Our favorite dog parks!

Auggie and Piper LOVE going to the dog park. We tend to take them separately because Piper thinks that other dogs are hurting Auggie when they wrestle and he tries to break it up (although their wrestling is only play). He is always looking out for his brother! :)

For those of you that live in the Alpharetta area, here are a few reviews of the boys' favorite parks.

NEWTOWN PARK
3150 Old Alabama Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022

This is very close to us and is the park we go to most frequently. It isn't huge but still has ample room for pups to play. The grass in the park didn't last long, but they have changed to a more dog-friendly ground covering. There are separate areas for small and large dogs, and baggies are provided for cleanup. There aren't many trees for shade, however there are newly constructed awnings built over the bench areas. Another bonus is the Starbucks across the street where you can grab a coffee before heading over to the park!


WILLS PARK-Waggy World Paw Park
175 Roswell Street
Alpharetta, GA 30004

This park has lots of trees and shady areas-great for those hot summer days. It is usually very busy around 5 pm when people get home from work. There are grass surfaces, as well as mulch-covered areas. The smalls dogs have their own area for those under 25 lbs. Make sure you park in the parking lot off of Roswell Street or you will be walking a good distance to get there.


PIEDMONT PARK
400 Park Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

What a blast we had a this park-it is worth the drive from Alpharetta! The boys' celebrated their 1st birthday here with several of the closest canine friends. This park is HUGE and offers a lot of space for dogs to run. It is also great for people watching-not to mention the variety of dogs you will see! This is by far the boys' favorite park, paws down. The downside is the limited parking. Arrive early because the park gets crowded-but there is room for everyone! Enter on Park Drive if there is parking available there.

Dog DNA Test and Sophie's results!

I'm happy to report that Sophie is almost back to 100% after her scary run-in with the illness that paralyzed her for many days. She was running around the yard and acting puppyish today! Maybe she feeling that much better, but the cooler weather is helping I'm sure!

Anyways, I wanted to share a really cool item with you-the Canine Heritage Breed Test...a dog DNA test! For those of you with rescued pups it is amazing! It can decipher what breeds make up your Heinz 57 pup.

We tried this test out on Sophie and also my Dad's dog Belle last year. It is super easy.
1) Order the test (http://canineheritage.com/breeds.php)
2) Swab the inside of your dog's cheek and mail back in container
3) Email a picture
4) WAIT BY THE MAILBOX FOR YOUR DOG'S RESULTS!

The Sophie and Sarah Review:
We thought this was a pretty cool test but there are a few downsides. Last year when we purchased the test, it only identified 38 breeds. They have now increased to 100 breeds, although there are still many very popular breeds left out. I would use this test on my other pups but it does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed-which SO many dogs are mixed with (including mine!). So if you believe you dog is mixed with a certain breed, make sure you check the list before purchasing or you may be disappointed with the results. Another downside is the cost-which has almost doubled since the increase of breeds. BUT, all that aside, it is still very cool to have a nice little certificate with your pet's picture on it, displaying what breeds are "in the mix."

RESULTS:


Sophie's Breed Composition:
PRIMARY BREED: none
SECONDARY BREED: Chow Chow, Chinese Shar-Pei
IN THE MIX: Samoyed



Belle's Breed Composition:
PRIMARY BREED: Doberman Pinscher
SECONDARY BREED: none
IN THE MIX: Labrador Retriever

So that wraps up our review of the Canine Heritage Breed Test. There are several other companies that offer similar tests so look around if you would like to know what else is available!

***PET FOOD RECALL***

Mars has issued a voluntary pet food recall for their products produced in the Everson, PA Plant due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please visit the link below for a complete list of foods possibly affected: (http://www.petcare.mars.com/)

***Alert for Birds~~~Dangerous Toys/Sleep Tents***

Beware of the dangers of toys for your birds. I recently heard of a parakeet getting his leg caught in a popular bird sleep tent called a Happy Hut. Here is a list of toys/cage items that can pose problems:(http://www.avianweb.com/toysafety.html)

Bark in the Park~Go Braves!

It was such a hit the first time, the Atlanta Braves decided to host Bark in the Park twice a year! This is the opportunity to take your pooch to Turner Field to take in some of America's past time.
That may be easier said than done however with all the fun activities planned for the furkids. There are hundreds of dogs to play with, with LOTS of baby pools filled with cool water so your pal can spend some time wading in the water alongside their new found friends, PLUS, don't forget to stop by the Lick-A-Lot stand for your free doggie ice cream treat! From the smallest 4 lb. Chihuahua to a French Mastiff tipping the scales at close to 200 lbs. you can see dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Turner Field blocks off several upper lever sections in the shade for you to sit with your pooch and enjoy the game...but be forewarned that howls fill the stands during the National Anthem and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Be sure to pack your camera and a portable water bowl...volunteers walk the aisles handing out scoops of ice for the dogs to chomp on. And the best part of the day? A portion of each ticket purchased for Bark in the Park goes to the 'Bobby Cox Paws Because ... They Are Worth Saving' Foundation. (http://www.homelesspets.com/index.asp)

The most recent Bark in the Park was September 7th...but stayed tuned for next year's dates! The event sells out quickly.