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Which presidents loved dogs?

Jeannette Hartman - Feb 15, 2021

“Yappy Hour”: Murder at The Wine and Bark Bar

Summer reading: This Dog for Hire

The most famous dogs in the White House

Welcoming Paddington the Havanese

Jeannette Hartman - May 22, 2019 0

Paddington the Havanese moved in last summer bringing a whole new tone to our courtyard cocktail hour. When he trots across the patio bricks and pauses to jump into his "mother's" lap, you just want...

High cost – and value – of dental care for dogs

Jeannette Hartman - May 8, 2019 0

The latest discussion among my neighbors these days is where to take our dogs for dental care -- and how much is it going to cost. Neighbors who have recently had their dogs' teeth cleaned...

Rattlesnake avoidance training best defense

Jeannette Hartman - Apr 24, 2019 0

A dog had a fatal encounter with a rattlesnake at the Laurel Canyon Dog Park last week. A second was bitten but is recovering. These incidents highlight how important rattlesnake avoidance training is if...

Best senior dog award

Jeannette Hartman - Apr 9, 2019 0

I will never have a dog that competes in the Westminster dog show. But I sure had fun watching my buddy, 13-year-old Red, strut down the red carpet at the Haute Dogs Competition in...

Tips to avoid tripping over your dog

Jeannette Hartman - Jul 8, 2018 0

It was just a simple two-step shuffle to avoid tripping over my dog and then I fell. Reaching my hands out to avoid crashing my head into the curb, I broke my left wrist. I...

Trigger Yappy is Diana Orgain's new dog mystery.

“Trigger Yappy” is a fun-filled dog mystery

Jeannette Hartman - Apr 4, 2018 0

Author Diana Orgain has once again served up a light-hearted dog mystery featuring the Wine and Bark bar and its Yappy Hour regulars. In this, the second "Yappy" mystery, the Wine and Bark has more...

Do amber collars repel fleas?

Jeannette Hartman - Jun 23, 2017 0

Spike looks debonair wearing his amber flea collar. We got it at Healing TouchVets in Sherman Oaks. His vet there, Audra MacCorkle, DVM, wears an amber bracelet, as do many of her vet techs...

Doing Battle With Fleas

Jeannette Hartman - Jun 18, 2017 0

The hotter it gets, the more I worry about fleas. At 70 to 90 degrees, fleas hatch and dogs suffer. When you have a dog who is generally itchy, scratchy and licky, fleas make life...

Do amber collars repel fleas?
Spike looks debonair wearing his amber flea collar. We got it at Healing TouchVets in Sherman Oaks. His vet there, Audra MacCorkle, DVM, wears an amber bracelet, as do many of her vet techs and patients. Baltic amber collars are the latest “thing” in flea control. We aren’t talking about golden globs of transparent resin […]
Are retractable dog leashes dangerous?
Used in the wrong way in the wrong setting, a retractable dog leash can injure or potentially kill a dog. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Knitting dog sweaters
I’m not a fan of rhinestone-crusted, slogan-slobbered clothing for dogs. The fancier the garb, the more likely it is to seriously interfere with a dog’s movements. Most of the time, the dog just ends up looking like a cheerleader at Hogwarts that got caught on the wrong end of a wand. There are exceptions, of […]
4 tips for dog Halloween costumes
Vera Woof and Pierre Curden here for Fashion Friday and tips for dog Halloween costumes. But first, a real fashion horror story we experienced once upon a Halloween spooky at a local Three Dog Bakery part and dog Halloween costume contest.
Dressing up your dog
If dogs were really meant to dress, there’d be a store called “Bloomingdog’s.” But there’s no denying that some days are cold, even in California, and a small dog needs an extra layer. The first time I tried to put a coat on Joey, he froze and wouldn’t walk. It was like a horse blanket […]
Essential gear for dogs
Dogs are flexible creatures. Most of what humans think dogs need — paw boots, mechanical toys, rhinestone collars, Halloween costumes — is all in the human mind. Some essential gear for dogs make living better and safer for both dog and human. Here’s my short list:
Fighting Anxiety with a Thunder Shirt
Joey had an anxious Thanksgiving. True, we had out of town guests — but they weren’t total strangers. We also had company for dinner. This was not unusual and Joey was familiar with the guests. There were no strange noises. No fire in the fireplace. No exotic handouts from the table. Just Joey, shaking as […]
Give shelter dogs some holiday comfort before Dec. 31
If you still have space in your heart and charitable dollars to give, you can give dogs in Los Angeles Animal Services Shelters the gift of comfort: a Kuranda bed for sleeping off chilly concrete shelter floors. According to a Los Angeles Times article, Tracy James, a four-year volunteer at the North Central Shelter, is […]
Help animals in LA just by walking your dog
WoofTrax’s free smart phone application, Take Your Walk for a Dog, gives you a real two-fer — first, you and your dog get a healthy walk and, secondly, the miles you walk add up to donations for the animal shelter or rescue organization of your choice. That sends 11- to 25-cents a mile to a […]
Knit a dog bed — or give it to a dog in a shelter
One of the best gifts Fido and I gave this season was to a friend whose dog, Denny Covina, was rescued from a Denny’s restaurant in Covina, where he apparently was abandoned. Denny’s feisty bark and impertinent wiry Mohawk suggest that he is part Terrier. He’s small enough that he might have a pinch of […]
Knitting for dogs: a leash poop bag holder
Pumpkins have replaced watermelons at the local Ralphs. The calendar says autumn starts on Sunday, so we’re pulling out the knitting needles and yarn. Joey — or rather me on his behalf — is going to be the first beneficiary of the 2013 knitting season. We’re using hollypknits pattern for Bentley’s Leash Bag Holder. Picking […]
Why do I need a dog crate?
Whether at home or on the road, a crate can be your dog’s favorite safe zone. In the ancient past, dogs looked for small protected spaces to hide out or sleep in. You can see the same instinct in dogs today when they hide under furniture or in closets when they are anxious or afraid. […]

Which presidents loved dogs?
Of the 43 men who have served as U.S. presidents, the presidents who had the most dogs were Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th president, and John F. Kennedy, our 35th president. Presidents dogs have been the focus of scandals, political accessories and humanized their powerful owners. Eleven presidents had animals but not dogs. (Most of these […]
“Yappy Hour”: Murder at The Wine and Bark Bar
Yappy Hour is a light, entertaining murder mystery set in a quaint California beach town. There’s plenty of dogs, but the mystery-solving stays firmly (and believably) in the hands of the humans. When Maggie’s sister Rachel asks her to hold down the fort at Rachel’s bar, The Wine and Bark, Maggie hesitates only a moment. […]
Summer reading: This Dog for Hire
When Dennis Keaton’s friend, artist Clifford Cole, is killed on New York’s Christopher Street pier and Cole’s prize basenji, Magritte, goes missing, Keaton decides to hire a private detective. He turns to Greenwich Village private investigator Rachel Alexander and her sidekick, the aptly named Dashiell, a pit bull. And thus begins this engaging dog mystery […]
The most famous dogs in the White House
You can bring a dog to the White House but you can’t keep him out of politics. The most famous dogs in the White House can testify to that. Just ask Falla, Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottie, or Checkers, the Nixon family’s cocker spaniel. Him, Lyndon Johnson’s beagle, caught on camera being lifted by their ears, could, […]
Welcoming Paddington the Havanese
Paddington the Havanese moved in last summer bringing a whole new tone to our courtyard cocktail hour. When he trots across the patio bricks and pauses to jump into his “mother’s” lap, you just want to reach for a Mojito and turn on some light Chachachá music.
High cost – and value – of dental care for dogs
The latest discussion among my neighbors these days is where to take our dogs for dental care — and how much is it going to cost. Neighbors who have recently had their dogs’ teeth cleaned have seen estimates ranging from $300 to $1,200, depending on the vet, the dog’s age and whether teeth had to […]
Rattlesnake avoidance training best defense
A dog had a fatal encounter with a rattlesnake at the Laurel Canyon Dog Park last week. A second was bitten but is recovering. These incidents highlight how important rattlesnake avoidance training is if you live in Southern California. Michael Becker DVM, the vet at the Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) in West Hollywood who […]
Best senior dog award
I will never have a dog that competes in the Westminster dog show. But I sure had fun watching my buddy, 13-year-old Red, strut down the red carpet at the Haute Dogs Competition in February. I’ve known Red since he was a cheeky teen. I’ve trained him to spin and to leave a treat untouched […]
Tips to avoid tripping over your dog
It was just a simple two-step shuffle to avoid tripping over my dog and then I fell. Reaching my hands out to avoid crashing my head into the curb, I broke my left wrist. I thus became one of the more than 86,000 people a year who end up in the emergency room after tripping […]
“Trigger Yappy” is a fun-filled dog mystery
Author Diana Orgain has once again served up a light-hearted dog mystery featuring the Wine and Bark bar and its Yappy Hour regulars. In this, the second “Yappy” mystery, the Wine and Bark has more going on than an agility trial. Doggie Day magazine is considering a feature on the bar. A new pet-oriented business, Kitty […]

A savory Thanksgiving treat for dogs
I was strong this Thanksgiving — and Fido survived. No handouts from the table. No cripsy bits of fatty skin in the kitchen. No gravy on his kibble. Now comes the reward Fido and I are sharing our post-Thanksgiving tradition: Delighted Dog Turkey Stew. This is the safest, healthiest way to share Thanksgiving bounty with […]
Boulevard Cafe Dog
Making frozen treats for dogs
Frozen treats are a great way to cool a dog down when summer temps soar. One of the easiest frozen treats to make for your dog are popsicles. Just take homemade or store bought broth (without onions, please) and freeze it in paper muffin cups, ice cube trays or mini waxed cups. When solid, you […]
Delightful pumpkin dog treats
Dogs know one thing about Halloween that children don’t: it’s not “trick OR treat” — it’s “trick AND treat.” Your Fido will be delighted to do tricks if any of the following treats are his reward. According to our panel of dog biscuit experts — Zach, Zoey, Red, Denny and Joey — the best find […]
Does your dog have good table manners?
I have slowly created a dog monster: a food beggar. Once upon a time, Joey would sit beside my chair when I was at the dinner table and stare at me. Just that intense, silent penetrating stare. I could ignore that. But then alone at home over lunch, I’d be seduced into giving him a […]
Dog-Gone Good Cuisine blends flavor, health and simplicity
The only way you can be sure that Fido’s food is safe and healthy is if you prepare it yourself. Now nutritionist and chef Gayle Pruitt shows how easy it is to cook food to satisfy a gourmet’s tastes and be good for dogs as well. Her book, Dog-Gone Good Cuisine, offers more than 100 […]
Foods to Worry About
Joey is profoundly good at the “Martian Mind Meld.” It’s a technique that all dogs use: the plaintive big, eyed stare, sometimes accompanied by the muzzle on the knee or the gentle scratch of a paw. It’s focus is to bring a human with food into sharing it with dog. Joey is astoundingly good at […]
Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Treats for Hot Dogs
With the dog days of August just around the corner, this is a great treat to have chilling in the freezer for your best friend.Ingredients:32 ounces of yogurt (plan or vanilla flavored)1 cup smooth peanut butterIn a large bowl, safe for the microwave, scoop out the peanut butter and heat in the microwave until it […]
Frozen Treats for Dogs feature yogurt and peanut butter
With the dog days of August just around the corner having frozen dog treats made of peanut butter and yogurt is a good way to cool your dog down. Ingredients: 32 ounces of yogurt (plan or vanilla flavored) 1 cup smooth peanut butter In a large bowl, safe for the microwave, scoop out the peanut […]
Is your dog's food good enough to eat?
There’s no question that dog food is getting better, healthier and higher quality. That’s one reason that dogs are living longer than they used to. But would you eat what you serve Fido? Dorothy Hunter, owner of Paws Natural Pet Emporium in Richland, WA, says, “Absolutely!” It’s an interesting thought: Would raw food diets sounds […]

High cost – and value – of dental care for dogs
The latest discussion among my neighbors these days is where to take our dogs for dental care — and how much is it going to cost. Neighbors who have recently had their dogs’ teeth cleaned have seen estimates ranging from $300 to $1,200, depending on the vet, the dog’s age and whether teeth had to […]
Rattlesnake avoidance training best defense
A dog had a fatal encounter with a rattlesnake at the Laurel Canyon Dog Park last week. A second was bitten but is recovering. These incidents highlight how important rattlesnake avoidance training is if you live in Southern California. Michael Becker DVM, the vet at the Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) in West Hollywood who […]
Best senior dog award
I will never have a dog that competes in the Westminster dog show. But I sure had fun watching my buddy, 13-year-old Red, strut down the red carpet at the Haute Dogs Competition in February. I’ve known Red since he was a cheeky teen. I’ve trained him to spin and to leave a treat untouched […]
Do amber collars repel fleas?
Spike looks debonair wearing his amber flea collar. We got it at Healing TouchVets in Sherman Oaks. His vet there, Audra MacCorkle, DVM, wears an amber bracelet, as do many of her vet techs and patients. Baltic amber collars are the latest “thing” in flea control. We aren’t talking about golden globs of transparent resin […]
Protecting your dog from coyotes
“It was horrible, especially the way it happened,” said Rianne, her sad brown eyes staring into the distance. Weeks earlier, her small terrier mix had been let out of the house by her roommate and had gone missing. A janitor at a nearby elementary school found the little dog’s mauled body. Another pet fallen prey […]
Cool tips for hot dogs
Ugh! It’s going to be a hot day in L.A.! For starters, today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. We’re going to get 15 hours of sunshine. With temperatures of 110 degrees or more predicted, it could be a day of record-breaking heat. Dogs and heat can be a fatal mix. […]
Dog allergies
Helping a dog with allergies can really tug on a dog lover’s heart. Allergies can be tricky to diagnose and difficult to treat. Symptoms can include itching, constant licking, digestive upset, coughing, wheezing or other distressing symptoms.
Age sneaks up on older dogs
My dog Joey and I began 2015 a happy pair: we were both getting a little whiter, but still having fun learning new things. We’d started a nose work class and had a standing meet-up with friends and neighbors at Starbucks before doing a nearly two-mile pack walk through the neighborhood every morning. My brain […]
Are retractable dog leashes dangerous?
Used in the wrong way in the wrong setting, a retractable dog leash can injure or potentially kill a dog. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Can glucosamine help dogs with arthritis?
Some say, “Absolutely yes!” Others say, “Not so much.” Like so many things in health and medicine, the research is limited and contradictory. That said, Fido has had a huge improvement in his ability to move without pain after starting the Cosequin single strength that his vet prescribed. He used to regularly have days where […]

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