If you don’t believe me, you should’ve seen the SF Chihuahua meetup run by Kate, Mike, and Tim. You know there are stereotypes of Chihuahua owners but the meetups prove that chihuahua owners are very diverse. They have meetups every month with over 400 members. I attended their “Small Dog Christmas Extravaganza” this weekend and it was quite fun. The chihuahuas that I met seem to be pretty calm and are happy to just hangout in their owners’ lap.

I’ve been thinking of adopting a second dog for 2 years, but have not really had the chance to adopt one just yet because I wanted to make sure that I would be able to handle the responsibility. Getting Obi, I have to admit, wasn’t a well thought out plan. I decided to adopt him because he was a cute puppy… it was a rough first 6 month. There were issues such as separation anxiety, “accidents”, and much more. I remember one time, Obi was placed in an area with a puppy gate while I was gone, his 3 lbs self managed to bust the gate  down and run around amok in the house, setting the alarm off.  There was another time where Obi was running around my bed and decided to stop and pee on it while staring at my face, it was not fun to clean up. [ Let this also be a warning to those considering a puppy... be prepared for mischeviousness ]

We are all innocent of whatever you're accusing us of

Finally after about rounds of puppy classes with Sandi Thompson, Obi finally became the dog that I was happy to live with. He obeys commands and most importantly understands that the world is not his toilet (just the backyard).

Now, I’m in a comfortable place with Obi and I’m starting to notice the cute pooches that are up for adoption at the local shelters. Although this time, I remind myself not to be so easily persuaded by the cute puppy dog eyes. Sandi warns me that training a 2nd dog will be a lengthy process, one which requires me to train the new dog separately from Obi, as well as train the dog around Obi. But we’ll see. I’ve spotted some cute pups up for adoptions at the SF Chihuahua “Small Dog Christmas Extravaganza” that seemed to be friendly to people, and are female (i’m looking for a female dog to complement Obi).

Here are some rescue organizations that have dogs up for adoption. If you’re a first time dog owner, it might be worthwhile to check out an older dog that’s already potty trained and well adjusted rather than getting a puppy. You help the local shelter by saving a dog and you get to have a wonderful companion.

A Leg Up Rescue – http://aleguprescue.org/

Shake Wiggle and Roll – http://www.shakewiggleroll.org/about.htm

Grateful Dog Rescue – http://www.gratefuldogsrescue.org

So you can imagine my anxiety when I was awaken from my Saturday nap and quickly transported over the Bay Bridge (past that pesky S-Curve) to San Francisco.  Our destination, Union Square, for some serious day after Black Friday shopping.

The city was hectic, streets lined with shoppers, travelers, vendors galore.  Not many places I could walk without being accidentally stepped on because of my diminutive size.

I was able to make it a couple blocks until I arrived at the front of Macy’s department store.  SF/SPCA volunteers were in front selling $5 chocolate tins  to raise money for the organization.  Macy’s also donated prime window real estate for the SPCA to decorate and show off animals for adoption.  “So”, my dad proclaimed, “does Macy’s actually allow dogs inside the store?”  The volunteer replied, “I think so, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a dog in there before.”

Riding up the elevators... well more like being carried up

A large group of people crowded the entrance, awaiting their turn to take the elevators up to the Cheesecake Factory.   I, instead, scampered quickly through the doors, past the doorwoman without notice.  No words of  “hey you with the dog” or ” sorry no dogs allowed inside” were uttered, so first step accomplished.  It still didn’t help my uneasiness, since sneaking in wouldn’t help with all the suits with Macy’s badges walking around.  But this was at least better than many other failed attempts to sneak me into other places (i.e. Costco).

After heading up six or seven escalators, I arrived in the furniture department.  Luckily, the floors were mostly made of tiles and hardwood, but the occasional carpet or decorative chair lined the showroom.  I walked on-leash around all the furniture pieces which included sectional couches, beds, chairs and sofas.

A salesman saw me  sniffing various furniture exhibits and mannequinns wearing red sweaters and Santa hats, and stopped to observe with a puzzled brow,  “Can I help you with anything?”  “Yes, we’re here to look at couches,” my dad responded.  “Sure thing, right this way,” he said.

Taking a breather while I wait for mom to finish shopping

The salesman, John, proceeded to show us a dozen floor models.  Each time my parents took a seat, I also got to sit, sniff and feel each piece.  John looked up and smiled, “It’s good you’ve brought the most important person making the decision to buy today”, he said petting me on the head.

As we looked over piece by piece,  John patiently observed and answered all the questions my dad had.  “By the way John, do many people bring their dogs in here to shop, as I don’t see any in here today?”

“All the time”, he responded.  “Most people are very good about bringing only well behaved and mild mannered dogs here, so we don’t normally have a problem and we welcome that.”

Check out time and applying for a Macy's card to get 15% off my first order.

After seeing a few more samples, I finally sniffed out the one that I liked.  A leather sectional made of 6 pieces that is easy to clear of pet hair.  “Would you like purchase the ‘worrynomore’ clean guarantee that protects against accidental damage or spills to your furniture?” John asked.

Q: “Does it cover if Obi scratches it up or happens to use it as a toilet?”

A: “Unfortunately, it won’t cover damage caused by scratching or tearing from a bird, cat or dog, but other soiled damage can be claimed in the event such an unfortunate instance occurs.”

After finalizing the purchase price, and declining the clean guarantee, John handed us our receipt and scheduled delivery of our new furniture within 5 business days.  “Obi will be very happy with this purchase, I can tell”, John said as he opened his drawer to show us a picture of his English Bulldog.

After completing the transaction and thanking John for his friendly service, we headed to the 4th floor in the woman’s department where mom went off to look at dresses.  I received a fair share of “oohs and aahs” and “look at that hot dog”, as well as a few puzzled stares from other shoppers probably confused why there was a dog inside.  After about 30 minutes of waiting along side dad in the “waiting room chairs”, we found  mom and headed for the exit, where I passed the same doorwoman who I snuck by earlier.  She saw me this time and smiled.  “Oh what a cute dog” she said as I walked back out onto the streets of San Francisco.  It was a fitting end to my first adventure in the human world.

Macy’s – Union Square, 170 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Dog walker, one of the many career choices for people interested in spending a little more time with dogs.

1. Doggy Day Care

How about spending all day with energetic and healthy dogs of all different breeds?  Consider working in a boarding kennel or doggie day care center.  Day care workers supervise playtime for dogs that stay for the day, and occasionally overnight.

Why it may not be for you:

• Dog bites and dog fights are a daily occurrence.
• It’s messy and stinky, very hard work, and long hours (even 24-hours) especially at the entry level.
• Can be a hard market to break in if other established day cares exist.

2. Dog Grooming

If you love the idea of making dogs look their best, a dog groomer might be the job for you. Professional dog groomers are the cosmetologists of the canine world.  As an assistant, you can learn the basics of grooming, or attend dog grooming school and even go on to achieve certification and membership with the National Dog Groomers Association.

Why it may not be for you:

• Dogs will often come in stinky and dirty.
• Certain dogs are nervous or anxious of being cut, primped and handled, which can make it very difficult to groom them.
• Risk of injury from dog bites or scratches.

3. Dog Sitting and Dog Walking

If you enjoy watching over dogs and being in business for yourself, then dog sitting or dog walking might be the perfect gig.  Dog sitters go to homes to care for dogs while their owners are out of town. Duties include feeding, walking, medicating, playing and cleaning up after dogs.  Dog walkers are especially common in large cities, where apartment dogs need more exercise than their owners have time for.

Why it may not be for you:

• If  you are entering the jurisdiction of other dog walkers and dog sitters with loyal customers, it may be difficult to build your own book of business.
• Income can be unpredictable, especially at first.
• One must be willing to keep a very flexible schedule and work long hours based on client’s schedule

4. Dog Training

Working as a dog trainer requires an understanding of the canine mind, an ability to educate, and a great deal of patience.  Teach commands from basic to advanced and help dog owners teach these commands to their own dogs. It is recommended to work under an experienced trainer before branching out and training on your own.

Why it may not be for you:

• It is hard to deal with owners who encourage misbehavior and fail to follow through with training sessions.
• Requires extremely high levels of patience and tolerance, both of dogs and their owners.
• You will need to deal with dogs when they are most disobedient in life.

5. Dog Boutique or Supply Store

Nowadays, dog owners want quality food and products for their dogs.  You can try your luck at working in a pet supply store, meeting all kinds of dogs and learning about dog products. If you are interested in working behind the scenes, try a dog food company or toy manufacturer.

Why it may not be for you:

• It is a retail job, so you may be working for minimum wage, unless you become the boss.
• You won’t see that many dogs, depending on the type of store and whether owners bring their dogs with them.
• The business is more about working and educating dog owners, rather than working with dogs.

6. Dog Behaviorist

Behaviorists work with dogs and their owners to solve unwanted behavior, such as anxiety, depression, and neurosis.

Why it may not be for you:

• Not all dog owners take the advice of experts, which can be frustrating.
• Injury from dog bites or scratches is a risk, especially with aggressive or fearful dogs.
• Generally requires some higher level of education in a relevant field.

7. Dog Rescue

Working in animal rescue is a very selfless job.  Your job may includes rescuing stray or abandoned dogs, caring for injured dogs, facilitating adoptions and fundraiser for the organization.

Why it may not be for you:

• Requires a large emotional investment.
• Saving animals means you have to be extremely flexible with your schedule.
• Business is often run entirely on donations, and fundraising is not easy, especially given the economic conditions.

If one of these areas interests you, consider trying it out as a volunteer first. You might also benefit from the help of a career coach or counselor.

Source (partial): “Top Careers For Dog Lovers” , About.com

New proposal may allow for dogs in rental units throughout SF.

The same issue was brought up in 2006 which attempted to enact a mandate allowing landlords to charge tenants more rent as a motivation to have more pet-friendly housing, however it was rejected by the Board of Supervisors.

Since then, several of those members were not reappointed and the debate is open to discussion yet again.  Currently, only 50% of San Francisco rental property allow pets, according to a commission member.  According to one dog owner, “[t]he demand for apartments in San Francisco is so high, landlords know they can ban pets and still find tenants”.  The hope is a mandate will be one big step in helping to stop the killing of stray animal.

Several groups representing landlords were present at Thursday’s meeting to oppose the mandate.

I've conquered humans of all sizes, now I am ready to take down SF landlords!

While many said they encourage building owners to allow pets and would be open to incentives , including a rent increase, however they felt a mandate was not the way to go since some pets can be dangerous and be a hazard to the building (in the form of damage to property) and other tenants (i.e. allergic reactions), causing unavoidable conflict.

Ignoring the Golden Gate views in sunny San Francisco

1. San Francisco – Luxurious hotels. Plenty of pet-friendly patio dining. Many off-leash beaches and areas. Ride the cable car, walk the Golden Gate.
2. Austin – Dine in outdoor cafes.  Visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens. See the Congress Street Bats. Many off-leash parks.
3. Boston – Tour Boston harbor by boat. Walk the Freedom Trail and explore many National Historical Sites. Your leashed dog is welcome on the subway.
4. Northern Virginia – Enjoy a yappy hour or dine in dog-friendly Alexandria. Take the Canine Cruise. Visit outdoor monuments and nearby Washington.
5. Portland (OR)- Enjoy off-leash areas and the famous Rose Gardens. Visit the Saturday Outdoor Market. Have a drink at the Lucky Lab.
6. Charleston (SC) – Take a ghost tour or walking tour. See the grounds of the Magnolia and Boone Hall Plantations. Visit the beach.
7. Chicago – Visit Navy Pier. Ride the Canine Cruise. See Buckingham Fountain, take a walk in Oak Park. Many dog-friendly patio restaurants.
8. San Diego – Visit fabulous dog beaches. Shop at dog-friendly Otay Ranch with its dog park. Dine outdoors and hike many parks.
9. New York - Stay in a fine hotel. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Shop at Time Warner Center. See the Balto Statue and Central Park.
10. Ann Arbor (MI) - Visit Nichols Arboretum, rent a dog-friendly canoe. Visit nearby gardens and farms. Visit many local parks.

Honorable mention include Dallas, Madison (WI), Minneapolis, Salt Lake and Seattle.

However, not all dog owners agreed with the results:

• One pit bull owner proclaimed “[t]ake Boston off your list…  look at Understand-A-Bull.com. Boston is listed as one of the most UNfriendly cities for dogs.”
• “I was very surprised to find Chicago in the top ten. There aren’t many places to take your dog other than the lakefront. .. Chicago’s a city but it’s still the Midwest–there is the feeling that dogs should be at home and not out and about.”
• “In Austin we like to think we are dog friendly, and we have some great spaces for dogs to roam and channel their inner dog. As well, we have a dog-waste problem. Unfortunately being a dog friendly city comes at a price… Come visit Austin, bring your dog, and pick up the turd.”
• “I’ve lived all over the country, including Northern Virginia and San Francisco, and San Diego is definitely (sic) the most dog friendly place I’ve set roots.”

Well, you can’t please everyone

We’d like to find other dog-friendly in the U.S. and throughout the world.  Let us know if your city should make the cut!!