A new dawn was upon us.
You could definitely feel and see that this was a special morning. A true catharsis swept over us, and for the first time in eight long years I am excited and optimistic about our outstanding new president, the nation, and the small world we all share.

Can't bring the dog? Then forget it, I'm staying home!!

2009-01-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

A bratty little 2 year old is crying, screaming and bothering everybody, yet I am forced to leave my polite, sweet Muffin at home. Please explain why kids are allowed to get away with this while quiet, trained dogs are forcibly separated from their loving owners. Not fair!
A dog is only with you on this earth for a limited amount of time and I am determined to spend that precious time with Muffin. She just makes the experience so much better and loves to be included. So if you are a dog owner, always ask a cafe or restaurant if they allow dogs and let them know your utter disappointment when they don’t.
A few places here in LA that should allow dogs outside but don’t are Jerry’s Deli, Urth Cafe, and Starbucks. However, a great place near the ocean in Venice is the Canali Cafe. They always welcome Muffin on the comfortable patio, and the food is quite good. Cafe Mermaids near my gym and overlooking the boats is also a rare find that welcomes dogs. In Culver City with it’s hip new restaurant scene, M Cafe was very enthusiastic about accommodating dogs on the patio. I haven’t actually been yet, but it looks delicious good and is part of the same group that owns Chaya Venice and Chaya Brasserie.

Muffin Whisperer-She just gets it.

2009-01-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

When I watch the dog god, Cesar Millan, I usually feel sorry for his victims - those dog moms and dads who either got stuck with a difficult pooch or have a good dog but no clue about how to proceed from there.
I look at Muffin and think, yeah I’m a great dad. Most everything that Cesar teaches is just common sense to me. But perhaps being a dad to Muffin has also spoiled me somewhat. She just gets it and really never had any behavior issues.
Here’s a list of eleven of the myriad things Muffin does right naturally...
1. She has never even touched an object that wasn’t given to her. She knows the difference between her balls and my socks.
2. Although she’s and aggressive chewer with her bully sticks and green breath bones, again she’s never touched a chair leg or anything else.
3. I can leave the kitchen trash can filled with food and she will never touch it whether I’m home or out.
4. When we’re out walking if someone is on their own lawn muffin will skip it and not pee or poop there.
5. She has no hang-ups with vacuum cleaners or any household appliances.
6. I can let her off leash and never worry about her wandering. She would never stray too far from me and always checks to make sure I’m still there.
7. The only people she barks at are the same ones I would bark at, creepy people who convey a strange or toxic energy.
8. She doesn’t like to play with other dogs, so daddy doesn’t need to worry about her getting hurt or roughed up.
9. When I say I’m leaving she just goes to her spot on the couch & sulks, she’s too upset to give me a kiss but lets me kiss her goodbye. (It’s so hard to leave her-why shouldn’t she be allowed everywhere I go!!??? That’s an upcoming blog post.)
10. She’s never a nuisance, she reads me. When I’m chilling she’s chilling.
11. Her ability to read my eyes is extraordinary. She constantly initiates and holds eye contact. She understands the distinctions of my expressions and voice tonality. Her face, eyes and ears are extraordinarily expressive. She has dozens of ear positions (one back

one forward, both back, both up or down). We can speak to each other without saying a word.
This is just the tip of the Muffin iceberg. Sure she has a few minor issues, but considering all the things she gets right, I can gladly live with her few little idiosyncrasies.

wow, that’s my girl

Muffin at The Del Mar Dog Beach!

2008-12-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

After a thanksgiving in San Diego, me & Sharon took Muffin and Sophie to the Del Mar Dog Beach on the way back to LA.
Me and the Muffin had a blast. Since Muffin already lives on a beach, she swiftly found her groove. I throw the tennis ball about 80 ft, she leaps into the air with a perfectly timed jump, catches it and brings it back to me. Doing this on my beach can be punished with a $250 ticket!!
You read correctly!
So here she got to show off her skills with a great workout--all guilt free! I don’t know why we don’t have more of these closer to LA, although none would match the scenic beauty of Del Mar, a gorgeous (expensive) little beach town.
There was plenty of room and the sand was just firm enough so the ball would bounce and she wouldn’t have her adorable little face covered in sand. It also discouraged her from digging a hole, like she did tonight on our beach. Digging is great exercise and it really tires her out, but the ball fetching and running had her passed out in the back seat for the 2 hour drive back home anyway.
Sophie has a great time hanging out until we almost ready to leave. She’s not always too trustworthy off-leash. She took the opportunity to meander from the beach about 100 yards, through a volleyball game and almost to busy PCH before Sharon caught up and leashed the little girl. That was the end of her freedom privilege. Muffin I never have to worry about, she never wants to stray far from me especially when I have the ball.
FACTS: Parking along this narrow stretch of PCH can be a bit harrowing with all the traffic coming behind you and the relatively narrow road. We almost didn’t even realize that you have to pay. They have one of these central pay stations. Cost was about $1 per 30 mins and I guess they aggressively ticket around here. You feed your dollar into the machine, it ejects a slip that you place on your windshield. Kind of a pain since you then have to walk all the back to the car. Apparently it’s only an off-leash park from Oct to May so that’s really the only time to go. There were also signs that the water around the beach was contaminated due to runoff (welcome to california) but nevertheless dogs were getting wet, although certainly not Muffin. More info can be found here .
RATING:

n n n n 4 Bones out of 5. Lost a bone due to polluted water and awkward parking.