The Privileged Pooch in California

Travel Journalist and Her Pampered Pooch

Find the Pet-Friendliest Places in Southern California

About 45 million households in the U.S. have dogs and 21 percent of them travel with their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association. Southern California, with its year-round mild weather, miles of beaches, and multitude of sights and activities, is a frequent destination for vacationers. It’s also considered one of the most pet-inclusive regions of the country.

Dog Fancy magazine named San Diego “America’s Best City for Dogs” due to its dog-friendly beaches. Not every hotel, open-air restaurant, or shop welcomes dogs, so San Diego resident Maggie Espinosa and her dog Marcel set out to find the best ones that do. The result is The Privileged Pooch: Luxury Travel with Your Pet in Southern California, a guide to 69 hotels, 55 bistros, 56 fun-in-the-sun activities, and 36 trendy shops. The book covers San Diego, Palm Springs, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara.

There is a photo or a map on every page, and price ranges for the hotels, restaurants, and activities. “I rated the hotels with one to four wags for pet friendliness,” says Espinosa. “If a hotel or resort’s pet regulations were too stringent with weight limit and access to certain areas, or charged exorbitant fees, I didn’t include it in the book.” An award-winning travel writer, Espinosa provides a thorough description of the setting, décor, and services at each location, written in an entertaining commentary style. She mentions each hotel’s special services for pets—from welcoming toys and doggy menus to spas and dog sitters.

Examples of the amenities and treatment travelers can expect for their pets: · The Casa Laguna Inn & Spa welcomes dogs at breakfast and at the afternoon wine hour. Owners and their dogs can partake in a “Togetherness Massage.” A licensed canine masseuse treats the dog, kneading its back legs and shoulders, stroking its ears, and checking paws for proper circulation. ·

Pups at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel can enjoy the “Grrrreen Dog” package with a recyclable rubber chew, in-room meal, and an organic cotton bandana. At check-in, food bowls, treats and a placemat are delivered to the room. · The Healthy Spot, one in West Hollywood and one in Santa Monica, provides blueberry and plum pet facials, milk and honey baths, and moisturizing paw rubs. Organic and vegetarian canine cuisine, Fou Fou brand toys and K9 art fill the shelves. A grassy play area includes a red fire hydrant. ·

Many of the high-end shops at Fashion Island, an outdoor mall in Newport Beach, welcome pets. A Betsy Johnson Boutique treats pups to water and doggie snaps. Pets join their owners at the outdoor seating area at a number of stylish cafes and restaurants. Accommodating dogs is the focus of The Privileged Pooch, but Espinosa features hotels, boutiques, and eateries that would appeal to dog owners whether or not they were traveling with their pets. If more information is needed, she included the website and phone number for almost every location.

The Privileged Pooch; Luxury Travel With Your Pet In Southern California

by Maggie Espinosa

http://www.travelwithmaggie.com/

Best Shampoo for Yorkshire Terriers

We used this shampoo last fall and really loved it! Then my bottle got misplaced and we tried a couple other brands that were just OK. I found my bottle of Yorkie Splash today and was so excited, gave Trixie a bath this afternoon.

I remembered right away why I like it. It lathers up nicely and rinses out faster than anything I have ever tried. Her hair was squeakly clean! And had a nice soft gentle scent.

The owners say, "Yorkie Splash is made of organic ingredients. There are no man made chemical soap products (it is a castille soap) or artificial ingredients (with the exception of some parts of the fragrance oil). Because of this, it will take some time for your Yorkie to “adjust” to being cleaned naturally.

The first time you wash your Yorkie with Yorkie Splash, the immediate reaction after rinsing will be a “waxy” feeling. This is normal, and the waxy feeling will fade as the hair dries.

Shampooing with man made materials strips the skin of natural oils. So, the more often you wash with regular shampoo, the more oil the skin has to produce to keep the skin balanced. Once you start using a natural shampoo, there will be a transition process as the body tries to “rebalance” the oils. At first, your Yorkie may continue to over produce oil.

After about 3 – 4 weeks you will start to notice a big difference in your Yorkie’s coat. You will be amazed at what your Yorkie’s coat really feels and looks like – naturally! "

You MUST try these products! We love them! Yorkie Shampoo.

Audrey Hepburn and her Yorkshire Terrier Mr. Famous

Mr. Famous was Audrey Hepburn's first beloved Yorkshire Terrier, and actually appeared with her in a scene in Funny Face. DID YOU KNOW? It was Audrey Hepburn, who actually introduced Yorkshire Terriers to the world of celebrities, this big fashion to have a lap-dog started in Hollywood exactly from Audrey and her little friend Mr. Famous.

For Audrey, Mr. Famous was the object of her love, who shared with her the place on the magazine's covers. The tiny dog became an integral Audrey's companion, and the great actress was giving him all her love and devotion.

During the shoot of The Children's Hour, Mr. Famous was run over on Wilshire Boulevard and killed.

After the death of Mr. Famous, Mel Ferrer gave Hepburn another Yorkie named Assam of Assam.

Is This Cat Cuter Than a Yorkie?

OK - that kitty is REALLY CUTE!

But is she cuter than me???

The Yorkshire Terrier vs the Micro Pig

(micro pigs by Geoff Robinson Photography)

Should Yorkies be worried of the rising popularity of Micro Pigs?
They are cute, I will give them that. And their size is perfect.

Iguanas had their day but reptiles are so '80s.

There have been so many trends that holding the title of pet-du-jour for longer than five minutes is harder than finding a lost Yorkie at doggie daycare.

Pet micro-pigs are gaining popularity it seems. Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, gave her husband two last Christmas. Paris Hilton has added one to her collection of pets. Rupert Grint, aka Ron Weasley in the "Harry Potter" movies, recently brought two home.

Should the Yorkie be worried? or is this another passing trend?

They say they are loving. They will lay with you and watch TV.

And they seem to have feelings....

When it comes to pigs, of any size, I have to admit that I think of bacon, pork sausages or a good pork sandwich. And I also think of STINK and MUD! I also believe that dogs truly are man's best friend, not a pig. A dog was placed on this earth to be the perfect companion and, in my mind, history shows that they have fulfilled their role exceptionally well. A dog will play with you, go running with you and, when called upon in a time of need, will even protect you. I think movies like Charlottes Web and Babe are giving pigs a good name!

Well if you are thinking about a micro pig, remember this......Sure they can live a little longer than Yorkies. A pig can live to be 19 or even 20. But when they grow up, a fully-grown micro-pig can weigh between 40 and 65 pounds and can be over a foot tall.

I will never be that big!

So there!

Does Your Yorkie Lick Your Face and Give You Kisses?

Aren't you glad you have a Yorkie?!

Worst and Best Foods for Dogs and Yorkies

Pet owners should know how to read labels. They should really teach us that in school! Maybe they do these days - they never did when I was in school! But nutritional labels and ingredient labels ARE SO IMPORTANT! If you don't know, the words "by-products" are something you want to avoid in your pets food. What are "by-products" ? You Ask? You don't really want to know, trust me! But you don't want ANY FOOD that contains "by-products".

CORN and OTHER GLUTEN ingredients can cause dog allergies for some dogs. These are also ingredients you want to avoid. There are no bad for your dog per se', but they offer no nutritional value and dogs can't digest them.

Smaller companies usually produce good food. IAMS used to be a great company. The original owner of IAMS used high quality ingredients for his pet food brand and he never used cheap dog food ingredients just to make a profit. What do corporations do? They cut corners to make bigger profits. Mr. Iams got sick in 1999 so he had to sell his company - It was gobbled up by P & G and that’s when IAMS started to go downhill.


Other bad foods include EUKANUBA, Alpo,Beneful Dog Food, Hills Science Diet Dog Food, Pedigree Dog Food, Purina One and Chow Dog Food, Kibbles and Bits - to same some of the top offenders.

What makes these foods so bad? The contain waste and fillers.
■By-Products
■Non specefic animal source
■Contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin
■No meats in the first five ingredients
■Contains artificial colorants
■Contains ground corn or whole grain corn

These are just some of the things that will make a brand of dog food the worst. Now lets take a look at some of the better dog food brands on the market (These are just my opinion based on the ingredients).

I have been told Royal Canin for Yorkies is a great food. But it does contain some corn and gluten. Others brands I have been reccommended include Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Life's Abundance has all natural human grade ingredients and NOTHING bad in it, Merrick is also rated very good.

There is a site called DOG FOOD ANALYSIS, that rates food. ARTEMIS comes up on top. And many of these companies WILL SEND YOU A FREE SAMPLE, if you want to try it.

So lets eat! What's for dinner?!

Mini Yorkie Swarovski Crystal Bath Tub

Miniature Swarovski Crystal Bathtub: $3000.00

Miniature Yorkshire Terrier: PRICELESS!

Cats and Yorkies - DON'T LIKE BATHS

I do not like baths! I don't why....I fell into a pool when I was very young and perhaps it traumatized me! But every Saturday, when I see my dad grab my towels and the blow dryer, I RUN.

But it's really not that bad.

And when it's all over, I feel so fresh again!

This is my buddy BOB (below) He hates baths too!

Look at that face! He looks like he is going to cry!

Tell EBAY to Quit Selling Puppy Mill Animals

Ebay doesn't allow live animals to be put up for auction, but on their Classifieds site, animal sales are fair game.

Ebay claims that they have safeguards in place to protect the animals. But unless eBay is inspecting all of the operations listing pets for sale (because the USDA is not), and unless they're doing home visits on all of the people buying, how could they possibly protect the animals?

The answer: They can't. Because of a loophole in the laws, as long as animals are being sold online, the breeders don't even fall under USDA regulation. Ebay has given puppy mills a huge, unregulated platform to peddle cruelty. And it seems that they're hoping animal advocates won't notice.

Several years ago, the company planned a live animals category in their auctions. The public outcry was so strong that they abandoned the plan. But then eBay Classifieds came along, and apparently the company forgot that people didn't want to see live animals for sale on their site.

Remind eBay that people don't want to see live animals sold anywhere on their site, and ask them to shut down the live animal listings in eBay Classifieds.

Update: Ebay posted a response in the comments of the blog post about their pet sales. However, they continue to avoid the fact that online listings attract puppy mills and backyard breeders and that there is no way for them to ensure that animals come from reputable sources or end up in good homes.

In their response, eBay also referred to a partnership with Petfinder; however, if they want to help homeless pets find homes, then they should work with Petfinder to convert their services entirely to an adoption service rather than listing adoptable animals alongside puppy mill dogs.

IT TAKES JUST SECONDS TO SIGN THIS PETITION!

Puppy Park! Yorkie APP Game for your Phone

Yorkie phone app/game!

Biting a bad apple beats down Corduroy's health.

Eating a bone boosts his speed. In a virtual sense anyway.

The tiny Yorkshire Terrier started running across iPhone screens last week, one of Apples's most recent apps - short for applications - and the design of Wellington resident Fred Shernoff.

Corduroy is also the name of Shernoff's real-life 3-pound puppy, which looks strikingly similar to the blinking brown dog players find on Puppy Park! (Make sure you download the right one. You want PUPPY PARK! by Whitemarsh Games. There is a free lite version or a 99 cent regular version.)

"He's a tiny little fireball," Shernoff said.

Shernoff's wife, Tyler, came up with a loose framework for the game last summer when the two were on one of their frequent strolls through their Olympia neighborhood, Corduroy leading the way.

"All of a sudden he took off after a truck and was thrashing against his leash," said Fred Shernoff, 29.

Why not a game with a puppy getting worked up and chasing after things, his wife suggested.

Shernoff, who in his youth dreamed of becoming a video game programmer, picked up a few books, including iPhone Programming for Dummies, and got to work.

"I didn't know anything going into it," said Shernoff, who is also a real estate developer for Tri-Star Associates Inc.

Apple offers an astounding 350,000 apps for its iPhone, all but a handful of them designed by people or companies other than Apple, according to an Apple spokesman. In late January, about 10 billion downloads had been made from Apple's App Store.

Shernoff's app has averaged about 30 paid downloads a day, he said. Puppy Park! sells for $.99. Shernoff keeps $.70 of that, and Apple gets $.29, the standard split the company offers. A free version of the game is available as well.

Shernoff paid a $99 annual fee to join Apple's developer program, which allows members to submit as many apps as they want for the company's consideration. An Apple spokesman declined to say how many submissions the company has gotten.

It took just five days for Apple to review and approve Puppy Park!, Shernoff said.

The game is designed to allow all of its players to compete for the highest score.

When Corduroy crosses paths with a meowing black cat, the game is over. The sweater-wearing Yorki bears his teeth and chases the cat off the screen. No gore or dead dog scenes.

"It's simple but challenging," Shernoff said.

And it's suitable for small children.

Does Your Dog Have Bieber Fever?

BIEBER FEVER!



This Valentine's Day,

the animals of

Best Friends

Animal Society are getting gussied

up for a night on the town and reminding you to fix the ones you love!



When we spay or neuter our pets, we reduce the number of animals in shelters and get closer to a time when there are No More Homeless Pets!



This is another awesome video

that will make you smile -

and hopefully donate a couple bucks!

They even offer a FREE,

oh-so-cute-and-fun e-card that you

can photo personalize with your dog or cats head? :)





Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. At the core of Best Friends' work is the dream that one day kindness will replace cruelty, and animals will no longer be destroyed because they are unwanted or imperfect. Spaying and neutering will be the rule for all pets and adoption will be the first option for everyone. Making this dream a reality is the mission we call No More Homeless Pets. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners
across the nation.



For more information visit: www.bestfriends.org

Alpha Yorkies - Owned By A Yorkie

I found this cute shirt! OWNED BY A YORKIE! It's available online for about $16

I think many of us are owned by our Yorkies! They love to try to be the Alpha! But we really should have some boundaries with them, so they know who is boss!

Yorkie and Dog Expert SHADA BAKER says - No one says Patting and hugging your dog is wrong, but if you want to be alpha, be advised before you spoil your dog too much. Usually the fussing is done over the alpha dog while the dogs lower down in the pack have to be doing the entire show of licking and groveling. Physical cuddling is a show of subordination.

So if you are constantly picking up your puppy and cuddling it all the time, and leaving the training of simple dog obedience commands till later, you could be on the way to losing the alpha spot. Pat your dog or puppy, but first teach him or her to sit down. Once they learn the sit command, call them to you, make them sit and then do the patting.

Use the “no” and the “sit” commands from the beginning. If he comes up to you with a wagging tail, wanting some attention, don’t rush to cosset him. Sit him down and then pat him.





Touch your dog, as in roll him over, rub his belly, feel his face, stick your finger in to feel his gum. All these actions will not only help you when you groom him, these are also acts of submission on the part of your dog. If he lets you handle his body without growling, it means he has accepted you as the alpha.

Grooming your dog is a great way of establishing a bond with him or her and a way of showing you care and also a way of showing you are in control. Handle your older dog patiently, as he or she might object while a puppy would be more accepting. Trixie used to HATE to be combed or brushed. But I used Treats! To get her to be submissive, and now she waits patiently, while I comb her, knowing treats come at the end!




Increase the handling of the dog gradually and soon you will see that he or she is more comfortable with your touch, because they trust you as the alpha.

Vicious Yorkshire Terrier Terrorizes Postal Carrier in England

HOW ON EARTH CAN A 6" little 3# pound dog, terrorize ANYONE?

The Royal Mail (London) has stopped deliveries to a street in Northampton after claiming that a Yorkshire terrier attacked a postman.

Residents were sent a letter informing them that no post would be delivered after December 7 because of the actions of the 15cm dog named Peggy, who has been dubbed 'The Beast of Dorset Gardens', AFP reports.

"Because of the dog's behaviour, [the postman] believes your mail cannot be delivered safely and in the circumstances I have instructed him not to deliver mail to your address," the letter read.

However, owner Kathleen Joyce, 49, told the Northampton Chronicle: "Peggy has barked at the postman but she wouldn't hurt anyone. She is only little.

"She has been in this family for ten years and there is no way we are going to get rid of her."

However, an unnamed neighbor who has been forced to make a 22km journey to pick up his mail claimed: "It is a vicious little thing and I have seen it going for the postman."

The local council has warned that Joyce and her family may lose their rented home if they refuse to rehome Peggy.

THAT IS SO CRAZY!!!

Trixie's Lazy Dog Days in the Sun...with Tigger

You know what a beach bum I am! I love the summer in Chicago and going to the beach and playing in the sand......During the winter, I lay in sun whenever I can. Dad leaves the blinds up on sunny days, so I bask in the heat waves!

And when there is no sun, sometimes Tigger and I lay together!

I love Tigger! :-)

Gigolo - Giggy The Pom - Real Housewives Beverly Hills

We are big fans of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And I adore Gigolo! (aka Giggy!)

Giggy is an adorable and sexy little POM that belongs to Lisa VanderPump.

Of course, Giggy has a site and blog - like MOI! And he Tweets on Twitter.

Giggy and I email each other - we even have the same pink IPAD! LOL

Faith A Two Legged Dog With Lots of Love

Faith.
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.
He was born with 2 legs - He of course could not walk when he was born.
Even his mother did not want him.




His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself..
She named him 'Faith'.




In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around. Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk. TREATS can teach a dog anything!

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.


Faith loves to walk around now.
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.
He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and
has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.



In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better
you just need to look at life from another direction.

When I Googled TWO LEG DOG - Actually A LOT of dogs came up! Some even had wheels!

Faith lives in Inidana. So stop by and Give Faith some love!
Faith has her own site of course, called FAITH THE DOG

and book. Faith Alone: Stories of an Amazing Dog.

Faith is also in negotiations with a publisher for a brand new educational book!
A memoir called FAITH WALKS.

They are trying to get as many people as possible to know about this exciting book and express your love and interest! Check Out the FAITH WALKS SITE, and you can send an email to FaithWalksBook@gmail.com saying you're willing to buy the book "Faith Walks" when it comes out. If you are on the list you will receive the discount and pay actual shipping. No handling charges will be assessed.

Codi's Journey - A Heartwarming Story About An Amazing Best Friend

FINALLY! You can read CODI'S JOURNEY!

We told you about this book last year, and now it is starting to become available for to the public. Currently it is available as a downloadable eBook, from AMAZON, Barbes and Noble and soon through iTunes.

Early in his relationship with his beloved Border Collie, author Jeff Maziarek had a sense that “beneath the fur” there was a sentient being with far deeper insights into life than commonly thought. And, in their last year together some mystical events completely confirmed the accuracy of that feeling. In Codi’s Journey, Jeff describes these events within the context of an entertaining and heartfelt narrative illustrating the very challenging circumstances Codi faced during the final 12 months of her life. Any dog owner who has ever shared stories about the “humanness” of their pet, as well as anyone who have ever loved and lost a beloved animal companion, will surely find this work captivating.

To provide even greater depth into Codi’s story, Jeff details how this feisty canine became a part of his family. He likewise shares many engaging anecdotes about her personality and several of her more memorable adventures over the years. A charming photo gallery with 42 captioned images further brings Codi to life, featuring snapshots from the night she arrived as a 10-week-old puppy to the final week of her life.

"This book captures the dynamics of being a pet owner and the guilt, grief, and commitment that many pet owners go through in loving and losing a pet. As someone who has "been there," it was reassuring that I am not the only one to feel those things, to do whatever it took to save them and, when the time came, to let them go. Any book that can stir laughter as well as tears is a wonderful story. Codi’s Journey is awesome."

– Terri Wernert, Great Lakes Border Collie Rescue

"For anyone who has experienced a spiritual canine connection, Codi's Journey is a must read. It’s a touching tribute to a man’s search for a very special pup and the heart-warming life journey they shared."

– Eugenia Last, Renowned Internationally Syndicated Astrologist and Author

"Codi’s story is one told with great heart; you will care about this dog as you think about your own dogs. Anyone who has ever loved and lost canine companions will definitely identify with this work."– Steve Dale, host of the nationally syndicated "PetWorld" on WLS Radio in Chicago and of the "Pet Minute"

Author's Personal Note: My foremost intention in telling this story is to share two key messages. First, that our pets (dogs in this instance), actually are “sages with fur” who have a far greater understanding of life (and us) than commonly thought. Second, that it’s perfectly normal to feel intense and long-lasting grief at the loss of a pet. This is particularly so when that animal served as one’s primary companion for many years.

In this regard, I sincerely want any reader who also has experienced such a loss to know that someone truly does understand the sadness and emptiness they felt when their beloved pet passed on. Finally, it’s my hope that such readers come to understand how important it is to fully process their feelings of grief by really feeling them rather than keeping them locked up inside.

Check it out! Soon available in paperback!