Shirlington – A Dog-Lover’s Paradise

Welcome to Week 7 of the I <3 Dogs Tour. This week's theme: Favorite Dog Parks and Dog-Friendly Attractions.

Visit Tour Host Small Town Rescue for links to other blogs participating this week and to see how you can win prizes! 

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Today's guest post is by Karen Hartman

I live in a small village in northern Virginia that is especially popular with dog owners. It’s called the Village of Shirlington, and it has all kinds of things for dogs and their owners to enjoy!

In a previous guest post, I mentioned one of the local pet shops, Dogma, is in the area. This bakery and boutique has established a solid niche in the village, where pet-friendly condos and apartments abound.

Other neighborhood stores also cater to the pooches. Many restaurants provide outside seating that you can share with your pup. Stores also place water bowls on their sidewalks so furry friends can grab a refreshing drink as they walk by.

Petunia (center) and friends enjoy outdoor dining and other amenities

Village socials make for a relaxing daytime break

 And you’ll see people walking dogs around town almost any time of day. Some people take their dogs for a stroll along the tree-lined bike/jogging path that runs along one of the main streets on the perimeter of the village.

Others stop by the local dog park to let their dogs run off leash. The park offers a quarter-mile or so stretch of land for dogs to roam around, release some pent-up energy, and socialize with other dogs. It even has a smaller section cordoned off for puppies and smaller dogs to play without being intimidated by bigger dogs.

Off-lead fun at the dog park

Dog park entrance (left) and puppy park (right)

The park also provides access to a local creek where water-loving dogs can swim, play, and fetch. Buttercup is not a fan of water, but there are plenty of dogs that absolutely love this feature!

When you’re done playing in the dog park, you might need to rinse your dog off before you head home. Conveniently enough, there’s a shop just a few steps from the park called The Muddy Mutt that offers self-serve dog washing as well as professional grooming.

The village also hosts annual events, such as Wags and Whiskers – an outdoor festival where you can bring your pet, visit a variety of pet-oriented vendors (pet-sitters, trainers, rescue organizations, animal food/treats,  etc.), enjoy live music, see demonstrations, participate in a trick-or-treat contest, and even get a pet portrait.

Wags and Whiskers annual festival

Don’t have a pet? You’re in luck – the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is just around the corner! This nonprofit humane society offers a variety of training and clinics, such as Helping Community Cats Workshop, Dog Obedience Classes, and Microchip Clinics. It also sponsors events like Walk for the Animals and Dining Out to raise money for its cause.

With all of these dog-friendly amenities, it’s easy to see why Buttercup and I like living in Shirlington. Maybe you can stop by to visit some time!

Buttercup hopes you can visit soon!

Dogma – In Dogs We Trust

Welcome to Week 6 of the I <3 Dogs Tour. This week's theme: favorite dog/pet stores in your area. 

Visit Tour Host Small Town Rescue for links to other blogs participating this week and to see how you can win prizes! 
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Today's guest post is by Karen Hartman

Just a few steps from my home there exists a little slice of doggie heaven. It’s a gourmet dog bakery and boutique called Dogma. Established in 2000, Dogma’s goal is to provide “the local community with a unique selection of products and outstanding customer service that you may not find in a ‘big box’ store.” And what a selection it has! From clothing and collars to treats and toys, there’s something for every dog and dog owner.

Dogma Storefront

The store’s main feature is the bakery. They bake their own treats and use only human-grade ingredients.  Per the store site, they don’t add salt, sugar or preservatives of any kind.  “No fancy colored frosting, just cream cheese or yogurt with vegetable dyes made from spinach, beets or blueberries.”  They even make their own ice cream! There are always some samples available, so your dog can test out a new treat.

Dogma's Bakery Display

What dog wouldn't like to take a bite out of a squirrel or mailman?

Dogma also has a wide variety of dog food and packaged treats. I call it the Wonderful Wall of Tastiness. Buttercup loves the Taste of the Wild brand food. It’s grain-free and fairly small, so I can give it as a treat in addition to her regular meals.  She also likes the Fruitables – organic, all-natural, gluten-free chewy treats. And I like them because they’re not too big—just right to use for training without ruining her dinner or her girlish figure.

Wonderful Wall of Tastiness

 I also like Dogma’s selection of leashes and collars. The staff helped me select a really cute pink reflective martingale collar for Buttercup from the computer catalog. It wasn’t a stock item, so they ordered it and called me as soon as it arrived. They also have a variety of clothing, art, stationery, crates, and dog-themed household items. Where else can you find a game called Beagle-opoly?

Leashes, collars, toys, and more

And if that isn’t enough, Dogma even has a grooming salon on site to keep your dog looking good.  Cassandra Reed, a local groomer, leads the salon staff. You can also choose to just have them brush your dog's teeth, trim nails, or give a bath. They even have a quick "Dip and Dine" option for those visiting one of the local restaurants.

Cassandra Reed (second from the right) and her grooming staff

One of Cassandra's pretty pups

While Dogma’s selection, service, and location are great, the thing I like most is the store’s community involvement. They support a variety of adoption and rescue events and are part of "Operation Socialization", an organization devoted to providing resources for puppy owners. That alone is enough to give it Buttercup and my stamp of approval. (And the mailman treats don’t hurt, either.)

Thank you for visiting!