This weekend I was a horrible dog mom and decided to do things that did not involve Luna at all (you know, took some ME time--such a rare thing!). I may have had a fun filled weekend, but Luna did a lot of sleeping in her crate (though I did have people check up on her while I was away).
Fortunately on Saturday, I was able to get her out of the house and bring her to a "new" dog park. It's definitely far from new, it's not even new for Luna! Just new for me. We went to Drew's favorite dog park in Livermore, called Vista Meadows.
According to the name, you would think there is a love view of lush green meadows. Except, this is California, and we are in a drought, so the only view you have is dead and yellow. (Hey! We are the "Golden State" after all!)
Drew really likes this dog park because it really tires Luna out very fast. Vista Meadows is on the side of the hill, so inside the dog park there is an incline where the dogs have to run up and down the hill if they are playing fetch or chasing after dogs or whatever else they do at dog parks.
It's a pretty good set up, they also have benches, trees (great shade for hot days), and water. You would think the last one would be an obvious at a dog park, but you'd be surprised at how many dog parks I've been to that don't have water for dogs. They expect you to bring your own water! Crazy. But Vista Meadows has that under control. They are even good about having a small dog and big dog water bowl. Well, the small dog "bowl" is more of a crater in the cement block under the water spicket, but it works.
It's funny, I have never really realized the necessity of having a small dog bowl. Since Luna was never considered a small dog, I never understood what the issue was and why people brought their own water bowls to dog parks. I just always thought "Oh, they are those people, that are specific on what their dog drinks out of." Some people are genuinely like that, but I came to realize most people who bring their dog water bowls from home to dog parks is a different issue all together! I didn't understand this issue until I brought Moxie (Luna's cousin who is a Maltese) to the dog park with us.
The water bowls that the dog parks supply are usually buckets. Buckets that are taller than every small dog out there. These poor dogs can't even reach the water bowl. When I brought Moxie with us to the dog park, I realized this was an issue when she started panting. I brought her over to the water (thinking she just didn't know where the water was located), that's when I laughed. The poor girl was shorter than the bucket and couldn't even reach. How the hell am I going to solve this problem? I pick her up and dangle her over the water bucket, which doesn't go well. She is confused why I'm holding her over this large body of water. So what did I do? I became that girl, and made a basin with my hands and had Mox drink out of it. To other people I probably looked like some crazy dog lady, I might as well have just put the water in my mouth and fed her water like a mother bird to her babies. But hey, Moxie got to quench her thirst, and that's what matters right?
So that was my weekend with Luna. Pretty much a failure as a dog mother #DogMomFail.
I ditched her, and the one time I did actually take her out the grass was all dead. AND I forgot to bring a ball, but don't fret, another dog and his owner showed up and Luna snatched his ball. She is such a ball thief, and a tease. We gave that ball back and headed home, she was pooped.
Fortunately on Saturday, I was able to get her out of the house and bring her to a "new" dog park. It's definitely far from new, it's not even new for Luna! Just new for me. We went to Drew's favorite dog park in Livermore, called Vista Meadows.
According to the name, you would think there is a love view of lush green meadows. Except, this is California, and we are in a drought, so the only view you have is dead and yellow. (Hey! We are the "Golden State" after all!)
Drew really likes this dog park because it really tires Luna out very fast. Vista Meadows is on the side of the hill, so inside the dog park there is an incline where the dogs have to run up and down the hill if they are playing fetch or chasing after dogs or whatever else they do at dog parks.
It's a pretty good set up, they also have benches, trees (great shade for hot days), and water. You would think the last one would be an obvious at a dog park, but you'd be surprised at how many dog parks I've been to that don't have water for dogs. They expect you to bring your own water! Crazy. But Vista Meadows has that under control. They are even good about having a small dog and big dog water bowl. Well, the small dog "bowl" is more of a crater in the cement block under the water spicket, but it works.
It's funny, I have never really realized the necessity of having a small dog bowl. Since Luna was never considered a small dog, I never understood what the issue was and why people brought their own water bowls to dog parks. I just always thought "Oh, they are those people, that are specific on what their dog drinks out of." Some people are genuinely like that, but I came to realize most people who bring their dog water bowls from home to dog parks is a different issue all together! I didn't understand this issue until I brought Moxie (Luna's cousin who is a Maltese) to the dog park with us.
The water bowls that the dog parks supply are usually buckets. Buckets that are taller than every small dog out there. These poor dogs can't even reach the water bowl. When I brought Moxie with us to the dog park, I realized this was an issue when she started panting. I brought her over to the water (thinking she just didn't know where the water was located), that's when I laughed. The poor girl was shorter than the bucket and couldn't even reach. How the hell am I going to solve this problem? I pick her up and dangle her over the water bucket, which doesn't go well. She is confused why I'm holding her over this large body of water. So what did I do? I became that girl, and made a basin with my hands and had Mox drink out of it. To other people I probably looked like some crazy dog lady, I might as well have just put the water in my mouth and fed her water like a mother bird to her babies. But hey, Moxie got to quench her thirst, and that's what matters right?
So that was my weekend with Luna. Pretty much a failure as a dog mother #DogMomFail.
I ditched her, and the one time I did actually take her out the grass was all dead. AND I forgot to bring a ball, but don't fret, another dog and his owner showed up and Luna snatched his ball. She is such a ball thief, and a tease. We gave that ball back and headed home, she was pooped.
