Greetings from Happy Dog Phoenix! I sincerely hope that you and your two-legged and four-legged families are hanging in there during this tough time. (Aren’t dogs nice to have around?)

I have been thinking about you a lot but not posting too much. Like all of us, my life got thrown a little upside down and many plans went by the wayside.

What’s up with Happy Dog Phoenix?

Like, for example, getting dog training for Lizzy and Giggy. I was going to do it after I got my tax refund And then coronavirus hit and I wasn’t so sure I wanted to meet with a trainer, no matter how many masks we wore. So, I put dog training on hold. And now it’s too hot, so the training is going to have to wait for fall. Sorry, neighbors – the barking at random objects continues!

What’s up with Facebook postings?

Another big reason I haven’t posted is because of Facebook. Facebook is the main way I drive traffic to this site. And to do that, I have to pay Facebook to advertise my posts. It’s not much but it’s money. And for many, many months now, I haven’t been too pleased with Facebook. First, I didn’t like how they were profiting from people’s privacy.

Whether you are a liberal or a conservative, I bet you want to be told the truth. And I think Facebook doesn’t do a good enough job at that.

We all know Facebook friends who seem to have perfect lives: “Hey, we’re summering at the beach! Here’s my daughter, the valedictorian. My husband made me breakfast in bed. If we know these people well enough, we know the beach stay means close quarters with pain-in-the-ass relatives; the daughter suffers from anxiety and the husband totes around a justifiably guilty conscience.

It’s up to us to see through these fibs/aggrandizements. But I think it is Facebook’s responsibility to monitor its paid content. I was a reporter and I was responsible for what I wrote; my newspapers were legally responsible for what they printed. Facebook, which made $70 billion last year, can certainly keep better tabs on what appears on its pages.

I have long believed that technology is transforming society faster than our minds and morals can adapt. And I think Facebook is a case in point. It has grown so rapidly and so pervasively, that individuals can’t critically analyze the reams and reams of content it produces daily. Until Facebook steps up to be a responsible corporate citizen, commensurate with its scope in the world, I will struggle to pay for it.

The girls are doing great!

It’s not like I am going to be bored. I’ve got two dogs, for goodness’ sake! Whenever people tell you that by having two dogs, you’ve got built-in dog sitters; they aren’t being exactly accurate. Sometimes, one dog will keep the other dog company and sometimes, you just have two dogs to take care of.

Frequently, I feel like I have an eight-legged, two-headed dog that is determined to do two different things at once, like running down the street and sitting down on the sidewalk. But so much love when you come home!

Despite any awkwardness on my part, the girls are doing great. Lizzy has lost more than 12 pounds and can run after other dogs at the dog park. (Thanks Fromm dog foods!) Giggy has bulked up a little and that’s good. They’ve made friends (dog and human), hiked, visited, gone to dog parks, walked, gotten their check-ups — all the good things I that I endorsed in Happy Dog Phoenix.

I’ve met so many great people and dogs through HDP that I really can’t say I am quitting but I am trying to figure how to do things sans Facebook. So until later, my friends, be safe, be well and keep the dogs happy,

Love, Jodie

Happy holidays! Like you, I think the holidays really snuck up on us this year and I’m running just a little behind. Christmas cards will have to be New Year’s cards. Intricately wrapped gifts are going to be presents plopped into gift bags with tissue paper. C’est la vie; ce sont les vacances!

But increasingly, I enjoy the holidays because of the people I get to catch up with. I’m trading in a little of the pomp and dressing up for Christmas for some simpler pleasures. Like getting to have a longer conversation with someone who I don’t get to see as often as I would like.

Keeping up the tradition of baking treats for dogs

But shorter and more harried schedules don’t mean we leave the dogs out. I just have to be a little smarter this year in the dog treats I choose to make. I love baking for dogs — they’re so appreciative! It’s definitely a tradition I want to continue but if I could be a little more efficient about it, that would be great.

So this year, in baking for friends and neighbors’ dogs, I decided to go with one standard (peanut-butter and pumpkin), one new one (pumpkin and cranberry) and one super-simple (sweet potato) dog-treat recipe.

Here’s a hint for the pumpkin/peanut butter cookies: follow other reviewers’ comments and double the amount of pumpkin . It makes the dough more pliable and if you feel it is too moist, you can always add more flour to the dough. Also flour heavily your workspace to make cutting the dough easier.

The dried sweet potatoes are something I should have tried a long time ago. It’s a very easy recipe and the house now has a great smell in it: there’s a hint of sweetness in the air, a little like a very expensive perfume that you don’t want to overdo.

I’m sorry that I’m just getting these recipes to you now and I realize that you may not have time to crank them out before Christmas day. But that’s just one more reason to love baking for dogs. You can make them the treats on Dec. 26 and they will still love them (and you).

Happy, happy holidays!!

Wait, aren’t they the same as the former Happy Dog Phoenix mascots? Beagles? No, not really. And as I am learning, no dog completely replaces the previous dogs in your life. Maybe you just keep on grieving for a dog while you begin to accept and adjust to the loss.

Artie, my beloved Beagle goofball, passed away in July and I couldn’t bring myself to write about it publically until now. She had been sick and I had poured out my heart in this post. And I just couldn’t write about it again, after all, the name of the blog is Happy Dog Phoenix. Not Incredibly Sad Person Phoenix. And in thinking about Artie, I tried to be grateful for the time we had together but I couldn’t; all I had was a very deep hole in my heart.

To Phoenix from Arkansas with love

Arizona Beagle Rescue reached out to me to offer their condolences at Artie’s death. And I reached back to them to cautiously say I would be looking for a new beagle. Just not sure when.

“How about fostering? We have two dogs in Arkansas whose owner just died. There’s no beagle rescue there. And they will end up in a pound and will probably be separated. They’re sisters.’’

Well, a photo is worth a thousand words. In this case it sure was. Here’s the photo they texted:

My only reaction: THEY”RE SO FAT!!

Of course, I will help them.

It was a true kindness relay that got these dogs from a small town in Arkansas to Phoenix. Good-hearted people who were making the drive to Texas and others parts agreed to take the girls as far as they were driving and then another team picked them up. If you ever doubt that people can be genuinely wonderful, just volunteer for one of these road trips. It restores your faith in humans.

Enter Giggy and Lizzy

So I met the girls. Turns out Giggy isn’t fat at all. In fact, I’m not so sure how much of a Beagle she really is. I see a lot of Brittney in there. But Lizzy, true to being a Beagle, was definitely was overweight. Turns out she weighed about 40 pounds, at least. Your typical Beagle is about 25 pounds. The vet sternly told both of us that we needed to be aggressive about her weight loss.

They arrived in the summer. And since then, they’ve been in a couple different houses because I had a couple of vacations planned before their arrival. There was also an emergency sleepover at a friend’s house when my home’s AC went out. The most progress for girls comes when we are consistent in our schedules; for these two, the more stability the better.

Hey, they are my dogs!

Arizona Beagle Rescue realizes fosters may fall in love with the dogs they are helping. As part of their contract, AZBR give fosters three weeks to decide about the dog before posting the dog’s photos and telling the world they are available for adoption. A bonded pair like Giggy and Lizzy who are sisters (at heart, if not in shared DNA), are usually more difficult to adopt out.

But after two weeks, AZBR contacted me asking for photos because they were had a family interested in a pair of Beagles. I thought to myself “Hell no, those are my dogs!’’ and that pretty much settled it. I became a foster failure.

How it is going

Not going to lie – two dogs all at once is a lot. Walking them together is basically You Tube material since Giggy is a speedster and Lizzy, well, Lizzy is no speedster. When it comes to being in motion, she’s more Basset Hound than Beagle! We entertain our neighbors with my attempts to pilot them through the ‘hood.

We three are a work in progress. But so far, Lizzy’s down eight pounds and she just finished a hike at Fraesfield – one of our recommended dog-friendly hikes. More to come on that later.

At the same time, while I am determined to make things work for these two, I still find myself thinking about Artie with such sadness. I’m not sure psychologists would think getting two dogs so soon after Artie is a good coping strategy. Right now, I’m allowing myself to tear up for the loss of Artie and at the same time, feel so much joy at the small signs that these two very different Beagles are making themselves at home: mastering steps, being polite at mealtime, coming when called.

I’ve had four Beagles now: HoneyBun, Artie, Giggy and Lizzy. Same breeds but so different.

I’m learning what makes each of the new Beagles tick. Giggy loves warmth, snuggling under covers, sitting in the sun and eating cheese. Lizzy, despite her pudginess, loves to play and commanders every toy in the house.

There’s a lot of barking, mostly at dogs and cats, and we need to work on that and I think a trainer is on the way for all three of us. So, between the weight loss, living with two new dogs and taking them on adventures, there’s going to be lot to blog about.

Stay tuned!

Gosh it’s been hot in Phoenix this week – makes you want to take the dog and head for the hills of Flagstaff. Right?

Flagstaff may well be Arizona’s most dog-friendly town. It’s a super casual place with dog-friendly restaurants, bars and outdoor spots. And it has its own dog-food plant right in the middle of town.

On the east side of Flagstaff, Purina manufactures more than 1,000 tons of dog and cat food every day – I always wonder about dogs who come into Flagstaff for the first time. Can they smell what Purina has cookin’ in there? But there’s no word if Purina gives out samples.

Flagstaff = Wagstaff

Throughout Flagstaff, I’ve seen dogs in everything from bookstores to bars. One bartender explained to me that dogs are allowed as long food isn’t being served. “What we have for food, isn’t really food, per se,’’ he told me, pretty matter of factly.

Because it is such a casual town, Flagstaff offers a lot of burger-and-brew places and provide outdoor seating. Even in indoor establishments, dogs are honored. Biff’s Bagels has a homage to dogs on with dozens of canine candid photos hanging on their walls.

Even the town’s visitor center is pup friendly. If you swing by there, show them proof that you are staying in town, your dog gets a special treat.

And there are all kind of hiking trails and paths to meander through, either in the forest or just in town.

Just be careful

Ok, now the dog-motherly advice comes out. A couple things to think about when traveling to Flagstaff with your little pupper-roo.

There’s altitude. It affects you; it affects the dog. Your dog may not her perky self because the air is thinner and it is harder for her to breathe. You two will be outside more and with all of the sunshine and dry air, you can get dehydrated. Vets say they see it all the time. So just take it easy – this is supposed to be leisure time for you both!

Also, there are some different kinds up North, including giardia, an intestinal parasite. Ticks are plentiful as well so just make sure you’ve got her prepped for fleas and ticks.

And last thing, gas up and stock up on water for the trip back to Phoenix – you never know when there is going to be a traffic snarl on freeway.

Now, go have a great time!

The Phoenix nights are still so nice and cool – why not go out dining with the dog to one of the many, many, many local dog-friendly restaurants?

But, first does your pup have good patio manners?

Does she filch food? Act up for attention? Bark at other dogs? Brie Kuna, behavior specialist at Arizona Animal Welfare League, says the key is to have a dog who knows the basic commands, knows their name, maintains good eye contact with you and stays still when lying on a mat.

That’s all!

Tips on how to enjoy patio dining with the dog

If you think your dog has mastered those techniques, Kuna offers some other great tips about dining out with your dog:

• Does the dog want to dine out? Sure, you love happy hour. But does your dog really groove on wine glasses clinking, lots of chatter and endless plates of hummus and crudités going by? Some dogs prefer the quiet and some are just flat-out intimated by all that stimulation.
• Pick your time: Quiet mornings after a nice walk may be the ideal time for you and pooch to hang out and dine al fresco. Happy hour may be just a little too busy for bowser.
• Do some recon: Walk your dog outside of the restaurant to give her a chance to go potty before getting inside. That also allows her a chance to calm down after the car ride and acclimate to new surroundings.
• Pick your spot: Choose someplace in the corner where it is easy for you and the dog to have good eye contact. The dog can have her back to the wall to survey the scene. Choosing a spot that keeps your dog out of the way is another great reason for going during off hours.
• Bring supplies: Pack your dog’s favorite blanket or mat. Not only does it provide a comfy spot on the floor, it also identifies the dog’s space for her. It’s her zone and she can zero in on it. Also bring along some high-quality treats and collapsing water bowl. Lots of dog-friendly restaurants have water bowls but it’s good to be prepared.
• Pay attention: This can be the hard part but you should pay attention to the dog even though your tablemates are telling hilariously funny stories. To succeed as a dining-out dog, your dog needs to know when she is being good. Go ahead and pay attention to her when she is being quiet and calm, reward her with nice eye contact or a soft word as she just lies at your feet.
• What about Puppy? Puppies can benefit from socialization – can’t we all? But make sure you are balancing social time with quiet time. Puppies aren’t helped by being overwhelmed. And make sure they are vaccinated before they go out and about.

Dog-friendly restaurants around Phoenix

When Kuna goes out with her dog, Remmy, they head to OHSO, Snooze, Four Peaks or Postino.

Check out these other dog-friendly restaurants.

The good news – spring, with blessedly moderate temperatures, seems to lingering in and around the good ol’ Phoenix area. The bad news – springtime allergies are still going to be causing problems for your pal, the dog.

This winter, we had record-breaking rains and we’ve enjoyed a bumper crop of wildflowers. And the weather continues to be wonderful. Everyone’s lawn looks better and the desert is terrifically colorful with Palo verdes and cacti thrilling us with their canary-yellow blossoms and deep magenta flowers.

It’s all Technicolor beautiful except for us allergy sufferers. And possibly your dog is a victim of springtime allergies as well. Artie the Beagle had an attack of reverse sneezing and now we are giving her allergy medicine for the first time ever.

What to know about canine allergy sufferers

It’s not just Artie. Dr. Mitchell Song, DVM, DACVD, says VETMED in Phoenix near Cave Creek has been seeing a lot of pooches with problems. “We have been very, very busy with many itchy dogs,’’ says Song, who specializes in animal dermatology.

Dermatologists like Song are uniquely qualified to help dogs with springtime allergies. Usually dogs’ allergic reactions show up as itchiness in their skin or coat. So, canine allergy sufferers do a lot of chewing, licking, biting and scratching. Sometimes, they also have ear infections, says Song.

Usually only about 10 percent of dogs with allergies with have any upper respiratory symptoms, he adds.

To get a better read on what a dog is allergic to, veterinarians will perform a scratch test on them, which is similar to what humans undergo to see what is giving us a major case of the Itchies.

Once diagnosed, veterinarians can figure out the right medicine for each four-legged patient, Song says.

How you can help your dog with her springtime allergies

In addition to medication, people with pets can give their sufferin’ dog over-the-counter fish oil capsules. Essential fatty acids like fish oil can ease inflammation due to allergies, and reduce itchy skin and dandruff. Song also recommends extra bathing and grooming for your pooch to help decrease their allergies. Also: change your air-furnace filters and wash the dogs’ bedding more frequently.

Left untreated your dog’s allergies can become more difficult to treat, Song says. “It is not a life-threatening disease but it can really cause misery.’’

Song also treats frequent flyers: dogs who have spring and fall allergies. And a very small population of dogs that have winter-only allergies, he says.

Remember the old saying – misery loves company? Well, for many of us allergy sufferers, our dogs are right there with us in sharing the awfulness of being allergic. Stay well, everyone!

Why haven’t I been posting? Well, the dog got sick. She’s better now, thank goodness but her out-of-nowhere illness shattered my heart into a thousand little pieces. It is taking some time for me to return to the high-functioning writing machine that I aspire to be.

When I started Happy Dog Phoenix so many years ago, I wanted to provide accurate, reliable info for my community. Phoenix and Arizona can be weird places and I wanted to help people in a positive, upbeat kind of way. I like finding out things and I like passing them along.

I’m not sure there is any of that news you can use to this blog post. Just a personal story — as I try to make sense out of a couple things in my life – perhaps you are also trying to do that?

Being sick started in San Diego

The dog and I went to San Diego and we had a blast. So much so that I kinda downplayed her lethargy and lack of appetite as we got ready for the car ride back. She slept the entire trip but when we stopped in Buckeye for an In-and-Out burger, she showed no interest in my sandwich. Getting more worried, I floored it back home. The vet’s office was closed. I tried one 24/7 veterinary urgent care but I didn’t feel like they had any urgency about them. Blue Pearl Pet Hospital at 32^nd Street and Indian School Road, however, triaged her immediately. Her temperature was skyrocketing.

They diagnosed possible pancreatitis and provided some meds. The next morning she was still wobbly and unresponsive.

I zipped her back to the regular vet at North Kenilworth who saw her immediately. When humans in the house get sick, it’s bad but we usually know what we are dealing with. When the cheerful, energetic, always-up-for-a-snack dog is sick, it’s terrifying.

Or at least to me. My father died in January after a long illness. As I watched the dog for signs and symptoms of her health, I was taken back to my father’s bedside; watching him, wondering if he was taking his last breath.

I always knew that everyday occurrences would trigger memories of his life and death. I was bracing myself for Father’s Day, his birthday, my parents’ wedding anniversary. But I just didn’t expect to be reminded of his passing so quickly and to be reminded by the dog, who was my staunchest companion in my father’s final months.

Control what you can – but it may not be much

Perhaps there is news you can use in this blog: you can’t control everything; you can prepare — like I am preparing for Father’s Day. You can think about how to deal with a situation and when something like that situation occurs, you take a deep breath and follow the mental script that you have written.

But apparently you can’t prepare for every wayward circumstance like your dog eating something bad at the beach, getting sick, making you think of your Dad and then sobbing uncontrollably in the vet’s office.

Gratitude doesn’t protect you

And perhaps another news-you-can-use tidbit: gratitude may not be all it is cracked up to be. I try every night, as everyone from psychologists to gurus suggest, to list five things I am grateful for. The dog always makes the list and usually pretty close to the top.

But being grateful for her didn’t protect her. Being grateful doesn’t keep the thing that you love exactly the way it is for all time. It just acknowledges the power that thing or person has in your life. Right now, it seems to me that gratitude only amplifies your pain over your loss.

In time, I may come around to the idea that while being grateful does increase the pain; it also deepens the richness of the experience. And, while it is so much easier to have shallow, painless, disposable relationships, I don’t think that is what life should be about.

I know that you need the nourishment of hearty and sometimes heart-breaking relationships. Even though they are so painful. So very painful. I hope to figure out the right balance in all of this but for the meantime, gratitude kinda sucks.

Time vs. unresolved issues

And maybe the last lesson is that grief takes time. We know that but we do we really practice it?

For me, I want to get away from unpleasant circumstances as far and as fast as possible. I want to be productive at work and smiling to family and loved ones. Keep busy and outrace any possible depression. The world wants me to move on; I want to move on but as the dog’s life-threatening pancreatitis showed me, you can want to move on all you want but Life will pull you back to deal with unresolved issues. Like grief over your Dad’s death.

After lots of money for vets’ bills (which I gladly paid for a healthy dog); lots of hand-fed meals, bowls of boiled chicken breast, white rice, splashed with chicken bouillon (the new cuisine and its presentation is Pinterestworthy); sleepless nights and rejiggered work days to accommodate lots of vet visits; the dog is fine.

I’m not sure who was more ecstatic to go on our nightly neighborhood walks, her or me.

I guess a non-dog person could read this post and point out that the biggest takeaway from all of this is: don’t have a dog. Too much heartbreak. But as I look in my dog’s gentle, trusting eyes and smile at her still-bouncy walk, I realize that is a lesson that I will never learn.

Everywhere in metro Phoenix these days developers are building apartments or condos. And many, many dogs are living in these high rises.  So the big question becomes what to do when Poochie needs a patch of grass to use as her bathroom and you are eight stories up? Where does the dog pee?

Enter the Pottio Box – please don’t confuse it with a Bark Box!

What’s a Pottio Box?

Stephen Brandt got the idea of providing grass potty boxes and delivering fresh grass to replenish them after seeing a definite need for relief among people and their dogs.

The former forest-fire fighter hotshot moved to Ahwatukee more than a year ago. He quickly noticed how people in metro Phoenix love their dogs. He also noticed how stressed these folks were as they raced home to take their dogs out for a good walk and a pee.

Why does my dog want to pee on the grass?

And for many dogs, peeing on rocks just isn’t the way they want to ummm, go.

Dogs’ upbringing plays a large role in whether they select grass, gravel, concrete or your pajamas as their place to pee. Doggos start figuring out a preference as early as eight weeks old, says, Daily Dog Discoveries.

Brandt believes his grass boxes are better for dogs than synthetic grass because they eliminate the need for chemicals. The grass boxes also pose less risk for the environment as well, he says.

Pottio boxes come in three sizes, the largest being 27 inches by 42 inches.

And Brandt delivers throughout the Valley, with Tempe being one of his largest service areas.

Pottio boxes’ grass doesn’t really have to be watered. Some dogs don’t want to get near mud, Brandt says. And most people don’t want mud tracked through the house.

Under normal use, the grass will eventually get saturated and will need to be thrown away after one to two weeks  (that will vary by frequency of use and size and number of dogs). Just heave-ho the grass pad into the garbage

The Pottio Box can help with the urine side of the equation. But you still need to pick up the dog poop – there’s no magic box for that!

Editors note: We don’t own stock in Pottio Box; nor are we using their products or being paid by them o write this. We just thought they were an interesting local business with a unique service!

This post is going to be a little political.

You can stop reading now. Right now. Turn back. I warned you.

All about Humane Voters of Arizona

Ok, disclaimer out of the way. Humane Voters of Arizona acts as a watchdog for state legislation involving all types of animals. If you want to learn about state laws and how they affect your dog, follow this group.

When it comes to dogs, the Arizona state legislature does a lot. Last year, they banned faux service dogs; in 2017, they passed Good Samaritan laws to legally protect people who break a car window to rescue a dog or kid.

This year, legislators want to fine people $100 if they drive with an animal on their laps, according to Arizona Sonora News.

Humane Voters of Arizona keeps tabs on that legislation like that by tracking bills and voting records of legislators. They also survey brand-new candidates on their views.

Just as importantly, HVA keeps an eye out for bills that could harm animals or erode existing protections.

New attempt at animal abuse laws

This year, they will be working with others to create a special Class 5 felony penalty for those who abuse animals.

Animal-rights champions and law enforcement both want to make animal abuse a felony instead of a misdemeanor. If an animal abuser was charged with a Class 5 felony, he could get mandatory counseling.

Animal lovers believe this could help reduce acts of animal cruelty. Law enforcement believe it could help prevent violence against humans.

Saying animal abuse is often comes before assaults, domestic violence and homicide, groups like the National Sheriff’s Association supports the move. It cites a landmark academic study that showed animal abusers were five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people.

The bill failed in last year’s legislature. It was opposed by the Arizona Cattleman’s Association that argued the language  was so broad that it could be used to charge ranchers with felonies if they kill dogs who chase their cattle.

What else is cooking at the legislature

This session, HVA also will look out for efforts to limit the citizen-initiative process. Unlike other states, Arizona allows citizens to propose legislation. Arizona voters have several times successfully used the process to protect animals. In 1994, voters banned leg-hold traps; in 1998, they outlawed cockfighting and in 2006, they voted down gestational crates for pigs.

Lawmakers fought against all of those animal protections but voters passed them overwhelmingly, says Karen Michaels of the HVA.

How things are improving for animals

Michaels started in animal-related legislation in the late 1980s/early’90s as she became concerned about the link between poorly treated farm animals and safe food for humans.

When it comes to animal rights, people are changing their minds, says Michaels.

More legislators vote bipartisan when it comes to protecting animal rights.

They aren’t so much wrapped in being a Republican or Democrat but just want to do the right thing for animals, especially companion animals like dogs.

Michaels said she knew things were changing when she saw staunch conservative Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) share a podium with Tucson Democratic legislator Steve Farley to support particular animal legislation.

“I thought, this is great. Now we are getting somewhere.”

Wow, Democrats and Republicans working together – it’s like dogs and cats living together!

.

Dog-friendly: Aunt Chiladas at Squaw Peak

Dog-friendly: Hopdaddy in Phoenix

Dog-friendly: Phoenix Public Market

Dog-friendly: Uncle Bears in Chandler

Dog-friendly: Windsor inPhoenix

Welcome to the official Do-over Day!

Jan. 17 is earmarked as the Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions Day, a day that gives you time to re-consider your resolutions, minus the holiday fairy dust in your eyes, and to zero in on what you really want to accomplish in 2019.

If the resolutions that you made when you were full of champagne and holiday spirits now strike you as unrealistic, may we suggest something a little more down-to-earth- — how about a resolution of taking the dog with you to more places?

Where to take the dog

There are events; dog-friendly restaurants; dog-friendly stores. Or dog parks. Or hiking trails. The Valley offers plenty of places for you and the pooch to hang out.

But how does taking the dog with me help me with my resolutions of losing weight, saving money, and finding true love?, you ask.

Simple.

Getting off the sofa and outside for a walk with the dog is a lovely step in getting in more exercise for you and the hound. Also, if you are walking the dog or at the dog park, that means you can’t be parked in front of the refrigerator scarfing down your third serving of lasagna.

How to make taking the dog fun

Speaking of lasagna, there are plenty of restaurants in metro Phoenix who are OK with having dogs on the patio. And there are some wonderful ones that really roll out the red carpet. Here are some quick tips on how to make dining with the dog a good experience:

• Plan ahead: Call ahead to find out if the restaurant really wants your dog; also make sure the dog has had plenty of food and water before you get there.
• Bring stuff: The restaurant may not have water bowls so please bring yur own. Also, a blankie/pad and a non-squeaky toy may help distract and calm the dog.
• Know when to bail: Some dogs just aren’t ready for the dining scene. Realize that and know you may have to leave. Fast.

As far as the resolution of finding true love: There’s always the true love at the other end of the leash. Your dog will love you when you get her out of the house more. And as far as true love of the same-species, well, your dog is the best wingman possible. Your dog, well-trained or not, will certainly draw attention to you. And you may just get the attention of a fellow dog lover – who sounds just like your kind of person.

As for the saving-money, you and the dog are on your own on that one!