Best in Show

by Alison Gray

Most Tahoe residents are dog-crazy: Side effects may include the desire to dress pups as pumpkins for the Village at Squaw Valley's Halloween festival and buy bumper stickers that read "DOG is my copilot." If you are one of the many who love to spoil your four-legged friend, read on for some of Fido's local favorites:

See Spot, See Spot Shop

Best of Tahoe voters selected Scraps Dog Bakery—with ballots divided among the Truckee, Tahoe City and Kings Beach locations—as their top dog shopping hotspot.

Jessica Solberg, owner of the Truckee Scraps, says shoppers like Scraps' customer service, line of healthy food, treats and bakery selections like "pupcakes" and pastries decorated as fire hydrants. "The biggest thing is pet nutrition," she says. "Some people even cook for their pets."

So is it strange that Tahoe residents can drop hundreds of dollars on items like crystal-covered garb and fancy food bowls for their little best friends? Not really, says Solberg. "Animals are a part of the family," she says. "Pets really enrich people's lives."

(530) 582-5044, (530) 584-0220 or (530) 546-2725

TQ Picks

Tails by the Lake, Village at Squaw—This shop not only has great goodies and gifts, it hosts a Friday Yappy Hour with free dog-friendly ice cream and beer!

Dog.Dog.Cat, South Lake Tahoe—Shop here for doggie goggles, harnesses, costumes, shoes—and something for your cat, too.

Pet Station, South Lake Tahoe and Truckee—Squeakers and even life vests are a few finds here; you can also pick up a fish friend for Fido.

En Vogue Doggie

"Dogs like to feel good about themselves," says Jan Pattison, owner of Kings Beach's Jo-Mars Pet Coiffure, our Best Pet Groomer winner. And while she may joke that she leashes clients up and runs them through the car wash next door, Pattison is serious about offering rescued dogs a free first grooming and contributes to WARF (Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation) in memory of passed-on pets.

(530) 546-5756

TQ Picks

DogGoneCrazy, Tahoe Vista—Stop by the in-house bakery for a post-pampering treat.

Pawfection Pet Salon, South Lake Tahoe—Sass up a pup's style with a great grooming here.

Not Just a Walk in the Park

"People hire me because their dogs are their children," says Megan Ahlburn, owner of North Lake Dog Camp and our Best Dog Walker winner. "They want their dog to enjoy the type of life Tahoe has to offer."

Ahlburn screens dogs in advance to ensure sociability and limits playgroups to about ten. In addition to being "really spoiled and given lots of attention," pups are permitted free reign of Ahlburn's Kings Beach home and go on two walks a day, including at least one off-leash adventure, like to Blackwood Canyon or Paige Meadows.

"People in Tahoe believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every living being," says Ahlburn. "They show that in the care for their dogs."

(530) 320-5662

TQ Picks

Truckee Tails Pet Sitting, Truckee—Not only do dogs frolic on mountainside romps, their sitter is pet first-aid and CPR-trained.

All Tuckered Out Pet Sitting, South Lake Tahoe—True to its name, this sitting service takes pets to Kiva Beach or hiking on the paths off Pioneer Trail.

Beyond the Blue Ribbon

Some extra dish we sniffed out for your dog

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Enjoy an off-leash doggy date at the new fenced-in dog park at South Lake Tahoe's Bijou Community Park. With 38,000 square feet, sanitary stations and benches, it's the perfect place for dogs to romp and play.

Sick Puppy

In Tahoe, where dogs seem to outnumber kids, it's a good bet you'll find a good vet. In South Lake, the Alpine Animal Hospital treats a gamut of problems from root canals and bad knees (with surgery) to bad behavior (with counseling).

"Spinal manipulation therapy is unique here," says Rachael Weetman, the hospital's office manager. "It's a chiropractic procedure to help pets that may be in pain or stiff."

For those interested in going the alternative care route, Avalanche Natural Health and Kennel in South Lake Tahoe specializes in homeopathic medicine, while at Truckee's Sierra Pet Clinic, top-notch doctors perform everything from radiology to dentistry.

Hounds on Holiday

"People aren't the only ones that need a vacation," says Holly Eimer, who has owned South Lake Tahoe's Holly's Place for over 20 years. Eimer's rustic resort sits on 2.8 fully enclosed acres, so dogs can roam free. In addition to Eimer's, Tahoe sports more than 20 pet-friendly properties: MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa in Stateline offers a Bleu Ribbon Pet program with food room service and Truckee's Cedar House Sport Hotel has treats, beds and bowls lined up for its four-legged clients.

Originally published in TQ Best of Tahoe 2008

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