Dog's Day Out Easy Tips

We should really have more public places that are dog-friendly.
So far, the one that fits that bill perfectly is Bonifacio High Street.  Huge space.  And it even has doggie water bowls at the door steps of some shops.  Without a doubt, Alpha loves BHS immensely!

On that note, we should have more dog owners who are more responsible during their doggie-day-out trips.
For our little diva, Alpha, it takes only a few easy steps.

1.  If you have to travel to your destination, your dog should be car-trained.  Our big dog, Ziva, gets car sick almost every time.  When she gets excited, she pees all over the car seats, too.  Not.  Good.  Alpha, on the other hand, is a natural when it comes to being chauffered.  Imagine that. :D

2.  When crossing the busier streets to the park, carry your dog --if she's small, that is.  You don't want her getting trampled on or getting too overwhelmed that she might nip on a stray human leg.  Heavens, no!  Can you say 'Sue'?

3.  Very basic.  When strolling, make sure you got a little emergency kit with tissue, plastic bags, and alcohol on hand.  Smelly accidents happen and you don't want to piss people off because of that.  (See what I did there?  Lol!)  Alpha, however, prefers to do her business at home before the trip.  She's a neat freak.

4.  Make sure your dog is trained to behave.  Not to unabashedly pat myself on the back here, but Alpha is one of the most good-mannered dogs I know.  She's a bitch, but she knows her place.  That's why she's always a welcome guest at Hobbes and Landes where my boys get their Legos and where Alpha gets her din-din packs.

5.  Lastly, make sure your dog listens to simple commands like 'Sit', 'Go' and 'Stop'.  You're in a public place so anything can happen.  When a child comes over to pat Alpha's head,  Alpha sits immediately.  When it's time to go, she doesn't get us into a stressful leash tug-of-war.  When other dogs try to mess with her and she messes back, a simple 'stop' gets her back to congeniality mode.

It takes a heap of preparation, but that's how you get to enjoy (that's you and your dog) your public walks together.  If only more places would see that potential, our doggie friends would have more places to play in.  *sigh*

6.  Oops!  Before I forget... after your successful doggie day out, always, ALWAYS, show your dog how much you appreciate her job well done.  Alpha loves that.  All dogs do. :)

Fashion Beats to the Bark of Hobbes and Landes

I have one dream that will never, ever come true in this cruel lifetime:  To be a Supermodel.
*guffaw!!!* 
(What, whaaaat!  I'm entitled to my own madness! And I can see you rolling your eyes, mom!)

But thanks to Hobbes and Landes, I managed to pseudo-live that loopy dream vicariously through Alpha. How, you ask?  The Style Origin Fashion Beats Fashion Review hit the catwalk on May 21 to showcase Bonifacio High Street's high end fashion faves --one of which is Alpha's beloved pet palace, Hobbes and Landes.  And wouldn't you know it, Alpha got chosen to be one of the ramp models!  You go, baybeeh!

We even have the labeled stage pass to prove it!  (This is for you, mom.  Mwahaha!)

Pet and owner came in matching costumes they obviously went to town with.

Presenting Casual Chic.

Ballroom Beaus.

Summer Sizzlers.

Diva Duo.

Alien Allies.

And Rocker Royalties.
The Hobbes and Landes pet products we strutted down the runway with were awesome, too!  Like this sweet heart-shaped puppy stroller.

And then there's the fabulous music by Brass Munkeys!

So fab, in fact, it had Alpha dancing --which had the audience cheering and us almost getting entangled in her leash and falling offstage. *egad!*  Ah, the hazards of professional modeling.  Haha!

Overall, it's the bomb of an experience.  That's what we love about Hobbes and Landes.  It loves our pets just as much as we do.  And, yes, it makes impossible dreams (like mine, lol!) come true.

Jing (proud father and paparazzi) and I can't wait for the next pet event.  Come on, Hobbes and Landes --like a dog, we're begging for more!

DOGGONE BIRTHDAY!

I've become one of those people who are incessantly pissed off by the lack of dog parks in this country.

(In fact, I may just join PAWS soon so hang on to your WTFs)

The trigger to my latest episode of pissery was Alpha's first birthday.  You know me, I always make birthdays special.  Be it for kids, for hubby, and yes... be it for doggie.  So I was planning some sort of picnic at a park.  And that's when the reality of it all hit me --pets here are HOUSE pets.  They should stay HOME.  Going out for short walks is the only leeway for these poor things.  But other than that, they're not going anywhere.

But thanks to my relentless researching, I found...TA-DAAAH!... Bonifacio High Street!  One of the few (very FEW) places here that welcomes dogs in their sprawling greens and even within the shops of the stretch's mall.  How invigorating!

So off we went there for Alpha's birthday and the bitch had a blast.

So did my boys upon seeing the numerous breeds of lovely dogs romping freely in the area.

The nice part is that I didn't spend a single cent on this endeavor.  Just gas.  And Alpha's cake is a homemade curnocopia of her favorite foods which she totally ate up --figuratively and literally.

Success is a doggone birthday and a doggone inexorable planner.  So there!