Walk Fido

Dog-Friendly Hikes in Southern California

We love taking advantage of the many hiking trails and incredible views that LA has to offer & we're always pleased when we can find a way to tire out our energetic dogs as often as possible. So we were beyond thrilled to see this fantastic LA Times interactive guide to dog-friendly hikes in Southern California.

 

In addition to including detailed maps & info on nearly 20 trails, the interactive guide also includes common doggie dangers to keep in mind as you explore. From foxtails & ticks to snakes & poison oak, the guide gives you great tips on what to be aware of and what to do should your fido get into trouble.

Our favorite part of this handy interactive guide, however, is the perfectly illustrated Hiking Tips section section:

We know quite a few fidos that have that exact same bowl and those very same booties! These pre-hike & during the hike tips along with the trail maps are an excellent resource for anyone looking to break out of their usual fido walking routine. Downtown residents in particular could certainly use a break from our concrete haven & take respite among the trails and trees. See you and your fido out there?

How to Make Your Dog a Happy Dog

This is just about spot-on. What does your dog need to be a happy dog?

1. Food/shelter
2. Plenty of Exercise
3. Mental Stimulation

It really is that easy, but so many folks get stuck on providing #1 that they forget the other two. So important!

Doga: A Do or a Don't?

While we've tweeted about this a few times, we didn't ever anticipate the need to actually cover the dog-yoga (doga) trend further. But it just won't die. And we love yoga. But doga? What does that entail? What does it look like? Who does it? Is it for the owner or the dog? How can it possibly be for both?

Well, thanks to the AP, we at least now have a quick video of what it entails and what it looks like:

Our immediate thoughts after watching this clip are centered around silliness. Imagine all the ways this could go horribly wrong in the class, for example. That can get kind of funny if you think about it for a few minutes. And as yoga practitioners, it doesn't look as if the dog owners are getting a proper yoga workout. However, joint activity with owner and dog that allows for bonding, dog exercise/stretching, and the opportunity for owners to be in a dominant posture while their fidos are relaxed, submissive, and happy is a great activity.

So - while we might not go our of our way to take a doga class anytime soon, we can see how it might be worth checking out. Do you doga with your fido? If so, let us know. If not, but you're interested, a quick Google search reveals a host of doga links to studios & class schedules all over the country.