Ösi Gets a Bath

The Muddy Mutt 2603A South Oxford Street, Arlington, Va

My day started off good I was running & playing with all my friends at Shirlington dog park, until I decided to cool myself off in a mud puddle. My family decided to try Muddy Mutt a self service doggie wash, located right next to the dog park - lucky me! how convenient. I hate baths they really freak me out, and my family knows this. The place look nice, and the owner told my family I will eventually calm down, well yeah, after being strap in and realizing there was no place to escape, I had no choice, but to allow my family to scrub me squeaky clean, and even let them dry me with a warm blower, when I was done the owner gave me a Muddy Mutt tennis ball, Frisbee & a bandanna. I wouldn't say this was my favorite outing of the day - far from it, but it sure made my family happy, so much I think I will be coming here quite frequently - maybe I should have put up more of a fight!

Pros - $17.00 includes shampoo, blow dryer, smelly spritzer, brushes, ear & eye wipes.

• Punch card (five washes and the 6th is free)
• Location & Owners are nice
• Clean Dog

Cons - $17.00 can add up if you go quite frequently

Ösi goes Camping

Lydia's Mountain Lodge Standardsville, Va

Pro's - Great cabin, great location, I was able to roam free, breathe fresh air, warm myself by the camp fire, eat grilled hot dogs, and sticky marshmallows.

I went to Shenandoah National Park, and hike Browns Gap trail, were I saw my first bear, good thing my family had me on a leash, I would have thought it was a dog wanting to play with me.

The trail was about 6 miles round trip, the path was nice, not to difficult, and we saw a few waterfalls at the end of the trail were I could cool myself off.

Con's - They charge me a one time pet fee of $25, but it was well worth it, actually, that should be a pro, considering what some of the hotels are charging. I can't think of any major negatives, though you don't have any access to a river or lake to cool yourself off in the summer, but being the fall when we went it wasn't a issue.

Tip - stay away from 9 year old girls with marshmallow sticks, can make for a sticky mess when it gets stuck on your paws & hair.

I burried a brand new bone outside the cabin, good luck in finding it!

Ösi's Favorite Beaches

Fenwick Island, Delaware

Pros- One of my favorite beaches.
Nice Sandy beach area.

Cons- During high season May-Sept NO dogs allowed, but it dosent stop my family from sneaking me on the beach in the mornings before 8am and in the evenings after 6pm.

Bethany Beach, Delaware

Pros- Good place to eat french fries, and lick melted ice cream off the boardwalk.

Cons- Crowded beach.
Have to pay for parking using meters.
Beach is not as pretty as other beaches in the area.

NO dogs allowed from May-Sept, not the best place to sneak on even in the mornings or evenings, have been ask to leave a few times.



Dewey Beach, Delaware

Pros- Lots of happy partiers.
Dog friendly town.
Will allow dogs from May-Sept before 9:30am and after 5:30p, they mention having a license, for a fee of $5.00, but I have never gotten one.

Cons- Happy partiers, can become wild partiers.
Lots of the parking is restricted to permit parking, they will ticket or tow!



Delaware Seashore State Park

Pros- Dogs are allowed anytime.
Certain locations you can drive on the beach.

Cons- Fee is high, we get a yearly pass.
Lots of fishing, which means lots of strings, and hooks to watch out for.

Ösi's Favorite Parks

Pilgrim Hills, Randolph Rd., Silver Spring, MD

Pros-Has a nice wooded trail along a creek where I can cool off at anytime.

I dont have to be on my leash, as long as I behave.

Lots of deer for me to chase after.

Tip- Good place to introduce your dog to water.

Shirlington Park (four mile run), Arlington, Va.

Pros- Nice size, its long with dirt, mulch, trees and a creek that runs along it.

A great place to play with lots of other dogs.

They have a seperate section for small dogs, but I like to hang with the big ones.

It is very diverse, from pure breads to mutts, everyone feels welcome.

Cons- It can get crowded, and somtimes I get trampled on.

Tips- The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is right around the corner. It's a wonderful shelter to adopt dogs, they also sell pet supplies, and pet ID tags. Try eating at Lost Dog Cafe or Stray Cat Cafe...yummy!

Ösi's Favorite Hotels

Hyatt Resort Chesapeake, Cambridge, Maryland

Pros- Nice room with walk out to patio, easy access to relieve myself.
Beach & water access to run and cool myself off.
Convenient access to golf course for me to take lots of golf balls.

Cons-$50 pet fee.
Not the greatest leftover food from the restaurants on site.

Tip-Go to Sailwinds Park , has a nicer beach, and playground for the kids.

DoubleTree Suites, 801 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington D.C.

Pros-Location, college and residental area, nice area to be walked, there's a dog park just a few blocks away. I was able to meet and play with the local dogs.

Great location to walk to the Lincoln Memorial, and to watch the fireworks on the th 4th of July. However, I had to stay back at the room, while my family went, but I got a good bone out of it.

Windows in the room open all the way, I enjoy jumping out the window, just make sure your room is on ground level.

Cons-Pet fee $25 (not so bad seen worst)Parking, after driving in circles for awhile to find a free place to park, my family decided to pay for their valet parking, I wish they would have decided that sooner, so I didnt have to hold my weee for so long!

Tip-Make sure you are well stocked with beer, you can't purchase package beer to go after 10pm, found that out after a lengthy walk around town.

Sheraton Society Hill, One Dock St, Philadelphia PA

Pros - Nice location, walking distance to Penns Landing and the Historic Area, pretty cool to relieve myself on so many famous sites. I did not mind having to take the elevator to our room it was very fast, and I never had to waite. The windows in the room extend to the floor, so I can easily look out. Sheraton does not charge extra for my stay, and they seem pleasant.

Cons- Valet parking $35. No queen beds only doubles, but they were comfortable, the windows do not open, room was a bit on the small side.

Tip - Have your family take you for a horse and carriage ride I really enjoy it, and my family enjoy ice skating at River Rink.

Hilton Suites, Ocean City, Maryland

Pros - All Ocean Front rooms, with kitchen, seperate living room & Balcony that I love to sit out on and listen to the ocean. They offer the 3rd floor or Pool level for dogs, I was glad we had the 3rd floor, the pool level did not give you much view, and since the outside pools were not open I would have to still go through the loby to exit. The elevators operated very quickly. The Beach was nice we were about 4 blocks from the start of the boardwalk, I am allowed on the beach & boardwalk during off season Oct 1 - April 30. I really enjoy my stay, and I love playing with all of the other dogs staying at Hilton.

Cons - This would not be the best place to stay during the Summer, since Ocean City does not allow dogs at ANYTIME on the beach or boardwalk, I might get a little bored, and there's no place (dog walk) at the Hilton or close by I could run around. They charge a one time fee of $75.00, and after staying with my family, ecspecially the kids, and seeing the mess they make, I think this fee is uncall for, they should be charging a cleaning fee for having kids in the room, they were a bigger mess than I was!

Note - I heard that Hilton Suites in the near future may not be accepting pets anymore, I hope this is not true, and if so, I could understand during High Season, but not during Off season!