Stacey Sachs

Welcome to Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your area. In this week's column, our last Local Lowdown post for a while, we suggest you head to the wine country for a nice outing with your dog. Many wineries are so dog friendly, they actually have their own resident winery dog, many with the coveted job of Official Greeter.

We list 13 dog-friendly wineries here as well as other resources such as DogFriendly.com to find others close to you.

Be sure to call ahead to ask about their pet policies, but it can be assumed, at the minimum, that your dog must be well-behaved, on-leash and will probably not allowed in the tasting rooms. It is also a good idea to pack food, water and bowls for your pup too.

13 Wineries to Check Out

Branchport, N.Y - Hunt Country Vineyards
In the Finger Lakes region, New York's largest wine producing area, visit Hunt Country Vineyards, and you and your dog will be welcomed by Hedy, the Bernese mountain dog and the official winery greeter. Relax and make a day of it while you sample some of the 24 wines from 100 percent New York State grapes. Find other local listings at the GoPetFriendly blog.

Dahlonega, Ga. - Wolf Mountain Vineyards
At Wolf Mountain Vineyards, dogs are welcome at their outdoor tables and throughout the property. Enjoy the views overlooking the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and their award-winning wines.

Delaplane, Va. - Barrel Oak Winery
With house red and white wines that feature the winery's golden retrievers on the labels, there's no doubt that Barrel Oak Winery welcomes dogs. Just an hour outside of Washington D.C., escape to the vineyards and enjoy wine-tasting, picnicking and more, where leashed dogs are even allowed in the tasting room. Don't miss the "Paw for Cause" event on June 13, to benefit Maryland Westie Rescue.

Welcome to Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your home city. We'll tell you about interesting local events, important activities, useful resources and other fun happenings all across the country. And feel free to help us do a better job by writing in with suggestions for local events near you.

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If you've missed all of the pet events this past April and May, have no fear; the Dog (Festival) Days of Summer have just begun. From the sampling of local events listed below, you'll see that June is packed with fabulous dog festivals to enjoy with your pooch, and pet expos to attend with your feline, furry, feathered and scaly family members in mind.

Please post upcoming events in your area in the comments section below so Paw Nation's pet people will know when and where to go. Thanks in advance for spreading the word about events in your area!

Here are just some of the events being held throughout the country. If your town isn't mentioned in the 13 that are listed below, be sure to search online or check your local newspaper or magazine for ideas.

Akron, Ohio - June 5, 2010
The 9th Annual Akron Pet Expo at Hardesty Park features entertainment, Police K-9 Squad demonstrations, vendor booths with local services and goodies for your pets, and best of all, pets available for adoption. Over 4,000 people and 45 local animal shelters attended last year's event, resulting in over 80 pet adoptions!

Belfair, Wash. - June 5, 2010
Plan for a day of fun at the Hood Canal DogFest at the Farm at Water's Edge. You and your pup will enjoy dog walking trails, agility courses and games. There will also be shopping, a silent auction and expert speakers on dog behavior.

Summer is fast approaching, and it's time to make your travel plans for the family, four-legged members included.

It's easier than ever to find dog-friendly hotels, bed-and-breakfast inns, resorts and more with so many websites dedicated to pet travel and chains that have declared all of their hotels pet-friendly. The sites listed here can help you find accommodations that not only allow dogs of all sizes, but actually cater to them with special services and amenities too. We've also included information about pet-friendly hotel companies and specific hotel and resorts offerings.

Helpful Websites
Start out by hitting the Internet to find all the details you need, such as information about any extra fees that may be required, dog weight restrictions, and more. Once you decide on your accommodations, do confirm the pet policy directly to be sure it hasn't changed. Here are good sites to use to begin your research:

At GoPetFriendly.com, search by city and state to get pet policy details and rates. There's also a road-trip planner to find pet friendly accommodations along your travel route.

While Pets Welcome lists pet friendly accommodations of all types, including campgrounds and B&B locations, what's most impressive is their comprehensive listing of nationwide hotel chains. Along with the chains' general pet policies, you can search for specific properties. The site also has a special category to help you find those accommodations which welcome large dogs, which is often a challenge.

At Vacation Rentals by Owner, search over 140,000 rental properties worldwide, and look for the purple paw icon within your results to find those that are pet-friendly.

Search for accommodations by city, state and country at PetTravel.com then view results with detailed descriptions and, in most cases, the option to book directly online.

Trips with Pets and DogFriendly.com are two more sites to bookmark as pet travel resources.

Dock diving is a fun and fast-paced sport in which dogs of all breeds, sizes and shapes compete to see who can jump the longest or highest distance into a pool from a dock or raised platform. You will bond with your dog as you compete together in this high-energy dog sport, or simply enjoy getting out to the events as spectators. There are several national dock diving organizations including Splash Dogs and Ultimate Air, but we'll use the DockDogs as an example. Here's what you need to know:

Who can compete? Dogs of almost any age and ability level can participate -- even senior and tiny dogs. Though truthfully, dogs that love to chase, retrieve and enjoy the water will do best. While dogs with these exact characteristics (think Chesapeake Bay retrievers, golden retrievers and Labs) dominated the sport in the early days, you'll now see dogs of all breeds and sizes competing and having a great time.

What happens at competitions? Dock diving comprises three separate events: Big Air, Extreme Vertical and the Speed Retrieve. In Big Air, the most popular event, each dog competes for the longest jump by running down a 40-foot dock into water to retrieve a floatable toy launched by the handler. For the Extreme Vertical, dogs compete to jump the highest and in the Speed Retrieve event, each dog runs to the water, jumps in, and swims to retrieve a toy held on a pole 38 feet past the end of the dock.

Is dock diving something your dog might like? You never know until you try it! The best way is to take your dog to an event and let him jump during the "open dock" practice time. You can do this even if you're not in the competition, and there will be people on hand to help you out. You can also look for a local dock diving club to join. These clubs welcome newcomers, and you and your dog can test the waters by attending one of their practice sessions. The last option is to find a dock on a lake, pond, or river to get your dog used to what the sport involves. Once your dog is jumping off the dock, you are ready to compete!

Now that the weather is warming up, skip the doggie bag and enjoy the fun of dining al fresco with your pooch. You can even find restaurants catering to dogs on special nights with menus and other amenities just for them.

Before you choose to dine out with your pup, call ahead to ensure dogs are welcome and outside seating is available. Also, your dog should be ready for it, i.e. well behaved, particularly around food (counter surfers need not apply), and trained to know "down," "sit," and "stay" commands so as not to disturb others in the restaurant. Doggie diners should always be on a leash, with the leash tethered to your chair or in your hand, and regardless of how good their manners are, they should not sit in chairs or on the table. Lastly, bring your own dog water and foods bowls. "Bone" appétit!

To find dog-friendly dining locations near you, search online or visit BringFido.com or DogFriendly.com and search by city.

We've also listed below sample resources for Austin, Texas; Chicago, Ill.; Los Angeles or Orange County, Calif.; Portland, Ore; New York, N.Y.; and the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Also, in the comments below, feel free to post your favorite dog-friendly restaurants and why you love them.

Local Resources

Austin, Texas
Check out Austin's Pet Directory for the scoop on dog-friendly spots in Austin, from casual coffee shops to restaurants of all types, you'll find them all there.

Chicago, Ill.
Visit Chicago Canine for a map and listings of outdoor cafes that allow dogs. Due to a dog-friendly dining ordinance put into place in 2008, Chicago restaurants must have special licenses, may only serve water to its doggie diners and the outdoor dining areas must be accessible from the street only.