Dog Traveller’s
Guide to Los Angeles.
The
moment you think of Los Angeles, all that comes to your mind is
rolling with the surf at the Huntington Beach or strolling down the lanes of Santa Monica.
You can find shops and stores that sell everything from glass bangles to
tattoos and from rodeo hats to air tickets. Los Angeles is a thriving city that never
sleeps and at the center of all this lies its food, architecture and people with
their dogs.
I had the
opportunity to visit Los Angeles with Suzy, my cute little Shih Tzu. Wherever I go, she goes too. The truth is that she
loved Los Angeles more than I did especially with all the grooming,
the food and the people petting and pampering her in the dog parks. Suzy had a
whale of a time.
Stay
We chose
the Los Angeles Airport Marriott due to its proximity to the airport. This is a
luxurious hotel close to the Airport and it allows Dogs of all sizes. I was not
charged any additional pet fees. Suzy had a great time by being pampered and
petted by everyone from guests to the swimming pool attendant. The location is Los Angeles Airport Marriott:
5855 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles
Tip: If you are making an online
reservation, then please mention "I am bringing my dog." in the
"Additional Comments and Requests" box of online reservation form
You can
check out some other dog friendly hotels in Los Angeles like:
- Hilton -5711: West Century
Blvd
- Hotel Sofitel:
8555 Beverly Blvd
- Hyatt Regency Century Plaza: 2025 Avenue of the Stars
- La Quinta
Inn & Suites LAX: 5249 West Century Blvd
Eat
The Rooftop Bar
Dogs and
food go together and Suzy sure does have some appetite. So we spent our first
night in Los Angeles at the SkyBark located
at 1026 S Santa Fe Avenue. I have never seen a better view
of Los
Angeles and with all those bright lights sparkling and the cool
breeze, I felt so relaxed. Suzy’s focus was more on the menu although I wasn’t
too sure if Suzy is old enough to try some beer. No wonder, it is called the
Pet’s place to Chill!
I got a
high from the 360 degree view of downtown Los Angeles while Suzy spent most of her time
sniffing cocktails and making friends. They even have a play area of a few
hundred square feet with toys strewn all over and some pet specials. Pet
specials include an animal potty area, a full bar mixing healthy drinks in
special martini glasses, and waiter service.
Tip: You need to book tickets in
advance and is $20 per person and $10 for one dog.
Play
Dog Parks
The best
way to keep your dog fit is through exercises and the one place you can let
them run free is at a dog park. Los Angeles has some of the best parks and I
was told that the Barrington Park was among the best. Here is a
list of top dog parks:
Barrington Dog Park 333 S Barrington
Avenue. Park hours are 5:00am - 10:30pm and it is closed on Tuesday
mornings from 6am - 10am for maintenance.
Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco Dog Park 5566 Via Marisol.
The Hermon Dog Park is a popular off-leash exercise
area for dogs and is the result of a grass-roots effort by some North East Los Angeles residents. It is a beautiful
place and Suzy loved running around the place. She even found some friends in
German Shepherds, Labs and ran her heart out with some of the neighborhood
kids.
Claremont POOCH Park: This is located in the Claremont County and was opened in 1994. It is an
off leash park with drinking areas and shaded trees. Suzy went wild running
around trees while I sat on one of the benches and watched her enjoying
herself.
Grooming
All that
running meant that Suzy was now covered in dust, and sand. A quick trip to the
grooming saloon won’t really hurt and it will also get the shine back on her
coat. During my stay in Los Angeles, I visited two grooming saloons.
Let me share some details with you.
Doggytime at 815 N.
Fair Oaks in Pasadena
Doggytime
offers daycare, boarding, dog supplies and grooming. The staff was caring and
they treated Suzy like she was a princess. I went for a full groom, which cost
me $25 and for a large dog, it will be $30. The full grooming package included
Shampoo, dry, massage, cleaning of ears & eyes, treating pads &
cleaning of teeth. The other alternative is to go for the Ultimate Spa
Treatment at $27 for a Shih Tzu and $32 for bigger
dogs. These packages don’t include trimming. For that I was charged $45 for
Trim /shampoo and dry of long hair.
Four Paws & Tail Pet Grooming at 3726 Sunset Blvd
At Four
Paws & Tail, I met Olivia who treated Suzy like she was her friend more
than mine. I could see that Suzy was feeling on the top of the world with all
that caring and pampering and feeling of being someone special. She takes her
time and she enjoys her job. Suzy was provided exclusive treatment from Olivia
including a detangling, and blow dry. Apart from this they offer nail trimming,
haircut, shampoo, tooth brushing, massaging, and flee dip and anal glad
services.
Shop
Pet
boutiques abound in Los Angeles with stylish upscale designer
boutiques easy to find. Our favorite LA
pet boutique was Pets of Belair Boutique. They have
everything from lavish pet beds to jewelry, and carry great dog carriers and bags
for our many travels. Suzy really loved
the designer clothes and we got her a brand new stylish custom tee with a
matching leash. Some other great shops include:
- Fifi and Romeo 7282 Beverly Blvd,Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Muttropolis 865 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA
- Al's Pet Supplies, S Los Angeles St # 21, Los Angeles, CA
- Collar & Leash, W Sunset
Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
- Eco-Pet, La Tijera
Blvd,
Los
Angeles,
CA