PETiquette

Before you and your best friend go running out the door, here is a list of things to keep in mind when going to public places, like malls, restaurants, etc.

1. Bring poop bags! In fact, bring a lot. Some dogs will get excited when going to a new environment and they may go poopy. Even if they have already gone, they might go again!. If your just bringing your dog out for the first time, make sure to take a lot of potty breaks, this will prevent any embarrassing mistakes from happening.

2. Keep your dog on a leash. I know, your pup is the best, listens to your every command, doesn't leave your side. Still, keep them leashed. Florida law states that you have to keep your pet on a leash, unless in a designated area. Your dog may want to visit other dogs, and while your dog may be friendly the other one might not be. Plus you never know what stimulus is out there that your dog isn't prepared for, ie car backfiring, food close by.
Also, be aware of other dogs and their owners, if they don't look like they want to be approached to say hello, don't. Make sure to keep your dog close to your side. A lot of people out there are afraid of dogs and we don't want to ruin their time either.

3. Bark in the Park only happens 1 time a year. Be respectful of everyone around you and make sure your dog can handle not barking at others (dogs or people).


Finally, just keep in mind that it is a privilege to live in a dog friendly state. Being respectful of others is the best way to keep all these areas accessible to us and our best friends. All of our good behavior may even encourage other places to let our pooches in!

Some Clarifications

I just wanted to make sure that it was clear that I am not a dog trainer and have absolutely no formal education in behavior. This website has suggestions that I have learned from other sources, such as books and classes. If you are having any behavioral problems or want to take some classes to get some good etiquette in paw, I would suggest calling Completely Canine on Coral way and SW 27th Avenue. You can also visit their website www.completelycanine.com. They have a great variety of supplies for your dogs and cats. The toys are a lot of fun for your dog and the treats are delicious and healthy. Their training classes are reasonably priced and their trainer, Grahm, teaches group and private classes. Grahm has had MANY years of experience training not only with dogs, but marine mammals as well. He's a very realistic guy and a great trainer. Their phone number is 305-444-1911


Fiji in basic class at completely canine

Lake Okeechobee and Okee-Tantie Recreation Area

We arrived at Okee-Tantie Recreation Area around 9pm on Friday night. There is a "guard house" where you can register/check in. The size of the campground is average, with 2 lots, A and B. B was destroyed in a hurricane a few years back, so everyone is sent to A. A is nicer anyway, as it is along the Kissimmee river. Most of the campground is taken up by RVs, we were 1 of 2 people who only had a tent. They have potable water and electricity at certain sites and only a few without, but these are the ones that allow you to have a camp fire.
There were only a few of these sites. Most of them just had half of a grill on top of a pile of ashes. We started off at 105A and then moved to 101A the second night. The problem with this campground is that it is hard to find a spot that is out of the parking lot lights! 105A was in a very bright spot and we had to use the car to block out the light (didn't work that well). That's when we decided to move to 101A it was the darkest spot and it had a real fire ring.
The campground is close to a Publix, Winn Dixie and some strip malls, so if you need something it's not a problem. The Winn Dixie has firewood you can pick up on the way in to the campground.
Okee-Tantie Recreation Area connects right up to the Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which is actually a part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. The entire trail is paved and is at the top of a dike that encircles the Lake.

Cons: The campground is not very shaded unlike previous info I have read on the site.
You feel like you are in an RV park rather than a campsite.
The Okeechobee scenic trail is also not shaded and your view is either the Lake or RV and Trailer Parks.
Your dogs paws will be sensitive to the hot pavement during the day, make sure to take them in the morning or early evening.
Pros: They have restrooms and a shower facility.
You can have ammenities at your site or go primitive.
There are many places to launch a boat and go bass fishing.
The Okeechobee trail is great to ride your bicycle on.

Overall Fiji gives the campground and trail 1 tail wag. It's a good place to get away from the city, but there isn't much to do in the area or any real hiking trails other than the Okeechobee paved trail. However they are very dog friendly as long as you keep your pup on a leash. If you want a quiet relaxing trip to get away from the city this is a good place to visit. I will continue to put more info, such as maps of the campground and prices of sites as the week goes on, so check back!


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Welcome to blog with my dog!

Living in Florida has many perks, but by far, one of my favorite things about the area is how dog friendly it is! I started this blog so that I could pass on information to my fellow dog lovers.

Including your dog in your activities strengthens the bond between you and your pup and makes everyone happy. I am very open to suggestions and ideas, so please feel free to send in stuff so that we can expand the area in which I will cover. We (my husband, our dog Fiji, and myself) live in Coconut Grove, so most of the blogs will cover areas in South Florida, but we are trying to expand and will be exploring other parts of the state. This weekend we will be checking out Okee-tantie recreation area, and hike the Florida National Scenic Trail. Have a great weekend!