Gracie's Bark | Pet Friendly Resource

Cool off this weekend with Gracie's Sweet Potato Freeze!

During these dog days of summer, keeping your dog cool and comfortable is a must. Once a week, Gracie will be barking about her favorite summer treats.

Gracie’s second treat idea, which has turned into a leading favorite of hers, is Gracie’s Sweet Potato Freeze.

Gracie loves cooked sweet potato, she can smell a sweet potato baking from a mile away. So we decided to get creative and make her a treat that can last a bit in the freezer and keep her cool during these hot summer days.

Gracie’s Sweet Potato Freeze Ingredients:

1 Sweet Potato

Water

Ice cube trays or larger plastic cups (this can make the ice cubes a bit bigger for more fun)

Bake a sweet potato, let it cool, and then pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Once the potato has been chilled, peel the skin off and slice it into small pieces.

If you don’t want your dog to immediately remove the sweet potato, follow these steps:

Fill an ice cube tray half way with water and put it in the freezer for an hour. Then add the sweet potato pieces. Put it back in for another hour, and then fill the trays with water to the top.  This keeps her busy a bit longer and makes it fun for her to try get to the sweet potato pieces.

 

 

 

This summer treat can be adapted to your dog’s taste. A couple of additional ideas would be to add  kibble for a crunchy freeze, bananas and/or apples, or veggies such as broccoli, carrots or green beans.  This is your chance to be creative and have fun with your dog!

Gracie and I hope you all enjoy this summer treat idea. When you make a Gracie Freeze, please let us know if your dog likes it and send us a photo!  Email us anytime at [email protected].

Stay tuned-in to Gracie’s Bark for the bark buzz on next week’s summer treat!

Looking for a dog friendly vacation? Visit Ottawa in Ontario Canada and you could meet Oreo!

Yes, it is true, Gracie does have international friends! Oreo contacted Gracie to tell her all about his favorite dog parks in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

Oreo frequently visits Heritage Park and enjoys every minute of it. Every night around 6:00 p.m. Oreo reminds Bill McLean that it is time to head out to the park.

According to Bill, Heritage Park is a GREAT place for all kinds of dog breeds to mingle. Everyone, including the dog owners, has a great time socializing with each other. On a good night there could be between 25 and 30 dogs all over the park. 

There is a small trail that winds though an adjoining bush area where on most nights the local folks (with pets not too far behind or in front) will go for a walk. This circular trail generally takes about 15 minutes to complete. "Sometimes we'll walk 2 or 3 loops around" says Bill.  

 

A couple of years back a group picnic was organized (potluck) and all the dogs were included! The park is a community green space that is zoned as an off-leash area for dogs.

 

There are two other major off-leash dog parks in Ottawa: Bruce Pit (west side of Ottawa) and Conroy Pit (the one Oreo goes to on occasion, east side of Ottawa). 

Both parks are great for LONG walks and you can easily spend up to 2 or more hours just wondering around all the trails. 

Oreo is extremely lucky to have these and a few other locations available for his furry friends to go to and play. All of the park listed above are open and available year round. For more information on dog parks in Canada please visit the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Dog Blog. For information on the regulations for taking your dog to Canada, please visit Pet Relocation.com

Gracie's Bark is always interested in dog friendly vacation adventures. Have you and your dog experienced any great dog friendly destinations? 

Share your adventures with Gracie. Email Gracie anytime at [email protected]. 

 

What did your dog do this past weekend? Check out Ben the very handsome 75 pound lap dog!

Wendy Juergens contacted Gracie's Bark to share a picture of her dog Ben. Ben is a mix between a Labrador and a German Short Haired Pointer. He's 8 years old going on 3 and a 75 pound lap dog. Wendy and Ben enjoyed a couple of nice walks this past weekend and cuddled up on the couch each night. 

 (Just had a bath... squirrel!)

This is a fabulous picture. Thanks Ben for telling Gracie about your weekend! 

What did you and your dog do this past weekend? Gracie would love to hear about it. 

Email her anytime at: [email protected]. 

Keep your Dog cool with a Gracie Dogtini

During these dog days of summer, keeping your dog cool and comfortable is a must. Once a week, Gracie will be barking about her favorite summer treats.

This week will be the quenching Gracie Dogtini.

Gracie and I have concocted a fabulous summer treat to help keep her cool and to keep things interesting for her.

Gracie Dogtini Ingredients:

Organic (or regular) low sodium plain chicken broth

Water

Ice cube trays

Mix 2 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of water. Pour into an ice cube trays, and freeze. I usually make these once a week.  The ice cubes have a chance to freeze overnight and then I have them available to give to Gracie whenever she seems thirsty, hot, or just as a little summer treat.

To make things fun, I take a plastic martini glass and fill it with some of the ice cubes, then add a little water. I added a couple of small pieces of turkey hot dogs and a lime to garnish.

 
Gracie thinks she is getting such a treat and loves it!

Gracie and I hope you all enjoy this summer treat idea. When you make a Gracie Dogtini, please let us know if your dog likes it and send us a photo! 

Email us anytime at [email protected].

Stay tuned-in to Gracie’s Bark for the bark buzz on next week’s summer treat!

Gracie enjoying Gooseberry Island, a great dog friendly beach in Westport, MA

For anyone in the SouthCoast and beyond looking for a cool place to take their dog on a hot summer evening, Gooseberry Island in Westport is where it's at. We were there last night and there were so many dogs running and playing in the water all along the island.

Gooseberry is pet-friendly year round. The Island is located in Westport, MA just past Horseneck Beach State Reservation. Follow Route 88 all the way to the end (it is also called Old John Reed Road), then take a right onto E Beach Road. Go Straight on E Beach Road and it will bring you right to the beginning of the causeway for Gooseberry Island.

The island is really an island, it is connected to the mainland by a man made causeway that you can drive your car on to get to the parking lot. During the busier times, the parking lot on the island fills up and some parking is available at the beginning of the causeway. If you do decide to bring your dog in the evening, I would recommend parking at the beginning on the mainland because the gate that leads down the causeway closes at 8:00 p.m. Cars cannot get by when the gate is closed but people and dogs are able to walk in.

Gracie loves Gooseberry! It is one of her favorite places to go. The walk along the island is rocky, so wear proper shoes. There is a path that leads up the center of the island which is clear and flat, but we prefer to walk the outskirts along the water. The views are amazing and Gracie loves to run loose along the beach and play in the water.

It is great exercise for her and us! It's not an easy walk, especially during high tide. The best time to walk the beach is during low tide. Click here... for a link to the tide schedule for July for Westport, MA.

Gracie highly recommends Gooseberry Island, it is truly one of her favorite places to go. I feel fortunate to live so close to such a beautiful area. My 10-15 minute drive is well worth an everyday adventure at Gooseberry.

So take some time out of your busy schedule and make the journey over to Westport, MA. You and your dog will love it, Gracie and I guarantee it!

And don't forget to take some pictures of your dog having fun over at Gooseberry and share them with us on Gracie's Bark!

Gracie gives Gooseberry Island a 5 out of 5 paw star of approval!

 

 

Gracie's 4th of July Camping Trip Adventures Continued...

We really did have a nice time in Lincoln New Hampshire during the 4th of July. We started every day with a long trail in the White Mountains with Gracie and Cali. On Sunday July 4th we out did ourselves!  We hiked a 7.5 mile trail with the dogs. 

Gracie and Cali enjoyed walking in the streams and rivers the most on the hike. It was nice for them to be able to cool off at different resting points on our hike. They both love the water.

 

   

We took several water breaks along the way. Gracie and Cali needed them. Although most of the trail was shaded, the air was warm and 7.5 miles is a long way to go for these two girls! 

 

Gracie and Cali really enjoyed each other's company. It turned out to be a great trip. They were so cute and funny to watch.

At the end of each day, they were both exhausted! On this particular day, after the 7.5 mile trail, they were both wiped out. We took several pictures of them at the campsite that afternoon. 

 

    

Even that night they were still so tired and cuddled up near the fire together. It was adorable!

 

We had a fabulous time and I would highly recommend Lost River Campground. They are pet-friendly and there were a ton of campers with dogs. We had great campsites right on the river and the dogs really enjoyed themselves.

Gracie was very sad to leave New Hampshire. We took a great picture of her on our way back. Our Jeep was packed to the top, but Gracie had her own little spot right behind my seat where she could relax.

 

We hope to visit New Hampshire again soon!

  

Do you have any stories that you would like to share with us about your vacation with your dog? 

We would love to hear about them! Send us an email at: [email protected].      

Happy Birthday to Taylor

Happy Birthday to You 


Happy Birthday to You 


Happy Birthday Dear Taylor

Happy Birthday to You.

From good dogs and true,


From old dogs and new,


May good luck go with you, 


And happiness too.

 
  
 
 Happy 3rd Birthday Taylor! 

Hugs & Kisses

Love Gracie

Want to have Gracie wish your dog Happy Birthday? Click here for details...

Gracie's Adventures in New Hampshire

We had a great time in New Hampshire. We drove up last week and spent the first day and night by ourselves on our camp site. The weather was beautiful and Gracie really enjoyed herself.

We headed out to our first trail along the Kangamangus Highway and Gracie loved sniffing the fresh New Hampshire air. 

We then enjoyed a wonderful trail and soon headed back to the camp site to meet up with our friends who were joining us for the weekend. Gracie's best friend, Cali, was also joining us. 

  

Stay tuned-in this week for more pictures and stories about Gracie & Cali's adventures in New Hampshire!  

Check out Gracie's July 2010 Spotlight Dog: Chula from New Bedford, MA

A really good friend of mine, Robyn Branco, contacted Gracie's Bark to spotlight her adorable dog Chula. 

"Chula turns two this month (July) and we’ve been fortunate to have her as part of the family for over a year and half.  We have watched her grow from a tiny lil pup to a beautiful big girl (although she will never lose the puppy face)

For pictures and more on Chula's story click here...