Writing a blog post on a World Cup weekend is like a tree falling in a forest, but I’m a faithful girl, and there are clicks to tell you about. The most tempting (and that’s saying something — it’s been a good week for dog-friendly links!) is a post from The Inner Workings of a College Graduate about a glorious week the author and her family spent at a dog-friendly beach rental on beautiful North Captiva Island. Great pictures, and you’ve got to love a place where golf carts are the main mode of transportation.

Other great leads include a list from the Los Angeles Times of pet-friendly hotels and restaurants to check out in Catalina, Big Bear Lake, Las Vegas, Port Hueneme, and Newport Beach; suggestions from The Village Voice for places to eat out with your dog in New York; and a list from Things I Luuuuurve of dog-friendly places to eat in Cleveland.

It’s not just about the U.S., though. Check out this fun post from Jean Snow (“your guide to design and pop culture in Tokyo”) about taking his gorgeous dog Confiture for a walk through Tokyo, with stops for food and drinks along the way, and take a look at a new (to me) blog called Dugs n Pubs, a “dog-friendly guide to Edinburgh and beyond.” The blog name brought me up short, but the info is excellent.

That leaves me with a grab bag of good things, including the fine idea that an outdoor mall in Colorado Springs (the Promenade Shops at Briargate) has implemented: put a paw sticker on your door if you allow dogs inside. So simple, and so smart. Remember that I told you, back in January, about Stetson University’s new pet-friendly dormitory? A recent New York Times article about students bringing pets to college generated a storm of reader questions, which Stephens College’s vice president for student services answered this week.

Will My Dog Hate Me‘s fine series on helping your anxious dog handle car trips continues, with a very useful installment about counter-conditioning and anti-anxiety aids like calming collars and garments. And for those times when you just can’t bring your dog with you, check out the guest post by Diane Pomerance on Pet News and Views about how to find the “perfect pet sitter.”