That last one – where to board your dog – has got your stumped hasn’t it?  Sometimes you can ask your neighbor but they are going to be out of town.  And the young person who was looking for a summer job?  Ummm, seems they found something else to do.

So where do you board your dog in Northern Virginia?

Today’s Washington Post “Local Living” section offered these top kennels as rated by Washington Consumer’s Checkbook (please note there are several Maryland facilities listed):

• Companion Animal Clinic, Fairfax Station, VA
• Happy Tracks Boarding Kennel and Daycare, Waldorf, MD
• Laytonsville Veterinary Practice, Laytonsville, MD
• Queen Anne Kennel, Upper Marlboro, MD
• Springfield Animal Hospital, Springfield, VA
• Village Veterinary Clinic, Burke, VA 

This was a good article and informative but we have our own local sources from our neighborhood list servs (Rosemont, Del Ray, Beverley Hills). 

This is a recent compilation based on a neighbor’s request for recommendations:

• Dogtopia, Alexandria
• Your Dog’s Best Friend, Alexandria
• Blue Ribbon Acres, Lovettsville
• Interlude Pet Resort, St. Leonard, MD
• Myron McCrensky
  
• and Lennie Shoemaker, Bill Duran, Linda Moncure and Jenny Downey for in-home care.
  

We will be adding to this list as more names come to our attention but this should give you a good start on where to board your dog in Northern Virginia - and a hassle free vacation.

Is there a move in your future?  Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk about what you need to do to buy or sell in today’s market.

Michael

Admission is $5 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Labor Day marks the official end of the summer pool season – for humans – but the city’s dogs will have the last swim, complete with games, treats and toys.

All participating dogs must wear current vaccination tags and be well-behaved both in and out of the pool. “Handlers” must be 16 yrs. of age or older and may not swim or enter the pool with their dogs.

For more information., call the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center at 703.519.2160.

I don’t know about you but this sounds like a whole lot of fun to me!

Michael

(”The World Famous”) Doggie Happy Hour, a long standing tradition at the former Old Town Holiday Inn, is back in full swing on Tuesday and Thursday Nights at what is now the Hotel Monaco.

We ventured out on an delightfully mild July evening to join the fun and were immediately swept into what only be described as pure entertainment.

An interior brick courtyard makes a perfect setting for humans and dogs alike. Complimentary gourmet doggie snacks and numerous water bowls are available for all visiting canines.

Human companions can order from the outdoor bar and feast on local regional specialties from Jackson 20.

Everyone – dog and human alike – was amazingly well behaved and hotel guests joined right in with the locals to pet, pat and pamper.

Management at the new hotel was obviously clued into just how much Alexandrian’s love their four footed friends when they appointed a Director of Pet Relations.

“Charlie” a handsome Bischon Frise, oversees the Doggie Happy Hour and helps schedule special events throughout the year.

Charlie is also on hand to welcome newcomers at the appointed hour – and to make sure everyone follows the rules.

Want to join in the fun? Call me at 703.927.4554 and we’ll find your new home in Old Town.

See you next week?

Michael

Name: Monks (with an ’s’)

Age: 4 going on 5

Weight: 200lbs (I eat less than you think)

Folks Who Take Care of Me: Denise and Dave

Siblings: None

Sleeping Arrangements: My own futon

Likes: Belly rubs, cheese, Puppy Pops from the Dairy Godmother, kitty cats, most everybody in the neighborhood.

Dislikes: Fruits and vegetables and walking fast.
Profile: Slow moving, patient and obedient, I am very good with children, extremely loyal, friendly, highly intelligent and easy to train (or so they tell me).

About me: The name St. Bernard comes from a traveler’s hospice on the St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy. The pass, the hospice and the dogs who came to live there were named after Bernard of Menthon, an 11th century monk who founded the station. Be sure and look at the picture of my red and white hospice collar with my St. Bernard medallion.

My ancestors include the herding, hunting and watchdogs of Switzerland, primarily the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Many of the original St. Bernard’s were killed in an avalanche and to help get the line started again, we were crossed with Newfoundland’s in the early 1800’s. It worked pretty well except that the Newf’s had longer, curlier hair and icicles would get caught in it. The monks decided just to use those of us with a smooth coat for rescue work. I’m not sure what happened to the other guys.

Famous St. Bernard’s: Bolivar, Donald Duck’s pet; Gumbo, the mascot for the New Orleans Saints; Nana from the Peter Pan movies; Cujo from Steven King’s book; and, of course, Beethoven from the movie of the same name.

I know just about everybody in Del Ray so the next time you see me I hope you’ll stop and say hello. Thanks, Michael for letting me be on your blog.

Monks

 Dogs are front and center at Halloween parades, December’s Scottish Walk, St. Patrick’s Day Fun, Yappy Hours, numerous adoption days and the Annual Canine Games in Chinquapin Park.   In fact, the local animal shelter, run by the Animal Welfare League, is named after former city manager, Vola Lawson.

Charlie

Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market – whether in Del Ray or Old Town – is as much about seeing and being seen with your dog as it is about buying fresh produce.  And on the beautiful spring days that Alexandria is known for, well, you might think you were at the Westminster Kennel Club walking the judges ring! 

One of the newest additions to the specialty pet market is Nature’s Nibbles, which sells all natural, totally organic pet food, natural treats and raw bones plus supplements, toys, beds, hemp collars and leashes. 

 The business, owned by Chris Gabriel and his wife Anne, grew out of their experience with their own dog Gypsy who was allergic to certain grains.  Chris started Nature’s Nibbles as an online delivery venture first, but opened a store front operation in Del Ray just a little over a year ago.

When the weather is nice, Nature’s Nibbles offers a “do it yourself dog wash”.  You supply the dirty dog, they supply temperature controlled water, hypo-allergenic shampoo, towels and the bath.  What a deal!

In business since 1995, another all natural, all organic shop is Petsage, Inc. which specializes in offering healthy diet choices both at their retail location off Duke Street and on line. 

Barkley Square -named the 2006 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Retail Business of the year –  with locations in Old Town and Del Ray (right next to our favorite Evening Star cafe) offers a variety of gift baskets that make gift giving simple for that special dog in your life.  Owner Kristina Robertson is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Alexandria City Visitors Association (ACVA) and is a board member of the King Street Metro Enterprise Team (KSMET) which works to enhance the pet friendly atmosphere of the community.

Fetch Dog and Cat Bakery Boutique is located directly across from the Old Town Starbucks which makes it a destination for dog and owner alike.  (We all know that kitties do not go for walks, nor do they have owners.)  Fetch offers more than 60 kinds of edible treatsand specializes in unusual birthday cakes.  There are also doggie cupcakes, tiny pizzas, “Postman cookies” and “Kitty cookies”so, as owner Lisa Erbe joked, “a dog can eat a cat.”***  Fetch has just opened a second location in Lorton, VA – just south of Alexandria on I-95.

Treats from Fetch

The real pioneers in pet care however are Carlos and Sandy Mejias who opened Olde Town School for Dogs in 1975 in a 300 sq. ft. rental in the heart of historic Old Town.  Since that time they have expanded, on the same block, to 7,000 sq. ft. devoted solely to training, grooming and retail. 

Perhaps best known for their innovative “Puppy Head Start” program, OTSFD offers pick up and delivery service for area residents (dogs only, no humans allowed).  Using the streets, shops and parks of Alexandria as a perfect situational training ground, OTSFD ”students” are a common sight in Old Town.

The Mejias most recent enterprise is the Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield, VA offering some 200 rooms, or suites, with packages that can include windows, television, and play time in an indoor pool or on an agility course.  Similar accommodations are offered for feline friends.

Other specialty stores include For Pet’s Sake in the Fairlington area of Alexandria, and Pro Feed in the Bradlee Shopping Center.  The Alexandria Medical Arts Pharmacy in Old Town will specially prepare pet medicines to make them more palatable.

Who ever came up with the phrase “going to the dogs” was obviously not from this area ’cause our dogs have it good . . .as does our spoiled feline

Thanks for stopping by,

Michael

***Mac did NOT think much of this cookie idea!