MINNEAPOLIS HAS GONE TO THE DOGS

Minneapolis Has Gone to the Dogs.

Minneapolis is renowned for its healthy lifestyle, walking trails, parks and lakes.  What you don’t notice right away is that it a dog paradise.   To most of us, our pets are part of the family, and some treat them like children.    One of the easiest ways to get to know the Twin Cities is walking a dog.  It doesn’t even have to be your dog, you can borrow one.  Even in sub zero weather, when only big dog owners are out on the trail people will talk to the dog.  

My girl is a Great Pyrenees who weighs in just under 120 lbs and looks like polar bear.  Everyone talks to her.  One time I had a neighbor who would hold a whole conversation with my dog as if I weren’t there.    When we moved to Southwest Minneapolis we walked a lot, and I got to know not only the neighborhood, but a slew of dog parks, trails, pet stores, and owners.   I used to have two cats that would follow us on the walk forming a small parade.

There are five major off leash parks in the city, and  a 27,000 sq. ft indoor park, Doggy City, www.dogcitydogpark.com which has a 24/7 doggy gym for the dog who needs exercise.  As the saying goes, “If your dog is too fat you need more exercise.”   Besides dedicated dog parks and gyms, there are lakes, trails and parks.  Minnehaha Parkway stretches all across south Minneapolis and provides miles of perfect trail for many happy dog walkers.   Carol Martin, who is Top Dog at Tails of 2 Cities, is a professional pet caregiver and handler, tailsof2cities@gmail.com 612 822 PETZ.   Carol specializes in pets that need specific care, like a nurse for dogs.  She is a wealth of local information.

There are about 80 boarding kennels in Minneapolis.  Downtown Dogs, is for urbanites who work downtown, and don’t want their pet to be left long hours alone, www.downtowndogsminneapolis.com .  Stone Mountain is in the suburbs, but they send a doggy taxi that picks up and delivers your pooch for boarding, training, grooming, www.stonemountainpetlodge.com.     Now Boarding is near the airport, www.nowboarding.com,where not only can you board your canine, but schedule spa treatments while you are away.  They are open 24/7, with a parking facility for $11 a day. You can drop your pet and your car, then hop a shuttle to catch your flight.

When it comes to pet care, there is a wide variety of pet clinics from traditional to holistic and chiropractic.  Animals get out of joint too.  For high maintenance pets, nothing compares to Lulu and Luigi, www.luluandluigi.com .  Technically, it is in St. Louis Park, but it is a very short trot.  This pet boutique features high end dog apparel, collars, leashes, snacks and even special order dog birthday cakes for owners with a sense of humor.  The full service Grooming Pawlour will have even a mangy critter strutting in high style in no time.   

The end of the tail is that we love our critters, urban dogs are a lifestyle. We take care of them so they can take care of us.