Spoil Your Dog Day

As if owners really need an reason to pamper their pooch.

Did you know that August 10 is National Spoil Your Dog Day? I’m boggled that we need to designate a day to spoiling a favorite pooch; for most pet owners this is a life-long mission.

Nevertheless, here are some ideas to make your dog feel pampered and extra special any day of the year.

• Plan a doggie date at a Starbucks with a friend and their dog and treat the pooches to the coffee chain’s special whipped cream puppuccino.

• Book an appointment at the dog groomer and include some special spa treatments such as a blueberry facial. Alternatively, Google establishments such as the Buddha Dog in Los Angeles (buddhadog.com) an animal massage therapy and wellness spa that offers a variety of treatments, such T-Touch and acupressure.

• Plan a day at the beach and book a surfing lesson. Surfing and stand-up paddle boarding (SUPing) with your dog are terrific ways to enjoy a great summer day. The Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego offers lessons. And, if one of you straps on a camera, you and your dog will have some fun memories. animalcenter.org/surf-dog-lessons

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  During the summer, many cities hold movie nights in a community park. Check whether you city offers them and double check to ensure they are pet friendly. You can curl up on a blanket, watch a movie and nibble on popcorn together.

• Grab a group of friends and their dogs, and go microbrewery hopping. Microbreweries are popping up everywhere and many have pet-friendly outdoor patio areas. Don’t share a beer with your pooch, though. Take along a special doggie beer such as Bowser Beer instead. bowserbeer.com

• Book a weekend away at a pet-friendly destination. There is no shortage of establishments around the country. The AAA Pet Book aaa.com/petbook/ features more than 12,000 establishments nationwide.

• If your dog likes to play fetch, consider spoiling him with the PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher. It can launch standard tennis balls between 8 and 30 feet, and features nine0distance and six-angle settings to keep pooches constantly engaged and entertained. There are various safety features to ensure safe play, such as a motion sensor on the front of the unit that prevents the ball from launching if a dog or person is too close. Dogs can also be trained to retrieve the balls and restock the machine themselves. petsafe.net

• Finally, spoil your dog by baking him his favorite cookies. A new book, “Doggy Desserts: 125 Homemade Treats for Happy, Healthy Dogs” by Cheryl Gianfrancesco, offers 125 droolicious recipes that are easy to make. Here is the recipe for Chicken and Cheese Biscuits, which makes approximately 90 two-inch biscuits—so you have give some to your dog’s favorite friends, too.

About the Author: Sandy Robins is the 2013 winner of the “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contribution to the Pet Industry Award.” Her work appears on many of the country’s leading pet platforms, such as MSNBC.com, MSN.com and TODAYShow.com. She is a regular contributor and columnist in multiple national and international publications, including Catster, as well as the author of the award-winning books “Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat” and “For The Love of Cats.” Learn more about Sandy on her website or Facebook page. #welovecats