Top 10 Restaurants in Chicago That Allow Dogs

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

We are finally getting some nice warm weather here in Northern Illinois.  Each year Bring Fido lists the places in Chicago that allow dogs at their Restaurants.

Of course, there are rules when bringing your dog to a restaurant so make sure you call ahead or read about the restaurant before bringing your dog.

There are 140 restaurants in Chicago that allow dogs.  To see the entire list go to:  http://www.bringfido.com/restaurant/city/chicago_il_us/

Here are the top 10 most popular restaurants in Chicago that allow dogs.

Bad Dog Tavern & Grill, Chicago, IL, US

Bad Dog Tavern & Grill in Chicago is dog friendly and serves up tasty food in a fun atmosphere.

Harry Caray's Tavern Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, US

Harry Caray's Tavern boasts a licensed dog friendly patio on beautiful Navy Pier. They will serve your canine companion a souvenir water bowl and a treat while you enjoy a Holy Cow! 

Cody's Public House, Chicago, IL, US

Cody's Public House has great service and is dog friendly, with a large outdoor area in back, darts and pool.

O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe, Chicago, IL, US

O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe features Continental cuisine in a casual, elegant atmosphere with outdoor seating available for pups.

Big Star, Chicago, IL, US

Big Star serves fancy tacos in a cool atmosphere, with a walk-up window that allows you to bring your pup.

Wrightwood Tap, Chicago, IL, US

The Wrightwood tap is a great dog friendly neighborhood place with a chilled bar that keeps your beer cold.

90 Miles Cuban Cafe, Chicago, IL, US

This Cuban spot offers delicious authentic cuisine that is a steal for the price. Dine on the patio, and your pet is welcome to join you.

Archie's Iowa & Rockwell Tavern, Chicago, IL, US

Archie's Iowa & Rockwell Tavern is a dog friendly bar with pool table, juke box, friendly staff and a projector for the Cubs games.

Dunlays on Clark, Chicago, IL, US

When you just want to relax with friends, the appetizers and drinks are a major draw for patrons. Dine on the patio and Fido can join you.

Corner Bakery Cafe, Chicago, IL, US

Corner Bakery Cafe offers fresh baked breads, sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries, and allows dogs to dine at outside tables.

So head on out this summer with your friends and your dog !!

Teaching Your Dog To Swim !

By:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

It is coming up on that time of year here in Northern Illinois.  Summer !  Yay !  We had a pretty rough winter again this year.  Seriously cold so we are all excited to see flowers blooming, grass turning greener, leaves on the trees and yes even swimming soon !!!

When my dog Sebastian was younger he loved to go swimming.  I do remember, however, the first time he swam, he was a little scared of it and not sure of himself.

Here are some tips to teach your dog how to swim:

Safety Comes First:
Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean she’ll be a natural swimmer. In fact, some breeds -- the bulldog, for example -- cannot swim at all and will sink right to the bottom if tossed in the water without a flotation device holding them above water.

Dogs that are lightweight, have short legs, or will be spending time out on the boat in deep waters with you should be outfitted with their own life vest or jacket. Too much noise and activity can be distracting. Begin with a quiet area of the lake, river or pool, and keep your dog leashed at all times in case she gets into trouble -- and to keep her from swimming too far out. The leash should not come off until she is able to swim unassisted and is consistently returning to you when called back.

Never leave a dog unattended in the water, not even for a minute. And please don’t throw your dog into the water for her first swim. It’ll only frighten her to the point that she’ll never want to swim again.

Start Out Very Slowly:
When teaching your dog to swim, it’s best to start in a shallow area where you can walk beside your pet. Put on the flotation vest if needed, attach the leash, and walk slowly into the water, letting her get used to having wet feet.

If your pet is reluctant, bring a toy or a few training treats to coax her in farther. Use a positive tone of voice and lots of verbal praise when she enters the water. Gradually take her into deeper water until she must start paddling to stay afloat. At this point, you can use an arm to provide support under your dog’s belly if she appears to need the extra support. This gives her the incentive to paddle her rear legs along with the front legs.

You don’t want your dog to use only her front legs to swim, as she will tire more quickly and splash around. Keep supporting her until she seems comfortable in the water and is using all four limbs to swim. If at any point she appears to be panicking, back up into the shallow water and let her calm down before trying again.

Good Dog!!!
When the lesson is over, it's time to get your dog out of the pool or boat. Take your time showing her the proper and safe way to exit the boat or pool so she can find her own way out the next time. A good final rinse with fresh water will help get rid of any residual chemicals or algae that might be clinging to her haircoat. Finally, give her lots of verbal and physical praise after the lesson, and maybe an extra treat. This will help your dog to associate fun and positive times with the experience of swimming.

Also, if you are out boating with friends and family it is ALWAYS good idea to put a "life jacket" on your dog while in the boat.  Dogs can fall overboard and can tire quickly while you turn the boat around and get back to them.

Keep your pets safe and everyone will have a "swimmingly" good time!

Going On Vacation? Now Is The Time to Book Your Pet Sitter !

BY:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

Well, it is that time of year.  We, in the pet sitting business, are now starting to get clients scheduling for Summer vacations... Woo Hoo !!!!

But, there are always those new or even current clients who call us 3 days before a vacation starts asking us if we can take care of their pets.

Most of the time we cannot because we are already booked. Because of this, it is important that you schedule your pet sitting needs as far in advance as you can.

I personally hate turning clients away but if I am already booked there is nothing I can do to help you. Even referring to another pet sitter probably won't help as they are in the same situation as I am.

So, here are 10 tips to get you on the pet sitters schedule in time to enjoy your vacation:

1. If you have pets, and you are planning on going away for vacation, call a pet sitter immediately and make arrangements.  Do not wait until the hotel and flight is booked.. that may be too late. If you are a new client, most pet sitters need to meet with you in advance to go over any and all logistics of the visit and get you on the schedule.
2. Don't forget when planning your vacation budget, you must also plan the pet sitting costs. This should help with "sticker shock" if you already know how much it will cost to have your pets taken care of while you are away.
3. If your pets require vaccinations, make sure all pets are vaccinated before your pet visits begin. Most pet sitters require pets to be vaccinated and may require proof of vaccination.
4. Make sure you read your pet sitters cancellation policies.  During peak vacation times, pet sitters may require payment up front or a down payment and cancellations too close to the actual visit dates may forfeit some or all of your payment.
5. When going away on long vacations, make sure you give your pet sitters emergency contact information and give YOUR contact information, whether that be your cell phone number and the hotel or friend you will staying at/with.  
6. If you are going overseas, it is even more important to give your pet sitter contact information in case of an emergency, preferably a friend or family member who is still in the area of where you live.
7. Make sure you notify your veterinarian that your pet sitter will act as proctor for any pet care should it be needed, this includes medications.
8. Make sure that if you come home early from your vacation, notify your pet sitter immediately. If you do not contact them they could already be on the way to complete their visit and you may still be charged for that visit.  Again, read any and all cancellation policies.
9. If you are going away for a long period of time, make sure you leave phone numbers for any repairmen including heating/air conditioning, water heaters, etc.  Things tend to happen when homeowners are away and pet sitters will need those numbers to get any major issues taken care of.
10. Best tip yet.. If you schedule in advance, now you can relax, pack and enjoy your vacation with your friends and family !!!!!!

Flea and Tick Season Is Here!

BY: Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

This blog post is just a reminder that Flea and Tick season is now upon us.  Fleas and Ticks can cause severe illness to your whole family so make sure you and your pets are protected.

Flea bites can cause skin disorders, infections and allergies, and spread tapeworms. And bacteria spread from infected tick bites can cause Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can affect humans, dogs and cats.

Lyme disease is characterized by lameness, swollen joints and fever. Ticks carrying Lyme disease don’t discriminate, so it is imperative to take a proactive stance in protecting not only your pet, but your family from this debilitating disease.

The following are some steps to take to help protect your family and your pet from Fleas and Ticks:

• Treat Your Pet: The first step is to apply a preventative treatment on your dog and/or cat such as Frontline or Advantix. If you are not sure about the type of treatment to use, please contact your veterinarian immediately.  The sooner you protect your pet the better.

• Treat Your Home:  Washing pet bedding, vacuuming carpets and treating with household insecticide sprays, powders and foggers are good first steps to ridding your home of fleas and preventing infestations. Make sure you use a spray that’s pet friendly and designed to reach the hiding places of fleas -- rugs, carpets, drapes and upholstery.

• Treat Your Yard: Your yard should be a safe zone for pets to play, not a place to pick up parasites. Ticks, which are usually dark brown or black, have pincers and can be spotted by the naked eye. Fleas are tiny, brown insects and can be difficult to spot.  Spray your yard and around the foundation of your home to kill flea populations.  Make sure you spray while your pets and family members are not around as some of these sprays are toxic.

• How to Remove a Tick: 
• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
• Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
• After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

Keeping your pets and family healthy is priority number one.  Make sure you take proactive steps in keeping everyone safe !

Would Acupuncture Help My Dog?

BY:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

I have been hearing a lot of news lately regarding giving acupuncture to dogs.  In fact, a friend of mine actually did do this for her doggie when he was having problems with his back legs.

I find this very interesting so I thought I would do some research on it and pass on the information to any of you who may considering this for your dogs.  Here is some information I found.  If you are interested, it is always a good idea to contact your veterinarian for more information.

What Can Veterinary Acupuncture Do for My Dog?

• Veterinary acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s own pain relieving and anti-inflammatory substances. 
• Relaxation of muscles at the site of needle insertion and more distant locations body is achieved with veterinary acupuncture treatment, creating both a local and generalized pain relieving effect. Veterinary acupuncture improves tissue blood flow, oxygenation, and removal of metabolic wastes and toxins.
• Unlike prescription and over the counter pain medications, veterinary acupuncture lacks potential adverse side effects for your pet’s internal organs.
• Your pet’s medications or supplements will not adversely interact with veterinary acupuncture treatment; therefore it can safely be used to treat a variety of illnesses.

How Does Veterinary Acupuncture Work?
The goal of acupuncture is to promote the body to heal itself. From a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) perspective, veterinary acupuncture encourages healing by correcting energy imbalances in the body. Acupuncture enhances blood circulation, nervous system stimulation, and the release of anti-inflammatory and pain relieving hormones.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into body tissue where nerve bundles and blood vessels come together. These collections of nervous and vascular tissue are termed acupuncture points, which course over all aspects of the body’s surface on meridians (energy channels). The meridians permit a cycle of energy to occur throughout the entire body over the course of the day’s 24 hours.

Besides needle insertion, other acupuncture treatments are also available.  Check with your vet to get information on the other acupuncture options.

What Conditions Can be Managed with Veterinary Acupuncture?

Veterinary acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, particularly those that involve inflammation and pain.

• Arthritis
• Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
• Trauma
• Cancer
• Metabolic Disease

What Environment is Best for Acupuncture?
House call based veterinary acupuncture alleviates the physical and behavioral stress associated with transportation to and from a veterinary facility. Additionally, as animal hospitals are traditionally places of illness, the potential for exposure to infectious disease is reduced when a pet is treated at home.

How Frequently Does My Pet Need Veterinary Acupuncture Treatment?

Dogs and cats start with more frequent treatments then are tapered off to a less frequent interval for maintenance. Most patients benefit from one to three sessions per week during the initial few weeks. The goal is to achieve the greatest duration of time where a pet’s condition appears improved or has resolved.

The effects of veterinary acupuncture treatment are cumulative, so consistent treatment is more beneficial than intermittent.

If you are thinking about this type of treatment it is always best to talk to your veterinarian.  He or she may already have some contacts in your area you can call upon.  Either way, anything we can do to help our pets is always worth checking out.

Canine Flu and Kennel Cough on the rise in Chicago

BY:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

Yesterday morning I was listening to the news and heard that Canine Flu and Kennel Cough are on the rise in Chicago and is now considered a serious outbreak.

Because I own a pet sitting business I wanted to share the information with everyone who may live in the Chicagoland area.

I have already contacted my clients (past and present) just so they are aware of the situation and what our procedures are at Snaggle Foot Round Lake in making sure our clients dogs are safe.  I have also posted this information on our Snaggle Foot Facebook Page.

Here is the information regarding this outbreak.  I have separated the stories by Kennel Cough first and then Canine Flu.

Kennel Cough:
According to the report, and Dr. Natalie Marks in Chicago says it's a strain of bordetella, often called kennel cough. Other veterinarians aren't certain, and suggest it's possible that the infectious culprit could be the canine influenza virus. Cook County veterinarian and rabies administrator Dr. Donna Alexander says she's just not sure what it is.

But whatever the cause, some dogs are getting sick, and some have reportedly died.  The vaccine for kennel cough might be somewhat protective, but this bordetella strain might not be affected by the vaccine. There is a vaccine for the canine flu, but usually vaccines are suggested in places only where there is an outbreak - which might be what's happening, or not. Certainly, the bordetella vaccine is suggested anyway for all dogs who frequently encounter other dogs.

There's no need to panic, but taking logical precautions (aside from vaccine protection) might be prudent, such as first checking with your veterinarian to determine if there are reports of the virus where you live. Some areas are seeing many sick dogs, others not as much.

In areas where there are many sick dogs, consider staying away from dog parks. Some doggy daycare facilities have closed their doors as a precaution, others remain open, but you may want to consider leaving Fido at home. Dog training classes are important, but definitely talk with the instructor. Depending of how much virus is going around near you, waiting until the next session begins might be a plan, and the same is true for dogs participating in organized canine sports and activities.

Canine Flu:
One local veterinarian says there's been an increase in suspected cases of canine influenza, although there is a vaccine you can get for your pet.

Buster, a 9-year-old boxer mix, is in isolation at a Lakeview animal hospital. Ollie, a Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix, is headed in the same direction.

Both dogs have been diagnosed with pneumonia, a symptom of canine influenza.

"There has been a massive outbreak of infectious respiratory disease in the city of Chicago and suburbs," said Dr. Natalie Marks, Blum Animal Hospital.

Dr. Marks says Blum Animal Hospital has seen between five and 15 cases a day.

Waiting for test results to confirm the diagnosis, Dr. Marks and other area vets suspect the dogs have the flu. The Chicago area hasn't seen such an outbreak since 2008. Dr. Marks says canine influenza symptoms are more severe and dangerous than kennel cough.

"Dogs with influenza sick very quickly, one to three days, very lethargic, high fever, pneumonia, high-risk," Marks said.

Dogs at the highest risk are those exposed to other dogs, pets at dog parks or dog care.

Elizabeth Estes believes her dog Ollie picked it up at his doggie day care. Estes brought Ollie to the animal hospital Wednesday morning after he became sick overnight.

"Yesterday, he was running around, then all of sudden, boom, cough, rough night, no sleep," Estes said.

Because canine influenza is highly contagious with other dogs, vets recommend a flu shot; yes, they make one for dogs.

"I'll definitely get him a flu shot the next time, this is awful to watch your dog feel this way and not be able to breath," Estes said.

To control the outbreak, Marks strongly encourages every dog owner to talk to their vet about getting the vaccine.

Just like a human flu shot, it cannot be given to dogs who are already sick. Vets say the risks of the vaccine are minor, but the benefits can be major in preventing the spread of the virus.


The Kennel Cough story was reported here: http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2015/03/chicago-dogs-getting-sick/

The Canine Flu story can be read here:  http://abc7chicago.com/pets/dog-flu-cases-on-the-rise-in-chicago-area/573127/

Is Doggie Daycare Beneficial? Yes It Is!

BY:  Laurie Brzostowski, President, Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care-Round Lake, IL

As a pet service business owner we get all kinds of questions when we meet pet parents.  Where can I find the best vet?  Where is the best groomer located?  And... would doggie daycare be beneficial to my dog?

I always try and give pet parents the best options that I know for them.  I do my research when it comes to recommending groomers and vets and of course doggie day care facilities.

I recently met with the owner of Central Bark in Grayslake, Illinois.  Her name is Laura Bloss and I wanted to meet with her to check out her facility and get to know her and her business.

I wanted to get some background from her on the benefits and what to look for when searching for a reputable daycare center.

So I have asked Laura to fill in some blanks about Central Bark and give everyone an inside peek at the "happiest place in town"... 

Dog day care has many benefits.  We can help you meet your dog's needs for attention, activity and supervision.  Day Care provides a great antidote for bored, lonely or high-energy dogs with busy parents who work all day and don't want to leave their dogs home alone. 

Central Bark Doggy Day Care gives your dog the stimulation, interaction, playtime, nap time and TLC they need to keep their bodies and minds happy and healthy.  Doggy Day Care is our specialty, and nobody does it better than we do.  Before placing your dog with other dogs, we perform a comprehensive behavioral assessment.  That way, we make sure your dog's play style and sociability are compatible with the appropriate playgroup to provide the consistency that every dog needs to feel confident and safe. 

In addition, we require a one day a week commitment. With our furry clients coming at least once a week, we really get to know the dog’s personality which creates a safer and more fun time for everyone! We have morning play from 8am – 12pm, nap time from 12-2pm and afternoon play from 2- 4:45pm. Dogs are supervised at all times during play.

Below are some helpful tips in choosing the right day care for your dog:

• Tour the center before leaving your dog there.
• Is the management and staff mature, knowledgeable, courteous, professional and patient at all times?
• Are the dogs supervised at all times?
• How do they handle bad behavior or dog fights?

Again, I want to thank Laura for taking the time to fill us in on her Doggy Day Care.  If anyone is interested in learning more about Central Bark in Grayslake, Illinois, you can contact them at: (847) 548-2275 or to learn more about them you can go to their website at:  http://www.centralbarkusa.com/grayslake/