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year of the dog

2/20/2018

“Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. “
-- Roger Caras

Happy Chinese New Year! I know, weird way to start a blog about dogs, but it's the Year of the DOG, y'all! It's really perfect timing for me, since dogs have become such a big part of my life. Am I a lucky girl, or what? To be honest, I had no idea what the different zodiac animals meant, other than what I read on Chinese restaurant place mats as a kid, which told me I'm a rabbit. A whole year of celebrating the dog is pretty awesome, so let's find out the how and why of it all.

So, if you were born this year or in the years 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006, then this will be a year of good fortune for you, according to the zodiac. One legend states that the Jade Emperor was having a party, and the zodiac animals were named in the order they arrived to the party. The dog, which is the 11th member of the zodiac, was obviously fashionably late, huh? Actually, the story goes that the dog, monkey, and rooster were off in another country helping fight evil spirits, and that's how they ended up at the end of the zodiac. That's a pretty good excuse for bein' late to the party, if you ask me. According to astrologer Laura Lau, the dog is “a true companion, associated with loyalty, honesty, intelligence, and a strong sense of right and wrong. The dog does his best to protect high-integrity people and support their cause.”. I think any dog lover can attest to that, right? So what the Year of the Dog translates to, according to Lau, is that it's a great time to fight for a good cause, volunteer, and just generally devote yourself to random acts of kindness. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that EVERY year should be Year of the Dog.

Let's compare humans born in the Year of the Dog to their zodiac and live dog counterparts. One of the first things I noticed is that my husband is a dog-- in the zodiac sense, of course! So what is a “dog”? Well, “dog” men are straightforward, pessimistic, and always ready to correct others. Sorry, honey, but the zodiac has confirmed it! Hahaha. But seriously, the male “dogs” are also deeply rooted in family, which seems to dampen some of their stubbornness to make way for compromise and a good family life. Hubs, you're officially off the hook (that, and the fact that he's compatible with a rabbit)! But really, several of those characteristics remind me of dogs: Straightforward? Check. Family-oriented? Check. Ready to correct others? If you've ever heard a dog bark at you, then you know this is a GIANT check! Women “dogs” are cautious, but once you earn their trust, you have it for life. Like male “dogs”, they are very protective of family and friends. Women “dogs” are also hard workers, but love being outdoors. So many similar qualities to dogs: Trust? Check. Protective? Check. Love being outdoors? Check. Hard working? Uh.....some dogs? Let's call it a check minus!

Although obviously rooted in legend and myth, the zodiac is fun and fascinating. So thank you to the Chinese culture for being so colorful, spirited, and thoughtful....and for including dogs in your astrology. Dogs are definitely worth celebrating! Special shout out to my boss, Lucy, for inspiring the idea for today's blog. Her love and appreciation of dogs is what started it all. Happy Lunar New Year, and Tails UP!

https://chinesenewyear2018.com/zodiac/dog
/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5399119/What-year-dog-bring-you.html
https://www.refinery29.com/2018/02/190941/year-of-the-dog-chinese-zodiac-2018

dining with dogs

2/16/2018

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.”
― Dean Koontz, A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog

When I was out at the dog park the other day, I took a moment, looked up at the beautiful, cloudless blue sky, and said a silent “thank you” for the privilege of living in such an amazing place. The ability to enjoy the outdoors almost all year round is truly a gift. As I looked at the adorable pooches running around the park, I decided my next blog HAD to be about where I could enjoy a meal outside in the lovely weather with these sweet fur babies right beside me. I set about asking some long-time residents and doing some online searches, and came up with some great options. Hope you're hungry!

Ladera Shopping Center
3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley
   Ladera Shopping Center is located right near Highway 280, but you wouldn't know it from the quaint appearance and serenity of the place. It's a bit rustic, with cute little shops, a beautiful market, several great restaurants and a coffee shop. On any given day, you will see people sitting outside on the various patios, enjoying a meal with friends, family, and, of course, their dogs. I vow to try all of the eateries there, and my boss says you can't go wrong with any of them. Seafood, Mexican, Italian, they've got it. I wanna try them all, but for now I have only been to Portola Kitchen. It's yummy, y'all. They always bring you out some amazing crusty bread to gnaw on while you contemplate your main dish options. Their menu boasts pastas, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, burgers....in other words, all the good stuff. Portola Kitchen has a number of patio tables in the shade, underneath an awning, with a fun view of passers-by....perfect for people and dog watching. If you go, see if you can get Marco to wait on you; a genuine Italian server who goes out of his way to accommodate, Marco never disappoints. When we were there last, he even brought water for the dog. She was more interested in begging for food, of course, but at least she wasn't thirsty!

Left Bank Brasserie
635 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park
   If you are into fancy French fare without needing a fancy outfit, then the Left Bank is for you. Open for brunch, lunch, dinner, and most importantly, Happy Hour, the Left Bank has all the French cuisine you can handle-- and YES, that includes escargot! Hey, don't knock it till you try it. Anything covered in that much butter and garlic has to be good, right? I ordered the Croque Poulet on my visit, which is really just a fancy chicken sandwich, but it was very nice. Now I'm going back and counting the number of times I've said “fancy” (there's one more), but seriously, French= fancy, am I right? The great thing about the Left Bank is that they have outdoor seating so you can enjoy your fancy meal with your fur baby by your side (and it doesn't have to be a fancy French poodle either...see what I did there? We're owning the fancy!). Being in the heart of downtown Menlo Park, the Left Bank's outdoor patio will provide plenty of people watching entertainment. It's also a great area to walk off all that butter with your dog after your meal is over. Bon appetit!

Bagel Street Cafe
746 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park
   Bagel Street Cafe is a cute little bagel and sandwich place in downtown Menlo Park. Each and every time I have been there, the staff has been very friendly and welcoming. They have great bagels and bagel sandwiches that are LOADED with goodies. You will definitely not be hungry after indulging in one of their sammies! Bagel Street also has a few paninis, salads, and lots of great coffee options. It's a perfect place for a casual breakfast or lunch when you just want to order at the counter and not fuss with waitstaff and tipping. There are a couple of little tables outside where you and your dog can sit and enjoy California life. Carb it up!

Cafe Borrone
1010 El Camino, Menlo Park
   I have not yet visited Cafe Borrone, but after reading the menu, it's on my to do list. I DO, however, have it on good authority that they have great coffee and food. Cafe Borrone, per their web site, strives to use local, organic, ingredients and sustainable seafood. Sounds good to me. Cafe Borrone is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has an extensive coffee selection, and offers beer and wine, as well. Although you have to wait in line to order your food, they do have a sizable patio bearing numerous tables with umbrellas for al fresco dining. This would be a fantastic place to hang out with your dog and enjoy some good eats. My stomach is actually growling now!

Max's Opera Cafe
711 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto
   I have it on good authority from a long-time Palo Alto resident that Max's is a fantastic place to eat, drink wine, and be merry with your dog. Great food, wine, and your fur baby? Does it get better than that? I doubt it. When I went to look at their menus, I was overwhelmed and amazed at how many choices there were. Soups, salads, hot sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak.....someone take me to Max's, quick! Their outdoor seating area is shaded by awnings and umbrellas, and is furnished with upscale outdoor tables and chairs. No hard iron seats for your tushy....no, you'll be comfy in their nice wicker chairs. Winner, winner, all-the-things-for-dinner!

Joanie's Cafe
405 South California Avenue, Palo Alto
   If you're looking for a good breakfast or brunch, Joanie's could very well be the place, since they were voted “Best Breakfast in Palo Alto” from 2012-2015. Not too shabby. They've got the usual breakfast fare of egg and pancake dishes, plus crepes and eggs Benedict, as well. Oooh, la la! Not a breakfast person? Joanie's also serves lunch, including hot entrees, hot sandwiches, and salads. My source says that not only is the food great, but that if you are sitting outside with your pup, they have outdoor heaters for our cooler Cali weather. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy about Joanie's right about now. Oh, and I'm really craving some brunch.....

So now that I've blogged about all of these fantastic dog friendly restaurants, I'm thinking that all of our Tails Up outings should include a meal out! Anyone else famished now? Off to scrounge up some grub...

my favorite dog parks

2/6/2018

“In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.”
― W.H. Auden

So this blog is really a follow-up of my last one, if you will (Dog Park 101). If you haven't read that, it is a good introduction to dog park etiquette. After discussing some of the ins and outs of dog parks, I decided to reveal some of my favorite dog parks in the Tails Up Pet Care area. If you wanna see some of the best dog handlers and sweetest pooches around, these are the places to go:

Hoover Park, 2901 Cowper Street, Palo Alto
Parking: Street
Rating: 4.5 paws
Hoover Park is in the heart of Palo Alto, right off Oregon Expressway. You wouldn't know it though, because it's a beautiful place. There are playscapes for kids, a baseball field, a shaded area with cool sculptures to climb and trees to lay under....and, of course, a dog park. Hoover dog park is a favorite for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that they have a built-in water bowl and faucet for the dogs. WINNING! If you've ever hauled water (necessary at most parks), then you'll appreciate this all the more. Dakota, along with several of his friends, can't wait for the water from the spigot to hit the bowl, and he just slurps it happily as it comes out of the faucet. Wet, drippy dog face equals dog joy! The park is quite large, which is perfect for running off all that energy, fetching balls thrown by Chuck-its, and finding the perfect place to do your business. There are several shady areas compliments of some mature trees, which is not all that common in a dog park. There are benches for humans to sit, and pooper scoopers for the inevitable messes. The ground is made up of some kind of sandy dirt, so when it's dry outside-- an let's face it, it usually is-- it's pretty easy to brush off your dog. The down side of this park is that the water bowl area tends to get muddy; all that joyful dog splashing makes a mess! As I've said before, at Tails Up we play in the rain, and Hoover definitely gets large puddles and “lakes” in rainy weather. But overall, this park has it all, including friendly dogs and humans.

Greer Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave, Palo Alto
Parking: Lot, near the dog park
Rating: 3 paws
   Greer Dog Park is nestled right next to 101 in Palo Alto, but is luckily blocked from the freeway noise by lots of trees. Gotta love California! As a whole, Greer Park is large and quite spread out, but does boast all the usual things: sports fields, playgrounds, basketball courts, picnic tables, and even a skateboarding bowl. The dog park itself has similar ground covering to Hoover, with little bits of grass along the sides. Greer dog park is essentially a long rectangular dog run, great for sprinting to get balls, or just running to your heart's content. There is a bench inside for the humans. The inside scoop from some of our handlers is that a doggy play group company brings large groups of dogs there on weekday mornings, and it can be a bit crowded. Having said that, after noon on a weekday the dog park is generally quiet....so you can take your pick! Speaking of a scoop, Greer has one of those for picking up the poop. But do bring your own water, as there is none in this dog park. Greer is a nice in a tucked-in-the-corner kinda way. And there's a walkway that runs right by the dog area, perfect for people to admire your pooch!

Willow Oaks Dog Park, 490 Willow Road, Menlo Park
Parking: Lot (limited spaces)
Rating: 4 paws
   Willow Oaks Dog park is one of my personal favorites, just for the sheer size alone....it's BIG! The park itself has a playground area, tennis courts, a large grassy area for soccer or frolicking, and water fountains. Willow Oaks is a combination of grass and dirt, which makes for some oh-so-happy dogs. So many of our dogs LOVE to dig in that dirt! Remy the Golden Retriever is quite fond of digging a shallow hole and laying in the cool dirt after chasing his ball. Some of our other furry friends just find it fun to make a dirty mess. In dry weather, this is pretty easy to brush off, but in the rain, Zoey the white cockapoo will become black here, so watch out! Because the dog area is so large, there is plenty of room for lots of dogs to play, run, and especially fetch. There is no way your dog can come home from Willow Oaks and not be tired! If your dog does his business, there are bags and scoops to help you clean up. There is no water at this park, so you do have to bring your own. But hey, you can fill your jug in that water fountain, conveniently located by the parking lot. And when you're at Willow, you're almost assured to have friendly dogs and humans to play with. It's a win for sure.

BONUS: Mary Avenue Dog Park, 10309 Mary Ave., Cupertino
Parking: Lot directly in front of park
Rating: 5 paws
   So this dog park is outside of the Tails Up Pet Care area, but it is in MY 'hood, and let me tell you-- I love this place! First and foremost, it has something that a lot of dog owners love, but not a lot of parks have: a small dog area and a large dog area. Both sections are quite sizable, with trees and plenty of open space to run around. The fence is very high, so dogs have no shot at jumping it. Inside the leash removal area, there are several water fountains;: one for humans, one low one for dogs, and a spigot for filling up water bowls. This watering hole is the bomb, y'all! There's always a large bucket in the big dog area that someone has left there as a large water bowl. There are bags and scoops for dog waste, a table with bench seats, and 2 regular benches. But MY favorite thing about this park are the patrons. My first time there, several of the regulars introduced themselves to me. They all hang out together at the park daily (the best times to come are 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.), know about each other's lives, dogs, ailments, and triumphs. This dog park is like the “Mayberry” of dog parks; it's “Cheers”, where everybody knows your name, your dog's name, and....they're always glad you came. For real.

   Of course, there are more dog parks in the area that I haven't discussed, but as I said, these are my favorites, and the ones that Tails Up Pet Care frequents the most. Over the years, through trial, error, and visits, these parks are the ones that have proven, in our minds, and in the hearts of our dogs, to be the best. Happy dogs, happy humans, happy life! Play on, friends. Play on.

year of the dog

dining with dogs

my favorite dog parks

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