Gracie's Bark | Pet Friendly Resource

Franklin D. Roosevelt and his famous Scottie Fala

One of the most iconic first dogs, former president Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottish terrier named Fala starred in a movie, was named an honorary Army private and had his own press secretary.

Fala accompanied the president everywhere, eating his meals in Roosevelt's study, sleeping in a chair at the foot of his bed. Within a few weeks of his arrival, the puppy was sent to the hospital with a serious intestinal disturbance. He had discovered the White House kitchen, and everyone was feeding him. When he came home, Roosevelt issued a stern order to the entire White House staff: 'Not even one crumb will be fed to Fala except by the President.' From then on, Fala was in perfect health.

Gracie and I have a bit of a soft spot for Scotties. We've both been around them all our lives. Gracie has played with my parent's Scotties since she was 8 weeks old and I was born into a Scottie household. I grew up with a Scottie by my side my entire life until little miss Gracie came along. Now she ends up with a Scottie on each side of her every time she visits my parents!  

Meet Gracie's Scotties: Kody & Katie

Pawtucket Rhode Island has Gone to the Dogs

According to a young girl named McKenzie Rennick in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.

McKenzie has been advocating a dog park for her fellow dog owners living in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. McKenzie made her proposal for a dog park in front of Pawtucket's City Counsel and succeeded in getting it approved. There will be a one year probation to see how well the dog park is going.

The Pawtucket Dog Park will be located in Slater Park at the grassy, fenced-in area where the Slater Park Lawn Bowls Club used to play. The genteel sport of lawn bowling has literally gone to the dogs.

Nice job McKenzie! Thanks for advocating for another dog park in Rhode Island. Gracie and I will have to come check it out this summer.

Do you know of any dog parks or other dog friendly locations you would like to share with Gracie's Bark? Email us anytime at [email protected]. We'd love to hear a "bark" back from all our friends in New England and beyond.

 

Photo by Michael Jurogue Johnson

 

Herbert Hoover and his dog King Tut

A German Shepherd dog named King Tut helped to get former president Herbert Hoover elected.  Pictured with the candidate, the dog made Hoover appear warm and friendly.  The autographed image was sent to thousands of voters. Once in the White House, King Tut remained in the public eye, every night patrolling the White House fences, and became known as "the dog that worried himself to death." 

In addition to this German shepherd, the 31st President owned two fox terriers named Big Ben and Sonnie, an elkhound named Weejie and an Irish wolfhound named Patrick.

Calvin Coolidge and his pair of Collies

Former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace kept an unusual collection of wild animals at their White House. In addition to a pair of white collies, Rob Roy and Prudence Prim, they kept numerous other dogs, plus raccoons, a donkey, a bobcat, canaries, a goose and a mockingbird.

 Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, holding her pet raccoon. Between 1921 and 1923. (Library of Congress)

 

Gracie and I just love the names Rob Roy and Prudence Prim! 

Warren G. Harding and his lovable dog Laddie Boy

Warren G. Harding, the 29th President, not only gave his Airedale Terrier a hand-carved cabinet chair to sit in on high-level meetings, but also threw a birthday at the White House inviting all the neighborhood dogs, where they dined on dog biscuit birthday cake.

Though there were many presidential pets before him, Laddie Boy was the first to receive regular coverage from newspaper reporters. He was quite possibly the most popular presidential pet ever!

Abraham Lincoln and his floppy-eared Fido

"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being" ~Abraham Lincoln

Many people don't know that Abraham Lincoln and his family owned a pet dog while they lived in Springfield, Illinois. Fido was born in circa 1855 and lived with the Lincoln family for five happy years. The dog was of uncertain ancestry, but closely resembled a retriever/shepherd mix and was roughly the color of mustard.

Although Fido did not follow Lincoln to Washington, he was still living at the time of Lincoln's assassination and his new owners brought the dog to greet mourners at the Lincoln family home in Springfield.

George Washington the father of our nation and the father of American Foxhounds

In celebration of President's Day, Gracie has decided to spotlight all the presidential dogs starting today with George Washington of course!

In 1770, former President Washington imported a number of hounds from England and in 1785, he received a number of French foxhounds from the Marquis de Lafayette. These hounds, carefully bred and maintained by Washington, are the founders of today's American Foxhound. More than 30 hounds were listed in Washington's journals, including "Drunkard," "Tipler," and "Tipsy."

"The American Foxhound was bred to run, so they are an ideal pet for those who live in rural areas or on large farms. They can do well in smaller areas, however, with owners who provide them with adequate exercise. Hounds raised in the home tend to be mild tempered and easy going, getting along with children and most other pets. Their short coat is easy to care for, but owners will need patience and persistence in training, as the breed can be stubborn and independent." (American Kennel Club)

What do Gracie and Rock Balancing have in common?

As Gracie and I were enjoying our favorite pet friendly place (Gooseberry Island) the other day, we suddenly came across a beautiful handmade rock creation. I have to say, I was thrilled to have brought my camera!

In case you don't know, rock balancing is the practice of balancing rocks on top of one another in various configurations which appear to be physically impossible. Very cool!

We've had the privilege of seeing these rock balancing creations periodically at Gooseberry Island. Most of the time we usually encounter them after they have been left for a while and the waves and wind have had their way with them.

This particular day Gracie and I were fortunate enough to see one that was untouched. Gracie was finally able to take a photo with one of the rock balancing creations we found at Gooseberry Island. 

There was an article with photos in the SouthCoast Today last year about Peter Wirzburger's rock creations and it is always such a pleasure for us to come across one or two on our daily walks with Gracie.

Most of you know how much Gracie and I love Gooseberry Island because we do blog about it a lot. We just can't emphasize enough what a pet friendly hidden gem this beach really is. You never know what you may find while enjoying a leisurely walk around this gorgeous island, including a beautiful rock creation. Below is a great video of Peter Wirzburger's rock creations around the SouthCoast. 

 

 

 

Gracie Practices Good Dog Etiquette, Does Your Dog?

Gracie and I have been enjoying dog friendly hangouts since 2007. The mission of Gracie's Bark is to learn, educate, and share stories about and with the dog community.

Gracie and I have noticed lately that quite a few dog owners have not been practicing good dog etiquette at some of the pet friendly places we blog about. Even though it is winter time, we still need to be responsible for our dogs.

Leashing your dog

Keeping your dog on a leash (unless otherwise specified) in a pet friendly area is the most effective way to keep your dog safe and enjoy your pet friendly adventure.  I admit, there are times I take Gracie off the leash in certain areas to run and enjoy herself. But, I am always on high alert and make sure that I can see everything around me so she remains safe and under my verbal control. 

We've all heard the excuses of I'll watch my dog, my dog is friendly, my dog likes other dogs, or nothing has ever happened before. It is important to remember no matter how well your dog has behaved in the past, your dog can be unpredictable. It is in their nature to follow their natural instincts whatever they may be.

Don't allow your dog to socialize or play with another dog unless it is safe to do so. It is always a good idea to walk along side another dog for a while to allow the dogs to become comfortable with each other and to build a level of trust with one another.

Clean Up

Please carry poop clean up bags at all times! Gracie and I cannot emphasize this enough. Keeping our pet friendly places clean is very important to us. We want to make sure we have a safe and clean environment for all the animals, wild and domestic, to enjoy. 

Dogs in Training

Be mindful of people trying to train their dog. Not all dogs are approachable. If you notice someone working with their dog, give them some room if possible by walking around or away from them. 

Keep in mind that it is a privilege to bring your dog to a designated pet friendly location. Practicing good dog etiquette will promote a healthy and fun environment for dogs and their owners to enjoy.

The next time you are out and about with your dog, make sure you've remembered to bring Gracie's  3  ⁴ essential good dog etiquette items:

• Poop clean up bags
• Water and bowl for your dog
• Dog treats
• And, if you're a true Gracie's Bark fan, bring your camera to take photos of you and your dog enjoying a pet friendly place or activity and share them with us on our Facebook Page!

We would love to hear about your pet friendly adventures too! If you are looking for a pet friendly place to bring your dog, check out Gracie's Dog Friendly Activities. 

For the Dogs that choose to Sniff and Stay

For the dogs that choose to sniff around our bark blog and stay to become a spotlight dog, Gracie would like to extend a very special thank you! 

 

 

We have a couple of announcements today:

The first is that Gracie mentioned this past December that she would be randomly selecting one of her 2010 Spotlight Dogs and rewarding him or her for their dedication and participation to her bark blog. Our winner is Diesel Girl!

Thank you Diesel Girl for becoming part of Gracie's bark blog family in September 2010. Gracie picked out a special gift just for you!

Our second announcement is that, as promised in 2010, Gracie has randomly selected 3 fans from her Facebook Page to receive a reward for their support and dedication too!  

Jane Ferguson from West Barnstable, Massachusetts

Evan Collins from Marshfield, Massachusetts

Laura Guelde Burgess from Portland, Oregon

From all of us at Gracie's Bark (Tammi, Rob & Gracie), we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for becoming part of our bark blog family. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting 2011 with all of you!

All winners mentioned above should contact Gracie's Bark as soon as possible by email at: [email protected] with their mailing address. If we do not hear from you by February 28, 2011, a new winner will be randomly selected.