Pretentious Pooch Blog

Pretentious Pooch will host the 4th Annual Mt. Vernon Halloween Pet Walk Trick and Treat.  Join us for a night of fun as we take our dogs to local businesses for some treats.  Door prizes are donated by local businesses.

Pretentious Pooch
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

 

Slim-Dog-C is an original character created by Pretentious Pooch to make observations about dog life in Baltimore City.  Slim-Dog-C can sometimes be a little off-color but be assured that this Baltimore Dog loves everyone, because of their quirks, not in-spite of them.

Learn more about Slim-Dog-C by visiting http://www.pretentiouspooch.com/slim-dog-c. Visit our logo shop to purchase Slim-Dog-C supplies.

Well, it's Spring at Pretentions Pooch.  What does that mean?

--It means I don't have to freeze my butt off taking Chai out to the potty.

--It means the Spring winds will race down Cathedral St.

--It means it's time to put away the coats and sweaters and select some new spring/summer clothing.

--It means the Backer Show for pet retailers is coming up at the Baltimore Convention Center.

--It means that the Mt. Vernon Place park will be closed for grass planting so it's nice and green when the vendors for FlowerMart and Book Festival set up their booths and let thousands trample through

It also means:

--Time to order sweaters for next year.

--Time to think about Christmas merchandise.

Tom Berger

Pretentious Pooch

Baltimore Dog Boutique

1017 Cathedral Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

www.pretentiouspooch.com

Rescue or Buy?

I get calls here at Pretentious Pooch almost daily asking, “Do you sell [insert breed here]?”  I always try to finish the call with, “I recommend a rescue shelter.”  When I first decided to get a dog my first trip was to the Maryland SPCA.  Ultimately, we bought from a breeder, though.  This isn’t the most politically correct move but here are some things that influenced my decision: amount of paperwork; need for approval; time period; puppyhood; behavioral concerns.  I know why there is a barrier to adopt from rescue shelters and groups but it was just too much, for me.  Ultimately, I wanted a dog that I could mold from the beginning.  I think everyone should raise a puppy once.

Now that I have raised a puppy and my training ability is solid, I think I could handle the special needs of a rescue.  I often feel embarrassed that I bought a puppy, but the decision to do so is very personal; and, adopting a shelter dog isn’t right for everyone considering the skills, knowledge, and environment of the owner. 

I’ll definitely consider a rescue dog the next time I am looking to add a family member to the household and I hope that all my readers consider adopting a dog that has been cast off by someone else as well.  But if you make the decision to buy, as long as it is thought through and rescuing is considered, you will make the right choice.

Here are some links to some rescue shelters. 

BARCS

Maryland SPCA

The Pit Bull Project

Please feel free comment and include any other rescue groups for readers to consider.

Tom Berger

Co-Owner

Pretentious Pooch

Baltimore Pet Boutique

1017 Cathedral Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

443-524-7777

www.pretentiouspooch.com

11 News Missed The Point

Darrielle Snipes reported and update on the woman who was mauled by two pit bulls a while back.  Here is a link to some footage: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/13797248/index.html.

Other reports:
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_176160803.html
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_208072215.html
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.ci.dogs27jul27,0,1768642.story
http://www.topix.net/content/trb/2007/06/pit-bull-attack-revives-enforcement-issues

What has been the focus of all of this? Most of the attention has been directed at the dogs.  Can you believe it?  One article has angry villages demanding more animal control officers.

Does anyone know what happened to the owner of the Pit Bulls?  Darrielle, any reports on that--no, of course not, the news just wants to scare everyone into their basements with news about raging dogs and a flu epidemic that could kill thousands of people here in Baltimore real soon. 

All I can find and hear in the news is that they are investigating to see IF charges can be filed.  Are you kidding me?  Are you freakin' kidding me?  Does anyone know anything about the owner or if charges were filed?  If you know, please post.

As long as stupid people keep blaming the dogs and not the owners this problem will never, ever, go away!  The owner of any dog, I don't care if it's a Yorkie, that aggressively bites anything with an intent to kill should be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.  Start locking up some of this city trash and then we'll start moving in a forward direction.

Stupid, stupid people!

Tom Berger
Co Owner
Pretentious Pooch
A Baltimore Dog Store
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com
www.pretentiouspoochblog.com
www.pretentiouspooch.mobi

Baltimore: 8th Most Humane City

Lisa Wogan writes an article, "How Humane Is Your City?"  in the August volume of BARK magazine (available at Pretentious Pooch) which sites Baltimore as the 8th most humane city.

The research was done on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States by the Humane Research Council.  The study, Wogan writes, encompasses all kinds of criteria like the number of vegetarian restaurants, the number of off leash parks and the number of animal retailers that don't sell pets--they called 1,200 pet stores, they felt that strongly about this factor.

We at Pretentious Pooch get calls all the time asking if we sell pets.  I wonder if we were surveyed? 

Who ranked top? San Francisco, of course!  The most in-humane city was Chicago -- must be all that steak.  Visit humaneindex.org for more information on making Baltimore more humane.

The ranking isn't solely about dogs, or pets for that matter--it includes all living animals; but, I thought I would share a little bit of animal news.

Humane is the lowest benchmark I think we can measure, though.  I still think we have a long way to go to be pet-friendly or pro-pet.

If you want to read the entire article, stop by Pretentious Pooch and pick up the latest edition of BARK magazine.

Tom Berger
Pretentious Pooch
A Baltimore Pet Boutique
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

Baltimore Dog Magazine

Have you seen it?  If you need a copy you can stop by the store -- they're complimentary.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the magazine and the general idea of a Baltimore Dog magazine.

If you do have a copy, you may notice that Pretentious Pooch does not have a ad, nor is it mentioned editorially.  The ad prices were on par with national magazines.  I just thought it too early in their distribution to pay the prices they wanted.  We're doing best with word of mouth advertising--we treat our customers as we would want to be treated and that seems to work for us.  I'm sure you will see us in there eventually.

What I didn't like:
1.  It seemed a bit generic with topics adapted to but not specific to Baltimore.
2.  It was a bit condescending in it's content -- we dog owners were not running around with our hands in the air (like Momma Harper) shouting, "What do I do? What do I do?" before the magazine rescued us from our stupidity.
3.  It seems to me very Canton/Fells Point/Patterson Park centric, but that could just be me.
4.  It is a bit one sided in it's writing.   Here are the feature articles in Baltimore Dog Magazine:

"Bark in the Park" by Denise Iannatuono
"Ready, Pet, Go!" by Denise Iannatuono
"Scratch -n- Sniff" by Denise Iannatuono with a photograph by Denise Iannatuono
"The Great Food Debate" by Denise Iannatuono

What I liked:
1.  I liked the community calendar--that's a real service.
2.  The doggy obituaries are touching.

What I would like to see:
1.  How about some news articles about Baltimore and Baltimore dog issues and legislation?
2.  How about a voting guide for Baltimore dog residents?
3.  I hope with all that advertising income they collect the magazine will plan and/or sponsor some Baltimore Dog events or give back to Baltimore dog's somehow.

It was only the first edition and I really do hope it works out for Baltimore Dog Magazine -- it can only be a positive for a city who hasn't been ranked all to high on the dog friendliness scale.

What are your opinions?
Would you pay for a subscription?
Should we advertise?

Tom Berger
Co-Owner Pretentious Pooch
A Baltimore Dog Store
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

Maryland Growing Non-Pet-Friendly!

What’s up with the recent crack down on pet friendly businesses?  It seems that the Gestapo that is the Maryland Health Department and Maryland Liquor Control Board have made it a point, of late, to seek out pet friendly establishments and scare them into banning our four-legged family members. 

If anyone has any insight into the recent threats, I’d like to know.

Read Street Books was recently warned because they have a dog, Miranda, in the café / shop.  The Thirsty Dog Pub in Federal Hill (well known for allowing dogs) has started turning pets away at the front door after a threat by the Liquor Control Board.  The Peabody Court Hotel abruptly stopped welcoming dogs.  I’ve even heard it said that outside seating establishments are turning away dogs – although I continue to take Chai.

I wonder if this is a result of some over zealous Maryland Dog Czar or some bitter community members, obviously deprived of any maternal touch in their formative years, turning in our friends.

Have we nothing better to work on?  Is this the best use of government funds?  Really, Maryland, get your priorities straight!

See this blog: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2007/06/baltimore_get_in_on_it.html
See this blog: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2007/05/from_john_woestendiek.html
See this Sun article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-te.bz.duke16mar16,0,7965485.story?coll=bal-features-specials

Tom Berger
Pretentious Pooch
A Maryland Dog Business
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

2007 Maryland SPCA Walk

On Sunday, April 22nd, I exhibited Pretentious Pooch at the Maryland SPCA Walk.  A volunteer told me that they had over 7000 attendees all out to raise money to support the efforts of the Maryland SPCA. 

As a store owner, It's hard to attend these events.  Some vendors are set up just to attend community festivals:  they own trucks, they keep all of their goods packed in efficient cases -- they got it down to a science.

Pretentious Pooch on the other hand, well, we're not so organized.  We had to pack what we could in the trunk of a sports car and then strap a table and two chairs to the roof.  It's a great cause, though, so it's worth it.

This year we engraved pet tags.  We debuted our newest tags: Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Penn State Nittany Lions.

We were so busy engraving tags that our little machine barely got a rest.  We usually have time to visit with other vendors and network a little with other dog businesses.  Not this year.  We worked hard.  I would like to thank Nancy Woodside, Chris's mother, for helping man the event.

We're glad to be apart of such a successful and well attended event.  Bravo to the staff, organizers and volunteers at the Maryland SPCA.  If you are ever looking for a new four-legged family member, don't forget to check with local shelters.

Tom Berger
Owner
Pretentious Pooch
A Baltimore Pet Boutique
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

Baltimore Dog Signs

I took a little walk with Chai today and snapped a few shots of the dog signs I found in just a few blocks of Pretentious Pooch pet boutique.

This is the sign we have posted in our front window.  We love kids, and so does Chai, but I though it added some balance and perspective to the world.  After all, dogs are sometimes more well-behaved that some children.

Plaza Art store just a few steps away allows well behaved dogs to enter the store as long as they are leashed.  Thanks Plaza Art for allowing dogs, I wish other area businesses would follow your lead.

The next set of photos were taken at the small grassy area that surrounds the Waxter Center, a senior citizen center.  Chai is quite confused about these signs.  If fact, this is her favorite place to play--she is such a rebel!

   

Unfortunately for dog owners and non-dog owners alike, not everyone is courteous about picking up after their dogs.  This sign is posted at the corner of Park Avenue and Eager Street.

I'm glad that Cathedral Court accommodates dogs, but what's funny is that their signs are posted right outside their doors.  You would have to carry your dog to comply.  Also, I didn't know there was such a big tree climbing problem inside the Cathedral Court gates--interesting!  I'm also wondering about that tombstone style sign: is it a subtle threat to any dogs and squirrels alike.

My last stop was to the Mt. Vernon Place park.  This is the center of Mt. Vernon and the source of some controversy.  You see, because it's the only green spot in Mid-town Baltimore it has become quite the dog meeting place.  The people who watch the park with binoculars from their 8th floor flats are devastated by the fact that dogs run and play here and ruin the grass.  What's surprising, though, is that they love festivals that draw in vendors and 10s of thousands of people who have the same effect on the greenery.  People listen up, "Life's too short!" Repeat that to yourself in the mirror 10 times every morning.

If you find any funny, unique or downright stupid signs in your neighborhood, please comment back and include a photo.

Tom Berger
Co-Owner
Pretentious Pooch
Baltimore Pet Shop
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com