High fashion in the year of the dog
In fact, 2006 is a very good year for pooches in the United States, since fashionable dog owners go for top labels: Burberry, Coach, Carolina Herrera, Donald J. Pliner, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co.
And why not? Hmmm, Honey would look great in a Burberry trenchcoat. She's always running along with her nose to the ground investigating. Honey Jack Russell, super-sleuth.
Take your dog to work
Yes, pet-friendly companies exist. A survey by Dogster found around 400 companies which were dog-friendly.
Apparently people who take their dogs to work work longer hours than those who don't, so you might drop "bring dogs" into the company suggestion box.
Choose your dog according to what it was bred to do
"Finding the perfect pet: If you choose your dog for its personality -- not just its looks -- you're barking up the right tree" suggests that:
The key to finding the right dog for your particular lifestyle is looking back at a breed's original function and understanding how its ingrained temperament translates in today's world. Vizslas were bred to be active companions to Hungarian hunters; they'll go stir-crazy without running a few miles each day. Keeshonds alerted captains of Dutch barges; if a leaf blows by in the yard, you'll be informed. Neopolitan mastiffs, sort of dogdom's living gargoyle, kept strangers out of Italian courtyards by sheer looks; if a guest comes in uninvited, they will not benignly point the way to the silverware.
Before you choose a breed of puppy, ask lots of questions of the breeder, and do a little research. Find out what the breed's primary traits are. You'll be living with those traits a long time.
Partyplan for pets: petware parties
The article "At 'Pupperware' parties, pets haul in the goods" says:
Shaunna Albert of Wichita was visiting family in Dallas last summer when she saw a TV news story about Shure Pets and thought the business would be a good fit for her."I was like, wow," Albert said. "I love animals. That would be really cool."She checked out the company's Web site and signed up. She has held two parties since September, one for her co-workers at the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center, where she works as a photography technician, and another for her co-workers' family members.
Winter fun: dog sledding tours in New England
From the article:
“We have three rules of dog sledding,” says my guide, Tom Bartlett. “What are they?” I ask. “Don’t let go, don’t let go, don’t ever let go” he says, breaking into a wheezy laugh. I have to ask. “What happens if I let go?” “You walk, the dogs run away,” he answers, laughing some more.
If you're looking for a winter pastime that's fun and lets you experience the landscape in a new way, try dog sledding.