Dog o' the Week–Milo

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We walk through white, wispy clouds of stuffing and study myriad holes chewed into each of the four doggie beds that lay about Little Pup Lodge. The Master of Disaster is back.

Dog o' the Week–Mozzie

Found wandering the streets of Watsonville by Animal Control, the ancient Chihuahua finally found a warm bed and regular meals at the local shelter. The intake exam revealed that Moses (as the staff called him) was blind, had lost most of his teeth, had a very bad heart and some unknown bronchial infection that left him with a rather unpleasant smoker’s hack. He also seemed to suffer from neurological damage since he stumbled and swayed like a drunken sailor when he walked.
Moses. What kind of name is that?

Doors of Perception

With the holidays behind us and business in its January doldrums, remodel fever has gripped Little Pup Lodge. The first project: Replace the front door that imploded during winter rains.

Dog o' the Week - Phinney

We be lovin’ that Phinney; he gets some doggie daycare at Little Pup Lodge Monday through Friday while his mom goes to work. A purebred cocker spaniel, the four-year-old has the typically mellow personality common to this breed. Unless a dog of that breed has inherited the unfortunate “Spaniel Rage.” This is a very real disorder and I have seen its destructiveness up close and personally. Seemingly serene and calm, the spaniel will suddenly snap and attack another dog, child or whomever is handy. Their eyes glaze over and when they snap out of it, appear to have no idea what they just did. Some behaviorists guess that it is a form of epilepsy.

  A very happy Phinney.

Dog O' the Day – Fosters!

Another benefit to the slow season at Little Pup Lodge between now and the holidays is the opportunity to foster. The local shelter was once again filled beyond capacity (Spay and neuter, people, spay and neuter) and requested help from those of us who could take one into our homes. Last week Ella packed her bags and came to join us here at the Lodge. Weighing in at a hefty six pounds, the Chihuahua quickly acclimated to her new surroundings. She is gorgeous, house-trained and sweet beyond words–unless you happen to be a new guest checking in. Ella makes it clear she is deeply insulted sharing her vacation digs with another dog. This is an unfortunate trait, since all our guests must at least pretend to enjoy the company of others. (As one who has perfected this particular skill with humans, I explain to them that it just takes a little practice.) Therefore, we must find a home where she can fulfill her calling as an only child.
Miss Ella.

Only Child

We had a remarkable morning, Oliver and I. It was just the two of us at the beach. For the first time in months, Little Pup Lodge had no guests. One of the daycare guests, Phinney, was under the weather and the other, Aston, had not yet arrived. Harvey, whom (who?) often joins us just for the beach excursion, was at the vet for dental cleaning. No overnight guests, either; summer vacations are over and things will remain slow until the holidays.
I can have fun or I can stay clean. I'll take the former.

Dog O' the Day – CrossFit!!

Around 1995, Santa Cruz resident Greg Glassman created a strength and conditioning program that would appeal to, shall we say, a certain type of fitness buff. The type that thinks a nifty cocktail of Marine Corps punishment and Olympian weightlifting topped with a sprig of Navy SEAL survival exercises sounds downright yummy.
  Gunner & Midgee, CrossFit celebrities.


CrossFit, as Glassman called his program, was a hit. It’s not only spread across the country in the last couple decades, but has gone worldwide. I love CrossFit, but not because of the strenuous squats, lunges and reps it has become known for. I squat plenty to pick up poop bags, lunge often for a transgressor as he flies down the hall with one of my flip-flops and have lost count of how many reps I’ve completed around the local park’s half-mile loop. I love this company because of the staff members who board their little pups at Little Pup Lodge.

   Mirka, another CrossFit champion.

Right now Gunner and Midgee are with us for a week. Mirka often comes to stay. Jasper recently checked in while his mom and dad attended the CrossFit Games. Not only are the dogs adorable, but their moms and dads are some of the most fit, healthy human beings I’ve seen in a while. Nice advertising.

Jasper,  gold medal winner in CrossFit's fly-catching competition.