Northern Virginia Dog Blog Your Source for Canine Information and Fun!

We generally don’t think it’s a good idea to let dogs pick up their own poop. But that doesn’t mean that we oppose the idea of dogs holding their own poop bags when feasible. And apparently, according to our friends over at Pet Connection, it is. A product called the Poo Boss K9 Utility Vest enables you to put your dog’s poop bag (which comes from the vest’s built-in bag dispenser) into a handy-dandy mesh pocket on the side of...

Most of our area swimming pools close on Labor Day—but happily, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) water parks will be open five days later on Saturday, September 11. However, on that day those pools will be going to the dogs—literally. That’s right: all five NVRPA water parks will be open exclusively for doggie swims at a cost of $5 per dog. The parks are Atlantis Water Park in Centreville, Downpour Water Park at...

We’ve lived in a suburban NoVA neighborhood for well over 20 years, but we’re still amazed at how fraught an enterprise walking one’s dog can be. Between clueless owners and out-of-control dogs, this simple activity can quickly turn into an unwelcome event for pooches, pedestrians and homeowners. To forestall such problems, we offer a few commonsense tips: Leash your dog. Yes, you’d love for your dog to be able to run off leash,...

Another week, another case of the Monday morning blues? Did the weekend feel too short? We’ve found that one way to combat those where-did-the-weekend-go woes is to start planning right away for the following weekend. And for Northern Virginia dog lovers, there’s a tailor-made event coming up this coming Saturday, August 28: the 2nd Annual Wags ‘n’ Whiskers family event at Arlington's Village at Shirlington. The event, which...

A couple of days ago, when we were walking our dog near a local middle school, we saw several bags of dog poop on the ground next to a nearby trash can. No, the trash can was not full.  While we applaud the efforts of the people who take the time to bag their pooches' poop, those people need to realize that their job is only half done. They need to take a few extra few seconds and put those filled bags into the nearest trash...

The Northern Virginia Dog Blog wants to give three NoVA animal organizations what they probably need most:  money.  Our essay contest is designed to do just that. Click on the "Essay Contest"  tab at the top of the home page to learn more!...

Have you seen the YouTube videos of Ginger, the Golden Retriever who appears to eat with her “hands”? If so, you’re not alone. The four videos of Ginger—enjoying a leisurely breakfast in the video above, enjoying happy hour, eating some sushi and indulging in a late-night snack—have together drawn millions of hits on YouTube, not to mention a recent shout-out on Jay Leno’s late-night show. But what you may not know is that...

No, not that kind of pick-up artist. Here at the Northern Virginia Dog Blog, we’ve been emphasizing a different kind of pick-up: the kind that occurs when you clean up your dog's poop.  However, we’ve neglected to acknowledge that sometimes those poopy pick-ups can be problematic. We ourselves have experienced the unpleasant consequences of having our large dog decide to drag us to meet a passing stranger at the same time we’re...

 Did you see last night’s installment of Bravo's  Real Housewives of Washington DC?  Early in the episode, cast member Mary Schmidt Amons of McLean discusses the problems she's had since her daughter Lolly moved back home and brought her Bernese Mountain Dog, Kona, with her. “I love having my daughter home,” says Mary, “But having her hairy, pooping dog around … I’m having some adjustment issues.” As Lolly notes, coping...

Today’s “Animal Doctor" column in The Washington Post includes an incredibly heartwarming story of a Golden Retriever named Friday, who grieved over the death of his master, but found closure when the man’s widow took Friday to the man’s grave. Friday’s devotion, while remarkable, isn’t unique. Just last year, while we were at home recovering from a serious injury and subsequent surgery, our own Golden Retriever refused to...