Local pups can dress up in funny costumes, then get their photo taken at a pet shop in Dupont this weekend.
The Cheeky Puppy (1709 Connecticut Ave. NW) is scheduled to host an open house and “Politics Is Scary” photo shoot with a professional pet photographer Saturday. Proceeds help benefit pet adoption organization Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
Additionally, between noon and 3 p.m., all dogs in costume will be entered into the store’s social media costume contest. Whichever dog gets the most combined likes from the shop’s Facebook and Instagram pages as of 5 p.m. Sunday will be our next Borderstan Pet of the Week.
More info from The Cheeky Puppy:
Join us for a Halloween Open House on Saturday, October 29th Sponsored by Borderstan! From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., all dogs in costume will be entered into our social media costume contest. The photo with the most combined likes from our Facebook and Instagram feeds as of 5PM on Sunday, October 30th, will be Borderstan’s Pet of the Week on Monday, October 31st.
Our Halloween Open House will also include photo sessions with Outside the Lines Pet Photography from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Have your pup photographed in costume – or in an appropriately political stance – complete with an American flag! Pre-registration is required and proceeds from the $40 session fee benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
We’ll be joined by lots of adoptable pups in need of good homes who are being fostered by Lucky Dog. We can’t wait to celebrate Halloween with you!
Photo via Outside the Lines Pet Photography
Local dogs and cats can sit for back-to-school-themed photos in Dupont Circle this weekend for charity.
The Cheeky Puppy at 1709 Connecticut Ave. NW is scheduled to have the photo shoot with a professional pet photographer Saturday, according to a Facebook event page. The session with Outside The Lines Pet Photography is $40, which includes a mounted photograph. All proceeds go to pet adoption organization Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
As of 1:40 p.m. today, eight sittings with the photographer still were available. Pet owners can reserve a time slot online.
Photo via Facebook/The Cheeky Puppy
Dogs are set to have a D.C.-approved space of their own to sniff, frolic and play outdoors without their leashes in West End next week.
The unofficial Francis Dog Park at 25th and M streets NW is slated to become official Nov. 27, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation tweeted today.
Deemed the “Best Future Dog Park” by Washington City Paper this year, the fenced-in field is “one of the few spaces in the city where dogs can still be dogs and owners aren’t prone to hovering or fretting,” according to the newspaper.
“Little dogs are welcome, but the action gets rowdy: The sheer size of the fenced area attracts big, fast dogs ready to chase tennis balls and wrestle in mud,” Washington City Paper noted. “Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty, and be prepared to see a few snarls and dust-ups.”
Photo via Twitter/D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation
A pet daycare and grooming business in Logan Circle is set to temporarily close next week, then reopen under a new name next month.
An employee at Planet Pet (1738 14th St. NW) said today the store will close on Nov. 14 at 10 p.m., but will reopen under a new name and new management in “mid-December.”
A sign posted on the door of the business promised a “new name [and] a new vibe” and that “D.C.’s next big pet pavilion is coming to the 14th Street corridor.”
The employee at the store did not provide more details as to what that might mean, but said more information about the forthcoming changes would be available soon.
The final day for Planet Pet’s daycare service is this Sunday, and all boarding dogs must be picked up by 9 p.m next Monday. The store is also currently hosting a clearance sale with discounts up to 30 percent, said the employee.
Dogs in costumes will frolic through Shaw Dog Park during the pet park’s annual “Howl-O-Ween” event this Saturday at 11 a.m.
During the event, humans and canines alike will compete to win in three costume contests: best big dog, best little dog, and best owner/dog costumes. Attendees can also enter a raffle to win prizes from Logan Hardware, Avenue Jack and Nelly’s.
Shaw Dog Park Volunteers will also sell T-shirts and poop bags branded with the park’s name and logo.
Steve Oatmeyer, a member of the Shaw Dog Park board, said the part of the event’s goal is to raise $3000 to replace the park’s failing gate and fence.
“We need repairs of the gates and the fence. They need to be replaced,” Oatmeyer said. “Hopefully, by the end of the year we will have it done.”
“We also have to resurface the gravel on a weekly basis, water and take care of the trees,” Oatmeyer said. “We’ve been around for nine or ten years, so now things are happening we really need to start replacing.”
Locals who can’t show up on Saturday can also donate to the cause via Paypal here.
Photo courtesy of Shaw Dog Park
Dupont Circle residents can soon dress up their pets for something other than Reddit karma.
Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets will host its annual Dupont Circle pet costume contest in the dog park at at 17th and S St. NW on Halloween at 10 a.m. All pets are welcome to compete, and the event will occur rain or shine, said the event’s organizers.
Pets and their owners will gather at 10:30 a.m. to compete in three categories:
- Best Costume
- Fashion Pioneer
- Pet-Owner Look Alike
Though the prize list hasn’t yet been finalized, winners will receive a gift worth roughly $100.
Photo via Facebook.com/HDCMS
This week’s Farragut Friday event hosted by Golden Triangle BID will look a lot cuter thanks to the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL).
Puppies from the Rescue League will descend on Farragut Square between 12 and 2 p.m. on Friday as part of an adoption event.
Visitors to the park will be able to play with the puppies and learn more about them from WARL volunteers, and anyone who falls in love with a puppy will be able to fill out an adoption application on the spot.
This will be the fourth time that WARL has brought puppies to the weekly festival since May. Leona Agouridis, executive director of Golden Triangle BID, says that they’re hoping to make the puppy pop-up a monthly feature at Farragut Fridays.
“People coming to the park love it,” said Agouridis. “And of course WARL loves it because there are hundreds of people who come and pet the dogs and they do get adopted.”
Photo via Twitter/GoldenTriDC
Shaw residents will be able to drink mimosas and adopt pets at the same time this weekend.
Dacha Beer Garden (1600 7th St NW) will host a pet adoption event with the Washington Humane Society this Sunday at 11 a.m.
Patrons will also be able to enjoy brunch and bottomless mimosas while they meet with rescue cats and dogs.
“Dacha Beer Garden is a notoriously dog friendly establishment in the Shaw neighborhood,” said Dacha’s Deputy General Manager Nina Liggett in an e-mail.
“On top of that, much of our staff are owners of rescues … we only have to help ourselves from adopting all the animals that will be here this weekend,” she added.
Photo courtesy of Dacha Beer Garden
From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com. She is she is the owner of K-9 Divine and a professional dog trainer,
Plenty of room for everyone. (Rachel Jones)
Living with multiple dogs can be both rewarding and challenging. Here are some suggestions to make your multi-dog household run as smoothly as possible.
When making a decision to get a second dog, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. If your first dog has a behavior problem, the addition of a second dog will not make it go away. In other words, get a second dog because you want one, not because you think your dog wants a friend. Try to work on your first dog’s issues before the arrival of the second dog.
It is also very important to choose the right second dog for your household. Generally, it is best to get a dog of the opposite sex and one that is not the same age as your first dog.
Dogs that have too much in common tend to fight more, as they see each other as competition. If you are getting a dog from a rescue group or shelter, bring your first dog along to make sure they like each other before you bring the new dog home.
Once you have all the dogs at home, set them up for success to minimize fighting. All dogs need some space from each other, even if they are best friends. Make sure you separate the dogs at some point during the day so they can have a break. That might be a good time to spend quality time with each dog by cuddling, grooming or training while the other one is elsewhere.
Feed the dogs separately or at least on opposite sides of the room and supervise them during meals. Even if they are not fighting over the food, one might be eating the other’s share. You don’t want either dog to feel anxious about mealtimes, or to go hungry while the other one gets fat.
Lastly, the dogs have their own social system in the house. It is normal to have some squabbles and some attempts to establish dominance. Let them work it out unless they are making each other bleed. If they are fighting to a degree where one or both dogs are getting injured, keep them separated until you can work with a trainer to resolve the issues.
Dogs enjoy the companionship of other canine friends in the house. Careful planning and management can ensure a peaceful and happy group at home.
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Good public relations are very important as we raise our dogs in the city. (Rachel Jones)
From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com. A professional dog trainer, she is the owner of K-9 Divine.
As a trainer, I get called in to help in many situations that are less about dog behavior than about good public relations between dog owners and their neighbors. Washingtonians live in a small, crowded city that is not very dog-friendly. As dog owners, we need to do our part to change the perception of dogs and owners that is held by many residents and members of the city government.
- Apartment dwellers can save themselves a lot of trouble by pre-empting complaints about barking and dog noise from their neighbors. For example, before you bring your new dog home, send around a note or go around personally to the neighbors and let them know that you are getting a new dog and you want to make sure the dog isn’t making too much noise. People are likely to be forgiving if your new dog is noisy for a few weeks if you warned them in advance. Spend an hour with a trainer to work on nice, quiet behavior in the apartment and the elevator and your neighbors will be very grateful.
- Pick up your dog’s poop! We might be allowed to use schoolyards and parks to exercise our dogs if everyone cleaned up after their own dog. If you see a pile of poop that doesn’t belong to your dog and you have an extra bag, pick that up too!
- When you are out walking your dog, don’t allow him to approach strangers. Not everyone wants your dog to sniff them. Even if your dog has no training, you should be able to use the leash to keep her away from people. Parents of small children, people who fear dogs and people who are eating at outdoor restaurants will appreciate your efforts to keep your dog a good distance away from them.
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Don’t be fool by the tail. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com.
As a dog trainer, clients frequently tell me: “I was so shocked when my dog bit the other dog — he was wagging his tail.” Most people believe that tail wagging is a sign of happiness, but that is not the case. Tail wagging is an indication of arousal. A dog could be aroused because he is happy, anxious or hostile. If you want to understand your dog’s mental state, look at the position of her tail and the type of wagging.
- Tail parallel to the body, wagging slowly from side to side or around in a circle = happy and relaxed.
- Tail held below the body or between the legs with tip wagging rapidly = anxiety or fear.
- Tail held straight up, perpendicular to the body, with tip wagging rapidly = extremely aroused, possibly aggressive.
- Dogs with docked tails (Boxers, Dobermans, etc.) or dogs with very curly tails like Pugs cannot use their tails to communicate, which is one reason they tend to get picked on by other dogs.
If your dog or another dog is holding her tail in either of the second two positions, they are not in a happy mental state and are more likely to bolt, get in a fight or bite someone. It is very important to be aware of your dog’s body language so that you can get him out of a bad situation before it is too late.
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Rachel Jones joins the Borderstan team of columnist.s (Courtesy Rachel Jones)
Borderstan is happy to introduce a new columnist to the team, Rachel Jones.
Jones will help us to better understand our pets in order to have a healthier and more relaxed relationship with them. Jones owns K9 Divine, an obedience training and behavior consultation service that not only trains dogs in the neighborhood, but also offers the option of taking your pets to a farm where they can spend the day running and playing with their mates.
Recently, we sat down with Jones to get to know her and her businesses.
Borderstan: Tell us a little bit about yourself? How long have you been in DC? and how did you end up here?
Jones: I came to DC in 1994 to attend Georgetown University and never left.
Borderstan: How long have you been in Borderstan?
Jones: I bought my house in Borderstan five-and-a-half years ago.
Borderstan: You have an education that does not normally lead to becoming a dog trainer? Fill us in on that!
Jones: I was a Spanish major and spent my first six years as a Spanish-to-English translator. I was terribly bored and depressed in the job, and I noticed that every evening when I came home and saw my dogs that I would instantly feel happy. So I decided to quit my job and become a dog trainer.
Borderstan: How did you become a dog trainer?
Jones: I went to an internship program in New York to learn how to train dogs, did a lot of independent study and volunteered at the Washington Humane Society.
Borderstan: Why is important to have a dog trainer?
Jones: It is important to learn how to communicate effectively with your dog so that you can have a happy and relaxing relationship together.
Borderstan: Tell us about your farm? What do the dogs do there?
Jones: Our farm is located in Harwood, Maryland, which is close to Annapolis. It is a former horse farm and has 13 acres of fully fenced pastures. We pick up dogs in DC and drive them out to the farm to play all day, then drive them home in the evening. There is a house on the property with a full-time staff person, so the dogs can board there as well.
Borderstan: What have we missed… what would you like to add?
Jones: It is so important for dogs to be able to run outside, off leash. It really improves their temperament to be able to get out of the city and act like dogs all day.
Look for Jones’ columns in the following weeks.
From Candida Mannozzi. You can reach her at candida[AT]borderstan.com.
Pets: We see them grow and become a part of our lives. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Borderstan, just this week a dear friend of mine lost her beloved pet, a dog she’d had for 14 years. Witnessing the grief and pain she’s been going through has made me reflect.
Pets are a wonderful thing to have in one’s life. The typical experience for most of us is that they become another full-fledged member of the family or household. We watch them grow, enjoy their affection, marvel at the many different expressions of their singular personalities and, yes, are occasionally irked by naughty behavior.
I am sure the reverse is true for them too; they learn to work around our preferences, time their biorhythms around our schedules, adapt to our personalities and carve out a life in our homes, with our families and friends, occasionally having to put up with a rowdy party, or a baby crying through the night.
In the case of dogs or pets we take outside the house, we may even make new acquaintances. How often have you heard people refer to neighbors as “So-and-so’s Mommy” or “XYZ’s walker,” etc. I’ve enjoyed occasionally dog-sitting for traveling friends, because I like the excuse to take longer exploratory walks, sometimes into areas I would feel more self-conscious just wandering around in aimlessly by myself.
With an animal on a leash, your presence is much less surprising, no matter where you end up. I also really enjoy observing what a dog picks up on or observes, in contrast to what I notice when we’re both in unfamiliar territory.
I’ve yet to meet anyone who can’t remember every single pet they’ve ever had. Even some of our friends’ and co-workers’ pets become memorable to us. They really do become a big part of our lives and our pasts, so it’s always sad to see them go. I still fondly recall the dog that used to accompany one of her owners on his evening shifts at my former bookstore. I remember the gentleman who, at times, walked around Corcoran Street and that vicinity with a parakeet on his shoulder (and bird droppings down the back of his shirt!).
Pets can sometimes even become a testing ground for our ethics or morals. If they get very ill, or are lingering in a terminal state, we have to face complex decisions about care, support, whether and when to terminate a life… They can teach and test us in ways we may not anticipate, spurring us to growth or added insight.
As I empathize with my friend’s fresh loss, I am reminded of the pets I had and the many friends who’ve been through this. The bookstore “guard dog” is no longer, but boy do we still love to reminisce about her; the parakeet owner posted desperately worded signs some years ago, after his bird was lost; we all share joy and grief as pets come into and eventually leave our lives. If we happily shared love and companionship with them while they were with us, hopefully that knowledge and those many good memories will do a little to help us get through those especially raw and difficult first days after they’re gone.
A happy cat in the Logan Circle neighborhood. (Photo by Luis Gomez, One Photograph A Day.)
Borderstanians, if you are thinking about adopting a cat or dog in the new year, please consider a rescue animal. From Metroferals via the Dupont Circle listserv:
Lots of cats and kittens will be available for adoption at these events. These cats were rescued by Metroferals and other local, nonprofit groups that seek to humanely control the outdoor cat population. Feral cats are trapped, neutered, and returned to their supervised colonies. Only tame animals are offered for adoption.
- When: Saturday, January 3, and Saturday, January 10; noon to 3 p.m.
- Where: PETCO, across from Cleveland Park Metro at 3505 Connecticut Ave NW (Park ‘N Shop Center) about one block north of the Cleveland Park Metro Stop (Red Line)
- Information: Questions? Call 202-633-9232 or email: metroferals@…
