The Pet Postcard Project

Mutts and Muttinis

Yappy Hours and the Single’s Scene

No pets allowed. Dogs on leash. Curb your dog. Oh, how the rules have changed.

In many European countries, dogs are not only allowed, they are welcomed in bars and restaurants. The United States is just getting used to hearing the click-clack of doggie nails on nightclub floors – and we love it.

The dog park is nice, but dirty paw prints on a Prada skirt aren’t. For a lot of folks, five o’clock means martinis and mingling, not mutts and mud. And so the “yappy hour” was born. Nine-to-fivers no longer have to worry about Fido home alone, tearing up the couch cushions. Just bring your dog and your best “come hither” look (if you don’t have one, that’s what the dog is for), and mingle with the other singles over cocktails and doggie bones.

St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ, regularly hosts a fundraising yappy hour, most recently on the terrace of a posh restaurant overlooking a golf course. Lisa Konefal, an office manager at Net Worth Management Group from South River, NJ, attended with Willie, her 11 year old Jack Russell Terrier.

“There were a few couples, but most people went without their spouse or were single,” says Konefal. “That’s one of the reasons why I went, because I’m single. But, there weren’t a lot of single men there. It was mostly women. Women take more time to spend with their dogs at social events. I met a lot of people – not single men – but there will be other events, I’m sure, where there will be single men with their dogs.”

Whether their humans are single or not, the dogs always have a tail-wagging time at these events. Elizabeth McCorkle, president of St. Hubert’s, says that they always have a “dog bar” at their events, where one of the local dog bakeries sets up treats and canine cakes. But the best thing about the yappy hour isn’t the novelty of paw-shaped bonbons or “Muttini” drinks. It’s that a pooch is better at breaking the ice than any pickaxe.

“Having a dog gets you out there meeting people and gives you some common things to talk about,” says Konefal. “I feel comfortable going out with other people that I have something in common with. You’re more at ease going up to someone when you have something in common, like owning a dog. You can start with, ‘What’s your dogs name?’ ‘How long have you had him?’ ‘Where did you get your dog from?’”

Making a human love connection at a yappy hour is probably just as likely as anywhere else, but the dogs making a love connection – that’s a given. Who can forget the spaghetti scene from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp?

Jordan Murray, owner of Camp Bowwow, Pittsburgh, Penn., says that the social events that his organization holds has inspired some true doggie love. One of those “couples” was a Chihuahua and a Chi-mix, a Katrina rescue, who “dated” after they met at a mixer.

There are few sure things in life, but you can always count on your dog. That’s probably why social events like the yappy hour are becoming more commonplace. The only other sure thing is that, on the morning after a few “curmopolitans,” both human and hound are going to need a little hair of the dog.

by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine

Puggy Love

Smug as a Pug in a Private Airplane

            They shed. They snore. They’re nearly impossible to train. There’s nothing as smug as a Pug. So why are they the most spoiled dog breed on earth?

            “Pugs are just so darn cute that they have to be spoiled,” says Jennifer Heintz, a physical therapist from Peachtree City, GA, owner of a four year old fawn Pug, Alice. “The Puggy face and head tilts almost like a human. Pugs are like little children that make you want to give them everything they want. Alice has more jackets and sweaters than I have. When she rides in the car, she has her own pink, extra soft dog bed that she sits in so that her paws don't get too hot on the leather seats. She has her own spot on the bed – the other human pillow – and she isn’t happy unless she’s there.”

            The way most Pugs live gives a new meaning to “a dog’s life.” There’s something about the breed that inspires pampering. Perhaps it’s the big eyes, the vulnerable look on the delightfully smushed face, or the innocent airs (which can be deceiving!). Whatever the case, Pug owners agree that once you’ve been Pugged, you’re Pugged forever. It’s no wonder these dogs are spoiled – their servants . . . er, owners, are extremely dedicated.

            Sara Bell, owner of a spoiled Pug puppy, Copilot, from Bakersfield, CA, said that a sixth of the hanging space in her walk-in closet is dedicated to Copilot’s clothing, including custom made and imported outfits.

            “She has an outfit for tea, for a fancy party, a boat ride, a sunny picnic, you name the occasion, she’s got the perfect outfit, likely with a matching collar and lead,” says Bell. “She has a variety of jewelry, including a real pearl necklace, has several beds for her sleeping comfort, and gets at least a new toy every day. She really runs our household!”

            Bell also cooks poached chicken for Copilot and hand-makes treats. When this treasured Pug isn’t dining in style, she’s jet-setting in her owners’ private plane, complete with her own headset for ear protection. Currently, the Bells are in the process of decorating the dog’s own room.

            “It will be done in Pug art décor with a real bed, her snuggle ball bed, a potty area (just in case), her refreshment center, and I’m looking at armoires for her clothes,” says Bell.

            Bell isn’t alone in her allegiance to this breed. Even those owners who don’t buy pearl necklaces for their Pugs still offer interior design and maid service.

            “Everything that goes on in this house is for the Pugs,” says Sally Coffer, owner of three Pugs and a Pug mix in Rochester Hills, MI. “The dog beds are fur or velour, something soft because that’s what they like to snuggle in. They have a large laundry basket full of toys and bones, but we still buy them more. Their bedding gets washed once a week in baby laundry soap. If I would have had Pugs when I was younger I wouldn’t have had kids!”

            If every dog has his day, then it’s Pug Day every day for these precious pooches. If you’ve read this far and you still don’t understand what the fuss is about, then you certainly don’t own a Pug. Perhaps, if you’re lucky, one will allow you to be his friend someday. Until then, there’s always Schnauzers. 

by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine

Haute Hollywood Hound

Doggie Style in Fashion’s Capital City

            The top’s down on the convertible, the radio blaring. The flashy blonde behind the wheel bops along, singing in her best karaoke voice, her sunglasses pushed up high on her nose. Every head turns as she drives by, and she knows it. But it’s not because of her perfect highlights or her vanity plate – it’s because of her companion. They could be twins in the same shiny pink outfit, same glasses, same crystal necklace – except the person in the passenger seat is a bulldog.

            “Dog fashion in L.A. gives people a chance to express their creativity and their personalities,” said Cindy Scott, a dog trainer from Placentia, CA. “I get a lot of varying responses when my dogs are accessorized. You’d be surprised how many people ask if ‘pink is my dog’s natural hair color.’ Really.”

            When most people think of Hollywood, they think glitz and glam and celebrities lunching at fabulous eateries wearing fabulous clothes. But in L.A., it’s not just the celebs that dine in style. Elizabeth Vargas of Newport Beach, CA, regularly dolls up her Pomeranian, Bella Luna, to mingle with the chic-est of the chic.

            “If we’re going to a gala she wears sunglasses and sometimes a hat, a boa and shoes, along with a cute outfit,” said Vargas. “People are always stopping us to take a photo of her. She always has a pawdicure.”

            Lauri Julian of Laguna Beach, CA, said that celebrities definitely influence doggie fashion in L.A.

            “When I saw Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, wearing pink Lily Boots on The Simple Life, I knew I had to have a pair for my Chihuahua, Chloe,” she said.

            But like celebrities, just because you can dress them up, doesn’t mean the dogs won’t behave like . . . well, dogs.

            “Chloe, my poodle, and I walked in the Chinese New Year Parade in Pasadena this year wearing matching red silk Mandarin jackets, and she wore a little red hat,” said MaryLisa Bolton of Long Beach, CA. “We got lots of cheers. She was it! That is, until she thought the horse in front of us was dropping treats for her to eat. The location was filled with media, news crews, and flash bulbs. Needles to say, we ended up on the cutting room floor.”

            Hollywood isn’t just famous for its glamour, it’s also known for a particular new age vibe, and that trickles down to the residents on four feet.

            “L.A. is an ‘any thing goes’ kind of town, so it’s accepted that our dogs can have any type of fabu life that their owners have,” said Yvonne Moore of Torrance, CA. “Why wouldn’t my totally hip puppy from a funky artsy family totally have only the most far-out jewelry of moon stone and rose quartz and have the softest batik scarves adorn her neck and have her energy calmed and blessed each morning with aroma therapy of lavender and Aveda’s love oil?”

            Sure, why not? And after a day of “doga” (doggie yoga) and a spa treatment, it might be time to join the “Paw-llywood Woof of Fame.” Pet First-Aid Instructor, Denise Fleck of Shadow Hills, CA, has taken a twist on Sid Grauman’s walk of fame, where stars put their hand and footprints in cement. Fleck does the same for her furry kids.

            “Everyone likes to leave their mark in this town,” said Fleck, “So my husband and I decided to immortalize our canine kids in our own backyard.”

            Fame in Tinsel Town might be easy-come-easy-go, but luckily for dog owners, a dog’s loyalty and love isn’t, no matter what you’re wearing.

by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine 

Dog Spa Days

Exfoliation for Fido

            It has finally happened. This inevitable, radical development has been a long time in coming, but it’s here. Are you sitting down? You can now buy a hydrating facial scrub for dogs. It’s true. These days, exfoliating in the shower next to your dog isn’t all that strange. Who knew that dogs needed to exfoliate? Apparently they do.

            It wasn’t that long ago that people thought dogs didn’t need spa treatments, like aromatherapy, paw-dicures, massage, and bodywork, but they need that too, it seems. It’s the latest trend, and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down. In fact, many groomers these days are now offering “spa treatments,” and manufactures of pet products have jumped on the spa bandwagon with aromatherapy collars and candles for pets. It’s a dog’s life, indeed.

            Veronica Burke of New York City does therapeutic body work for dogs and people, but the most thriving part of her business lately has been canine. For $120 a session (1 to 2 hours) Burke will chill out your hot dog.

            “Our animals pick up our stress, and even though your animal may live the life of luxury, all dogs need to work, and when they take our lives instead of their lives, they get stressed,” Burke says. “I teach my clients how to touch their animals as a mother dog would do with a puppy, and they get a tremendous response. People see a definite change in their dogs after a spa day. The older the dogs get, they more they need a little extra care. This work really has recuperative properties.”

            Doggie daycares and boarding facilities have gotten their feet wet in the spa pool too, and are offering spa services that are very similar to human spas.

            “People love their dog, and when they leave their dog here they might want him to get a fifteen minute massage every day and a gourmet meal in the morning,” said Michelle O’Connell, general manager at the The Ritzy Canine, a dog spa and daycare in New York City. “It’s a way of pampering their pet. All breeds come in for it, but it’s mostly done with the small dogs.”

            The concept of the “spa day” has even gone by way of the hounds. It used to be that a “spa day” meant getting together with one or two girlfriends and getting seaweed wraps from well-built, handsome guys in white t-shirts. Nowadays, the spa day has turned into the “s-paw day,” with groups of dog owners and their pooches meeting on weekends for a relaxing “sparty.” Recently Corris Little, a Schnauzer owner and organizer of the New York City Schnauzer playgroup in New York City, hosted a spa day with some of her friends at a hydrotherapy spa.

            “Though Roxie doesn’t have any ailments, I wanted to take her for a doggie paddle in the pool and see how it worked out,” said Little. “It was a great way to cool off in August. I’m one of the more fanatical dog owners that you’ll meet. I don’t have any children, and my dog gives me unconditional love, and I want to return the favor. I go to the spa about six times a year, so it’s a natural transition that I want to do the same things for my pet as I do for myself.”

        The spa trend isn’t as over-the-top as you may think. Dogs seem to respond well to massage and acupuncture, and all of that shea butter and tea tree oil in their shampoos can’t hurt. Of course, the dog’s favorite part of the spa day is that gourmet meal – even the most spoiled spa dog is probably a first-class chowhound. 

by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine

Don’t Pet the Pooches

Dog Show Etiquette 

Dog shows are exciting, the perfect place to meet people that are as enthusiastic about your breed as you are. As a spectator, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and cheer for your favorite dog. But, if you want to get a little closer to the action with ringside seats, there are a few rules of etiquette that everyone should follow (even if you’re sitting in the nosebleed section):

1. Don’t bring your own dog to the show. Even if little Poochie can fit in a Pucci bag, dogs that aren’t in the show are not allowed on show grounds.
2. Never pet a dog without asking permission. “The dog may be groomed and coiffed to perfection and headed to the ring,” said David Frei, Director of Communications of The Westminster Kennel Club and the on-air co-host for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on the USA Network, as well as the television co-host for the National Dog Show on NBC on Thanksgiving Day. “Most of the time people are happy to share their dogs with the public, but choose the right moment to ask.”
3. Keep kids contained. Kids may distract the show dogs, and those little sticky chocolate-covered fingers aren’t a good complement for a show dog’s coat, especially if the dog is light colored or white.
4. Keep munchies away from the ring. The dogs may become distracted by your food if you’re eating too close to them. Remember, the dogs aren’t perfectly trained little robots – they are just dogs.
5. Talk to exhibitors and handlers after they’ve shown. Once the handler is done with the ring, he or she will be much more relaxed and able to chat.
6. Dog showing is a “gentleman’s sport,” so no booing, please. Applause and cheering are great for a good show around the ring. If you can get the people around you to do “the wave,” more power to you (but it’s unlikely to happen).

 by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine

The Life of the Pawty

Parties Aren’t Just For Pocket Dogs Anymore

The fraternity house isn’t the only place you’ll find party animals. People are celebrating their dogs’ milestones with big bashes, from birthdays to bark mitzvahs, and even canine weddings. Surprisingly, it’s not just fluffy little Fifi that’s in the throne of honor at a doggy affair. Dogs of all sizes and breeds are getting in on the action.

Betsey Blimline, a marketing manager from Atlanta, GA, has thrown four birthday parties at the Barking Hound Village in Atlanta, three for 35 pound Shyla, an All American Mutt rescue, and one for Knox, an 85 pound Chow mix rescue. These aren’t the kind of dogs you might imagine as the guest of honor, but Blimline believes that the bigger dogs have more fun at the parties in general – one of Shyla’s shindigs had a beach theme with the guests in luau garb and the dogs swimming in shallow pools.

“I went to a doggy dress-up party once where there were mostly pocket dogs. The dress-up part didn’t work that well for Shyla. Her parties are little more interactive and fun. That other party was more about showing off your pet and letting everyone compliment him. For me, the dog’s birthday is a good excuse to have a party, but it also provides the dogs with exercise, which people tend to neglect.”

Only healthy, dog-appropriate party fare is served at the buffet table, like all-natural carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting. The people-food is often toned down so that no one gets carried away feeding Fido under the table, leaving the pooch’s owner to deal with a tummy-ache later.

At a party at Biscuits and Bath in New York City there might be a prize for the “best popcorn catcher,” another for the dog that can sit closest to a bull’s eye, and a game where owners compete against one another to see how many clothes they can put on their dog in one minute. A pet caricaturist can come in to draw pictures of the dogs, and most of the tail-waggers wear pointy paper hats – well, at least for a little while. If it sounds a little like a child’s birthday party, it should. Why shouldn’t the dogs have the same privileges as the children of the family?

“Parties are socially affirming that the dog is part of the family,” said John Ziegler, founder of Biscuits and Bath in New York, NY. “It brings people together ceremonially and reaffirms that part of our culture. I don’t think people want to do this because they want to paint their dogs nails a certain color. It’s more about socialization, not just for the pets, but for the parents as well.”

Party hats are fine for a birthday, but a doggie wedding requires something a little more en vogue. Biscuits and Bath recently held a wedding where the bride, Cinder, a shepherd mix, wore a wedding gown designed by Vera Wang, and the groom, Max, also a shepherd mix, donned a tux. With 1200 guests in attendance, the catered event was far larger than most people’s nuptials. The dogs wrote their own bow-vows, which included the line, “Do you faithfully promise to never bark or bite other than in loving play?” Let’s hope they keep their promises and never stray, because Biscuits and Bath probably isn’t licensed to do a doggie divorce.  

 

by Nikki Moustaki

This article was originally published in Dog Fancy Magazine