Category: Boston Dogs

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Instead of thinking, “Time to walk the dog,” try turning it around by saying, “Time for my dog to take me outside.” Say it in a tone of appreciation, because being outside can be very good for both of you.

Here are Leo (front) and Wolfgang (rear) taking their humans outside this past spring.

Cameron Woo, co-founder and publisher of The Bark magazine, brought to my attention recently the importance of the time I spend outside with my dog. He wrote, “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 87% of their life indoors with another 6% spent in automobiles for a total of 93% habitating in enclosed spaces. That leaves only 7% of one’s entire life to spend outdoors. Translated to daily life, we average only about 100 minutes of our day outside”

Even with the cold and snow last winter, Poppy made sure we had some time outside each day. She likes the cold better than the heat and loved those high snowbanks.

Living in one of the country’s most walkable cities (where 15% of us walk to work), Bostonians may do a bit better than average at spending time outdoors. But, Bostonians with dogs have the advantage of taking a few more trips a day to the streets and parks with their canine companions.

Where Do You Walk?

Most days we walk the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That's our routine dog place. But, we also love to explore the city and discover other great dog neighborhoods. Where do you walk your dog? What places do you recommend that we explore? And, how much time do you spend outdoors each day?

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. And, we highly recommend a subscription to The Bark. It is one of the few print publication subscriptions we still receive.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino (Adapted from one of her City Paws newspaper columns)
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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July 19, 2015
Let Your Sunday Dog Take the Lead

Regular readers know that Ed and I are both big proponents of leash laws and keeping your dog under your control. However, this doesn’t mean that you never let your dog do what he or she wants to do within your circle of guidance.

Off leash on a dog-friendly beach like this one in Provincetown Harbor is just one way you can let your dog lead the way. But only if your dog plays well with others and will reliably return to you when called.

Some days our Poppy doesn’t want to walk along our usual route. She wants to see and smell something new. Even as a young pup, she loved to follow her nose. Sometimes we let her lead the way. She has a change of scene, and so do we.

Ed is an extremely patient person and is much better at this than I am. Our dogs have all enjoyed long, leisurely walks where he has allowed them to decide which way to turn at every corner or which direction to take at the start of a beach walk.

Once, in Provincetown, he was following along as our first Westie Sassy took him down the beach to Truro because she just wanted to keep going. When he walks Poppy alone, I’ll often get a report of where she wanted to go and what they saw along the way.

Paying attention to what your dog is trying to communicate can be smart. As summer temperatures rise, your dog may try to turn for home as a way of telling you he’s hot, tired, and doesn’t want to be outside any longer. Or, he might pull to reach a puddle or water supply as a way of telling you he’s thirsty. Paying attention and occasionally letting the dog lead can be a good thing for both of you.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her City Paws newspaper columns)
Photos: ©2015 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

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July 12, 2015
Irish Setter Theo Is a Typical Puppy

Play for 20 minutes and sleep for 20 minutes. That's how life goes for puppies like this 13-week-old Irish Setter pup Theo.

As we walked East, Theo was alert and enjoying some bench time with his puppy sitter. He had an assortment of toys and was interested in everything going on around him.

On our westward walk home, Theo was sound asleep on the bench and never twitched a muscle when Penny took this photo. That's life with a wee dog – 20 minutes of non-stop play and then 20 minutes of deep sleep.

We're looking forward to watching Theo grow. Next time we meet, he should have all his puppy shots and we'll be able to let him and Poppy move in for a close up sniff.

See you soon little bit!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Sunday Dog Lucy Is Settling into the City

July 5, 2015
Irish Setter Theo Is a Typical Puppy

Play for 20 minutes and sleep for 20 minutes. That's how life goes for puppies like this 13-week-old Irish Setter pup Theo.

As we walked East, Theo was alert and enjoying some bench time with his puppy sitter. He had an assortment of toys and was interested in everything going on around him.

On our westward walk home, Theo was sound asleep on the bench and never twitched a muscle when Penny took this photo. That's life with a wee dog – 20 minutes of non-stop play and then 20 minutes of deep sleep.

We're looking forward to watching Theo grow. Next time we meet, he should have all his puppy shots and we'll be able to let him and Poppy move in for a close up sniff.

See you soon little bit!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Sunday Dog Lucy Is Settling into the City

July 5, 2015
Meet Coco the Cafe Yogi

Meet Coco Chanel, a lovely Whippet who entertained us while we dined recently. With Poppy tucked under our table, we ordered and then began to notice the poses assumed by this graceful canine. (The location of this unnamed cafe in an unnamed town must be kept secret to avoid interference by the dog haters. But, if you see us in person, ask and we'll share.)

Front paws tucked beneath her, Coco sat still as a statue and meditated while we sipped our wine. Then she rose, stared ahead, lifted one paw, and held that pose for a long count. That paw came down and she transitioned into a full stretch with paws out in front. This was also held for at least a minute in good yoga fashion.

While Coco seemed unaware of the people around her, we suspect she realized Penny had begun taking photos of her poses with the phone pointed her way. That's when she assumed her avoid-the-paparazzi pose with her back to us and her tail curled.

On the way out, we couldn't resist stopping by Coco's table to praise her grace, both as a yogi and a cafe dog. We learned her name and that when she's not moving from slow-pose to slow-pose she, like other Whippets, can take off and run at a speed of 35 miles an hour.

We also think her name is fabulous. As her namesake Coco Chanel said, "Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."

Coco, you are an elegant yogi. Thanks for adding your delicious self to our day.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny Cherubino

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June 28, 2015
The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

We all know the standing joke about the wet dog who runs to the nearest dry human and shakes the water off his or her fur. On our last visit to Provincetown, I watched this group of very polite wet dogs.

A kind man waited patiently on the sand to throw and rethrow the balls the dogs love to fetch.

Perhaps that man had worked on some special beach training to direct wet dogs racing his way to the place where he wanted them to shake.

If it did, the training was a success because these dogs did their shaking far from him.

This one had a good shake before leaving the water.

This one shook as soon as his paws hit the sand.

The trio would line up politely and wait for the next batch of balls to be tossed.

This young pup was the strongest swimmer but the other two did get their share of the prizes.

Thanks for the fun I had watching you romp and swim. See you all next trip!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

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June 21, 2015
The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

We all know the standing joke about the wet dog who runs to the nearest dry human and shakes the water off his or her fur. On our last visit to Provincetown, I watched this group of very polite wet dogs.

A kind man waited patiently on the sand to throw and rethrow the balls the dogs love to fetch.

Perhaps that man had worked on some special beach training to direct wet dogs racing his way to the place where he wanted them to shake.

If it did, the training was a success because these dogs did their shaking far from him.

This one had a good shake before leaving the water.

This one shook as soon as his paws hit the sand.

The trio would line up politely and wait for the next batch of balls to be tossed.

This young pup was the strongest swimmer but the other two did get their share of the prizes.

Thanks for the fun I had watching you romp and swim. See you all next trip!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

My Little Sunday Dog …

A Sunday Beach Dog Playing on the Tidal Flats

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

June 21, 2015
Sunday Dog Lucy Is Settling into the City

We first met Sunday Dog Lucy when she had just arrived in Boston and was walking on Marlborough Street because it was quieter and less scary than the busier streets in the Back Bay.

When we ran into this sweet Tibetan Terrier again recently, she was relaxed enough to pull up a bit of sidewalk and settle in while the people around her talked about how well she was doing. She followed the conversation like a tennis spectator, turning her beautiful brown eyes from speaker to speaker.

She's developed a bit of city dog sophistication and nonchalance even when we pointed the big, evil, black eyes of our camera lenses her way. The wag and smile she had given us when we approached turned into a supermodel pose of utter indifference to the paparazzi.

She did consent to one formal headshot but decided that a smile was too much to ask. She wants to keep her new reputation as a savvy, street smart, staunch city girl.

See you soon Lucy and we won't tell anyone that you just love a cuddle on a park bench right in the middle of the big, bad city.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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June 14, 2015
Sunday Dog Lucy Is Settling into the City

We first met Sunday Dog Lucy when she had just arrived in Boston and was walking on Marlborough Street because it was quieter and less scary than the busier streets in the Back Bay.

When we ran into this sweet Tibetan Terrier again recently, she was relaxed enough to pull up a bit of sidewalk and settle in while the people around her talked about how well she was doing. She followed the conversation like a tennis spectator, turning her beautiful brown eyes from speaker to speaker.

She's developed a bit of city dog sophistication and nonchalance even when we pointed the big, evil, black eyes of our camera lenses her way. The wag and smile she had given us when we approached turned into a supermodel pose of utter indifference to the paparazzi.

She did consent to one formal headshot but decided that a smile was too much to ask. She wants to keep her new reputation as a savvy, street smart, staunch city girl.

See you soon Lucy and we won't tell anyone that you just love a cuddle on a park bench right in the middle of the big, bad city.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

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June 14, 2015
My Little Sunday Dog …

"My little dog – a heartbeat at my feet." Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937: American novelist, short story writer, and designer.)

And, for me, that little dog is my Poppy shown here on a cool spring day in Provincetown. She likes to snuggle down between my feet when I'm reading on the chaise.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs. And, here are more of our Provincetown posts. (These selections will start with this post since it is part of these categories.)

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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June 7, 2015