Doggie Heaven Hotel

Spring Break '13

Here are some photos of my Spring Break guests.

Riley, Karma, Moondoggie, Bella and Juda

Chewy, Abbey, Tess, Poppy.

Cody

Chewie

Chewie and Cody

Chewie and Cody 

The Dude

 

Sparkles

Juju

Juju

If You Liked White Knuckles, You Will Love the Outtakes

A couple of years ago I posted the Youtube video,"White Knuckles" by OK Go. The dogs used in the video are all rescue doggies.

Here is the Outtakes. Enjoy

 

Yes Moondoggie, There is a Santa Claus

Sunny Claus brings Moondoggie a present.

You can tell by the look on her face, it was hard to convince a cynic like Moondoggie that Santa is real, even when Santa was standing right in front of her. 

Santa came by to visit Moondoggie because she has been an extremely good and hardworking dog. Being the CTO of Doggie Heaven Hotel is a 24 hour-a-day job. When asked by Santa if she plans to take a vacation this year, Moondoggie replied that work is her life, it is in her genes. While she has no plans for a vacation in the future, she does look forward to a few really excellent naps.

Santa’s Helper, Elf Lisa, handed Moondoggie a wonderful book of photos of dogs chasing balls under water. Moondoggie has not put it down. She looks at every photo over and over.  Her favorite pages are already dog-eared.

HO HO HO!

Howl-O-Ween

Anyone who questions that my dog trainer has superhuman powers can lay those doubts aside. Here is Jenna MacDonald as “the Black Widow” Along with Quin as Tony Stark, Cash as Thor, and Lily as Captain America.

Jenna is a well-known dog trainer here in Los Gatos. She has a very long list of satisfied clients who will tell you that she is indeed a superhero. Her most impressive superpower is that she speaks dog fluently -- just ask Cash and Lily and, oh yeah, Moondoggie.

Stay tuned for my new Doggie Heaven column: Dear Jenna, for all your doggie questions.

Happy Halloween from Moondoggie

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Dark Chocolate?

 

A Cup of Coffee and a Cool Breeze

Dog sitting is a new adventure every day. 

I have nine dogs today—for one day—tomorrow three go home.

This morning my family left early to support my oldest son during the first regatta of his rowing season. I found myself standing in the middle of my driveway with my coffee, watching the dogs run around.

It was early and I was still in my baggy flannel PJ bottoms. I don’t wear undies at night for comfort reasons. This may seem like too much information but I am trying to create a scenario. 

So there I was, with my steaming cup of coffee, in my baggie PJs, surveying the doggies cavorting about my yard, when one of these adoring, loving creatures leapt up against my leg to show her affection.

One of her front claws got stuck in my PJ bottoms—and when she came down so did my PJ bottoms. 

So there I stood, with my steaming cup of coffee, and nothing on from the waist down in my front yard. I remember being glad that the neighbors across the street were on a ski vacation.

Unfortunately all my other neighbors were home. Now I’m not sure if any of them saw me in all my embarrassment, and I’m not about to knock on their doors and ask, “Hey, did you happen to see me this morning standing in my driveway with no pants on?”

And really, isn’t it just better to be ignorant about some things? 

BTW, I wouldn’t want to embarrass the owners of said dog. So I’m not going to name names. I mean what kind of mean dog-sitter would do that? 

I’m just going to post this picture.

Underwater Dogs

I love the water.

I am a scuba diver.

I love to snorkel and body surf, and most recently I learned to surf. I have seen a lot of interesting creatures in the water but none so interesting as these:

Check out more underwater dog photographs by Seth Casteel.

 

Why Do Dogs Love California?

Dogs love California because they can go to the beach in late November and it can be sunny and 70 degrees. Humans like it too.

Walking down to the beach with three excited dogs.

Moondoggie has the ball while Judah and Poppy wait their turns.

The boys look happy but Judah looks happier running after a tennis ball

Where's Betty?

I had a new dog during Thanksgiving vacation, my friend’s bulldog Betty.

She had slightly misrepresented Betty’s behavior. She’d said that all Betty does is sleep and eat—and that Betty couldn’t get around that well and didn’t really want to.

So she dropped Betty off.

Betty slowly climbed out of the car. She did it by herself but as I watched, I thought she might need a little help.

My friend pulled away and suddenly Betty found herself surrounded by seven fun-loving doggie friends.

I tell you she was like a co-ed on spring break in Florida. It was doggies gone wild.

Betty played and played and ran and caroused for the three days she was here.

One time she went missing.

I found her in my car. I was surprised she could even jump into my car. I wondered what she was doing there at first, and then I realized.

She was changing into her Superdog outfit.

The Thanksgiving Day Doggie Crew

Here were some of the guests who stayed at Doggie Heaven Hotel over the Thanksgiving holidays.

 

They enjoyed daily walks, hikes, and spa treatments. Thanksgiving afternoon each guest was given part of a fresh Thanksgiving turkey breast over their regular meal.

When asked what they were thankful for each guest had his or her (or it’s) own thoughts:

  Poppy was thankful for tennis balls and food.

Mozart (MoMo) was thankful for Georgia and tennis balls and food.

Georgia was thankful for MoMo and food and tennis balls

Judah was thankful for tennis balls.

Rain was thankful for tennis balls. 

Argus was thankful for food and that every once in a while he caught a tennis ball, too.

 

Moondoggie was thankful for tennis balls and squirrels.

Betty was thankful for all her new friends.