Vote for Your CityDog TopDogs!

Once a year, CityDog Magazine features your TopDog picks of the West. Yes, this is our annual "Best Of...," and it's totally about dogs. We pick the categories, you pick your favorites and then we feature them in the magazine. Tell us your favorite dog park, pet store, toy, treat, veterinarian, doggy day care and more!

Click here to nominate your TopDog pick in each category and submit it to us no later than August 8, 2008. Your opinion is important to us, so we want your vote. Once the ballots are in, we will tally the votes, nominate a TopDog in each category and announce the winners in the fall issue of CityDog Magazine hot-off-the-press and on newsstands the first week of September.

Feel free to forward the ballot to all of your dog loving friends and colleagues, so they can vote too! Thank you for voting.

I'm pleased to announce I'm the new Pet Dish blogger at NWsource.com. For avid readers of Pet Dish, I'm sure you miss former NWsource pets columnist Lisa Wogan (I know I do), but I hope you enjoy my contribution. In these few short weeks since taking over the blog, it's been a lot of fun writing about the people, places and things that make life and living with dogs (and cats) in Seattle so great! Feel free to email me any story ideas you might have, particularly any upcoming events in the greater Seattle area.

Woof!

Brandie Ahlgren, founder & editor

CityDog Magazine

brandie@citydogmagazine.com

Here are some prelim shots from yesterday's CityDog cover dog model search at Kirkland Uncorked. Stay tuned for more to come! (Photos by J. Nichole Smith, dane + dane studios).

The CityDog booth before the chaos started!

This dog decided to let us know exactly what he thought about the cover dog model search!

All of the contestants lined up and ready for the catwalk (yes, the line wraps down and around the lake, with close to 150 dogs)!

The judges (back to front): Emily Rieman (photographer and owner of Best Friend Photography), Brandie Ahlgren (founder and editor of Seattle's own CityDog Magazine) and Paula Heddle (owner of Barkz pet store in Kirkland).

What a cutie pie!

Lots of dogs cooled off in the lake while waiting their turn to walk the catwalk.

Love the English bulldog! We had a few turn out for the model search including a tiny, little puppy!

This little guy was awesome! Mom's a groomer and a dog walker.

This pooch was gorgeous...and HUGE!

Awesome Doggles, dude!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who turned out with their gorgeous pups for the third annual CityDog cover dog model search at Kirkland Uncorked! We had three times the number of dogs than expected and raised close to $1,500 for Pasado's Safe Haven. You rock Kirkland dog lovers!

We'll have photos posted soon and if you didn't make it to Kirkland Uncorked, we have three more cover dog model searches coming up:

• September 6th at PAWSwalk (to benefit PAWS)
  
  
• September 21st Fremont Oktoberfest (to benefit Reading With Rover)
  
  
• October 4th at FidoFest (to benefit the Seattle Humane Society)

In the meantime, join us on 08.08.08 at the CityDog Muttmazing Race to raise money for the Seattle Animal Shelter!

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

CityDog Event Reminder!

The third annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Search kicks off this Sunday, July 20th at Kirkland Uncorked!

Big dogs, little dogs, three-legged dogs, Heinz 57 dogs...ALL dogs are welcome to find their inner super model and try out to be on the cover of CityDog Magazine.

All in the name of fun and to raise money for animals, the winning pooch will be privy to a professional photo shoot with J. Nichole Smith of Dane + Dane Studios and featured on the cover of Seattle's own CityDog Magazine.

$10.00 per dog with all of the proceeds going to Pasado's Safe Haven.

When & Where: 1 P.M. Sunday, July 20th at Kirkland Uncorked (check-in at the CityDog booth between 11 A.M. and 12:30 P.M.).

To enter your dog in the third annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Contest, click here.

Who would've thought CityDog would be mentioned in a travel magazine? Certainly, not me. But, check out Budget Travel's blog and a mention about this weekend's Kirkland Uncorked and the CityDog Cover Model Search!

CityDog (er, me) was also quoted in an article for USA Weekend about letting your dogs sleep on the bed (yes, I'm guilty).

Photos from CityDog's 21st Birthday Pawty!

Dogs turned out in droves -- some wearing nothing but their birthday suits -- to celebrate CityDog's 21st birthday pawty (our third anniversary in dog years, that is) at the swanky W Hotel Seattle! Check out the full gallery here.

Photos by Amy Soper, dane + dane studios.

Greatest American Dog Not So Great?

Did you watch Greatest American Dog last Thursday on CBS? I did. While I mostly enjoyed it--particulary the first half when you get to know the dogs and their people (there are some laugh-out-loud moments)--in the second half, it gets a little weird. I mean dog lovers get a bad rap as it is (although, not as bad as cat lovers), so dressing up in costumes (people and dogs alike), doesn't really bode well for our reputation. Anyway, if you missed it, you can read my full review on Amazon.com here.

Thank you to everyone who attended CityDog's 21st birthday party (in dog years) lastnight at the W Hotel Seattle! It was a pleasure seeing all of the familiar faces, along with some new ones! Over 100 humans and 80 canines turned out for the festivities—from tiny Chihuahuas to giant mastiffs—all shapes and sizes were represented!

Check out the candid shots from the pawty here.

Proud pet owners have sent in their best shots to Seattle's own NWSource.com, and now it's time for you to choose the winners. Vote for your favorite pet photos in a variety of categories including Best Dog Pic (winning shot will appear in CityDog!), Best Display of Affection and Most Mischevious. You will automatically be entered into NWSource.com's weekly drawing for $150 to Scraps Dog Bakery. All winning photos also receive $150 to Scraps. Weekly winners will be randomly selected between July 7-28.

Then, grab your pet and watch top finalists strut their stuff down the catwalk at the star-studded awards ceremony. This free event will take place at the South Lake Union Block Party August 8. Before the show, enjoy fun challenges at CityDog's Muttmazing Race.

Muttmazing Race: Registration anytime between noon to 6 p.m., with the race wrapping up at 7 p.m. Winners will be announced on the main stage around 8:30 p.m.

Best Pet Pics Runway Show: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, 2008, lawn outside the South Lake Union Discovery Center, Seattle.

Click here to vote now!

Wag Reflex: Amazon.com's new pet blog

Amazon.com has launched a new pet blog called Wag Reflex, which features regular posts from yours truly. Read my first blog: a review of Seattle author Garth Stein's new book The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder & editor
CityDog Magazine

Is that the summer issue of CityDog?!

Imagine our surprise when we saw this latest painting by artist Connie Townsend! Titled "Barkalounger," it features the summer issue of CityDog Magazine! How cool is that?!

This piece, along with several others, will be on display at the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Kirkland, Wash. Swing by the gallery following Kirkland Uncorked and the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search, Sunday, July 20, 2008.

To see more of Connie Townsend's work, check out her website here. To register for the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search at Kirkland Uncorked, click here. You never know...your dog could also end up in a painting!

Come One...Come All! Cover Dogs Wanted!

The third annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Search kicks off on July 20th at Kirkland Uncorked! Big dogs, little dogs, three-legged dogs, Heinz 57 dogs...ALL dogs are welcome to find their inner super model and try out to be on the cover of CityDog Magazine.

All in the name of fun and to raise money for animals, the winning pooch will be privy to a professional photo shoot with J. Nichole Smith of Dane + Dane Studios.

$10.00 per dog with all of the proceeds going to Pasado's Safe Haven, PAWS, Reading With Rover and the Seattle Humane Society.

When & Where:

• July 20th at Kirkland Uncorked


• September 6th at PAWSwalk


• September 21st at Fremont Oktoberfest


• October 4th at FidoFEST

One dog from each event will be chosen to go to the final round and CityDog readers will vote to pick the winning dog to grace the cover of our winter issue! In addition, because we think ALL dogs are worthy of the cover, every dog entered in the contest will be featured in the winter issue!

To enter your dog in the third annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Contest, click here.

Not so happy Fourth of July

It's that time of year again...time to celebrate our independence. Fun, right? Well, not so fun if you're a cat, dog, horse, goat...you get the picture. And not so fun if, like me, you have pets that are terrified of fireworks. The last few nights have been torture for my two dogs, Scout and Ziggy. With every little pop, crackle, snap, the shaking, pacing and panting begins. I've closed all of the windows, turned up the t.v., gathered them on my lap (all 60 and 40 pounds of them), trying to no avail, to calm them. If your pets are like mine, the Oregon Humane Society has some suggestions below to ensure your pets' comfort:

1. Make sure all pets, even indoor-only cats, are wearing a collar with an identification tag that includes your name and telephone number. A microchip is also a good idea. Terrified animals will become confused and disoriented. They may end up miles from home or deep under a neighbor’s porch. This simple precaution will save a lot of anguish, time, and energy.
2. Tonight, walk your dogs in the early evening – well before nightfall – to prevent undue stress from noisy fireworks.
3. During neighborhood fireworks displays, keep all pets safely inside. Dogs, and cats, who are agitated should be put into a bathroom or other room with no windows, with the door secure. Remember, screen doors will not keep in a charging dog. Please do not take a dog to watch a large commercial fireworks display. This only increases the chances of him becoming lost in an unfamiliar area.
4. In extreme cases, check with your veterinarian about tranquilizers.

If your pet becomes lost during the holiday (or at any time):

1. Immediately check with your local animal control agency first.
2. Put up flyers with a photo and detailed description of the missing pet.
3. Check around the neighborhood carefully. Lost cats have been found days later hiding under a bush in front of their owners’ homes. For dogs, expand the search area further than expected as a precaution.

Here's wishing you and your four-legged loved ones a relatively happy and safe Fourth of July!

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

More South Lake Union Images

In the summer issue of CityDog Magazine, we feature Seattle's super hip South Lake Union as our "Dog's Eye View" neighborhood. Alas, with limited space in a 56-page publication, we can't feature all of the amazing photos snapped by our photographers when out on assignment. And believe me, it is extremely difficult to narrow the images down to fit a four-page spread. Thankfully, photographer Jamie Pflughoeft posted several more here from her exploration of South Lake Union, so check 'em out! Thanks Jamie!

Come visit South Lake Union for yourself at CityDog's Muttmazing Race and the South Lake Union Block Party, Friday, August 8th! It will be a barking good time with live music, tasty food, a beer garden, an outdoor movie and of course, the Muttmazing Race!

CityDog is turning 21...in dog years, that is! And what better way to celebrate than with a birthday "pawty" at the swanky and dog friendly W Hotel Seattle?

You and your furry, four-legged friend are invited to join us at yet another one of our famous MuttMixers to celebrate three fabulous years of publishing CityDog, Seattle's premier magazine about life and living with dogs in the West.

Enjoy tasty cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, while mixing and mingling with fellow dog lovers.

When: Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: W Hotel Seattle, 1112 Fourth Avenue. Valet parking available for a fee. Click here for directions.

Attire: Casual cocktail attire for humans; birthday suits for canines.

Please RSVP by July 7th with your name and the number of people and/or dogs in your party to rsvp@citydogmagazine.com. The event is free, but your RSVP will help us with a head count.

Party Animal Rules: Dogs must remain on-leash and be under your control at all times. Dogs (and people for that matter) must also play well with others. Thank you for your understanding!

More upcoming CityDog hosted events! This summer, find your dog's inner super model at the third annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Search. That's right, we're looking for our next dog to grace the cover of CityDog Magazine and raising money for animals while we're at it! Click here for more information.

On August 8, 2008, CityDog is hosting the second annual Muttmazing Race as part of the South Lake Union Block Party. Compete with your four-legged teammate in a series of fun challenges to raise money for the Seattle Animal Shelter. Then, kick back in the beer garden, sample tasty food, listen to live music, and even enjoy an outdoor movie. Click here for more information.