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Minneapolis-St. Paul off-leash dog parks: Look for ones that don’t require a permit

Minneapolis has five off-leash dog parks, but you can only use them if your dog has a special permit. Permits last for a year and cost $35 for the first dog and $25 for each additional dog; if you live outside Minneapolis (say, for example, in St. Paul), permits cost $60 for the first dog and $30 for each additional dog. Tourists can either run the risk of incurring a fine or seek alternatives.

One alternative is St. Paul’s off-leash dog park, a fully-enclosed 4.5 acre area in Arlington Park (located at the corner of Arlington and Arkwright). It wouldn’t be a choice I’d make, because it doesn’t have a designated small-dog area, but there are plenty of people who love it. Since we rent a car when we visit the Twin Cities, my choice would be (and will be, the next time we go) the Alimagnet Dog Park in Burnsville, MN (about 15 miles south of Minneapolis). It has a small-dog area and although permits are encouraged (the fees support the park), they’re not required.

Here’s a useful resource: A group of dog owners has put together a list of Twin Cities-area dog parks, with notes about whether permits are required or not. They provide links to the parks’ sites, and it’s a good idea to look at the links because they provide more detail than the owners’ summaries (the Alimagnet summary, for example, says that permits are required, but I suspect that’s because the owners’ summary form has a yes/no check box next to “permits required”).

I like going to off-leash dog parks (with small-dog areas) with Chloe because she really loves a Chuckit! session — she hardly ever gets the chance to run flat-out, otherwise. If you and your dog have different preferences, there are a world of alternatives to Twin Cities dog parks. A great place to start is the NPS site for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. MNRRA is a huge swath of parkland along the Mississippi, offering a range of outdoor experiences. On the civilized end, Chloe and I accompanied my brother and sister-in-law (plus an antique Shih Tzu and a brainless Springer Spaniel) on a walk along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi in the Highland Park area of St. Paul. We shared the path with joggers and bikers, and had great views of the river.

Photo by Matt Pettengill

If you’re looking for very civilized, take a walking tour of St. Paul’s Summit Avenue, lined with some of the most glorious old homes you’ll ever see (including the one in this picture), or take an F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour of St. Paul, where the author was born and spent part of his youth. The next time we visit the Twin Cities, I’ll be taking Chloe on the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail (though she won’t be able to visit the inside of the fascinating Mill City Museum). I know I’m only scraping the surface of dog-friendly tours and trails in the Twin Cities — if you have a favorite that I haven’t mentioned, please let me know about it!

Which seat works best with an in-cabin dog? [Delta A319]

Delta’s A319 planes are divided into two classes, First and Economy. We were traveling in Economy, which has three seats on each side of the aisle. Row 9 is an exit row, so you will not be able to sit there with your dog. Row 5 has a bulkhead in front of it, but even though the bulkhead has large cut-outs that let you stick your purse, etc. under the last row of First Class, you cannot have an in-cabin dog in that row. [I just spent — and I am not exaggerating — an hour on the phone with Delta finding out about Row 5. I was disconnected four times. Argh!!]

In this plane, your best choice is a middle seat. The under-seat space is 11.5 inches tall, and about 17 inches deep (that is, measured from front to back). Measuring from left to right, the middle seat space is 19.5 inches wide. The window seat space is 17 inches wide and the aisle seat space is 17.5 inches wide.

First Class has two seats on each side of the aisle, and although I didn’t have the chance to throw myself under a seat and measure the available spaces, it looked like there might be sufficient space for an in-cabin dog under the window and middle under-seat areas (there are three, even though there are only two seats above them). The space next to the aisle is too narrow for a pet carrier.

This post is part of an ongoing series recording under-seat measurements of the various planes we fly on. Keep in mind that most domestic and international airlines have rules about the maximum size of in-cabin pet carriers they allow on board (see Dog Jaunt’s handy charts under the “Taking your pet on a plane” tab above).

The Covington Inn: A tugboat B&B on the Mississippi

Captain Chloe in the wheel house

We spent several days in St. Paul, MN with my brother and sister-in-law — and since a little family goes a long way (especially when the family includes a dog and her gear), we stayed on the Mississippi River at The Covington Inn. When I say “on the Mississippi,” I mean literally on the river — the Covington is a converted historic tugboat moored across from downtown St. Paul.

The innkeeper, Liz Miller, has a dog of her own (a handsome Pomeranian-American Eskimo mix), and can be coaxed into allowing a small, well-behaved dog on board. She likes to have the option of saying “no,” though, so she’s not quite willing to call the Inn “dog-friendly.” (Please note that I found the Inn in a database of dog-friendly B&B’s, and remember to confirm that a source’s data is current when you make your travel plans.) Tell her about your traveling companion, and cross your fingers. Chloe was gloriously happy at the Inn, in part because a long, wide park runs along the river where the Inn is docked, and in part because the river had recently covered the parkland and the new smells drove her wild. Also, there were geese and ducks as well as squirrels….

We arrived only a few days after the river crested — a thick layer of mud still covered the lowest part of the pier leading to the boat, and debris from the flooding was still caught in the park benches lining the river walk. That first night, the wind was fierce and the current was wild, but the boat is solidly-built and solidly-moored and we slept like babies. (In succeeding days, the water and weather calmed down, and crews arrived to clear away debris.)

The boat has four suites, two with queen-sized beds (the Pilot House Suite and the Master’s Quarters). We stayed in the Pilot House Suite, because we loved the idea of a wheel house sitting room. The Pilot House bedroom is cozy — we regretted our large suitcases, but there was just room to put up Chloe’s crate and maneuver around it to the stairs up to the wheel house. If you have large suitcases, interpret “cozy” as “cramped,” or prefer not to pit yourself against narrow, winding staircases, you’ll be happier on the ground floor, in the Mate’s Quarters.

Our bathroom was small but perfectly clean and sufficient. The shower (no tub) was just tall enough for my very tall husband and had superb water pressure. The saloon holds a couch and fireplace, a pot of coffee and the breakfast tables. It’s a lovely, calm place to watch the river roll by and play cards, chat, or write blog posts (the free wi-fi worked well in the saloon, but not in our room). Our breakfasts were good, and the boat is located only a bridge away from the restaurants of downtown St. Paul. We will happily return, assuming that Chloe remains a welcome guest — our other dog-friendly options in St. Paul were large chain hotels, and how could they possibly compete?!

Which seat works best with an in-cabin dog? [Delta 757-200 (5500 Series)]

Delta has a variety of 757-200 planes, and the seat pocket card only identified our plane as a 757-200(N). I can tell you, though, that it had eight door exits and no window exits, which narrows the field down a bit. We were in row 28, and there were 4 rows behind us to an exit door — and that indicates to me that we were in a 5500 Series plane.

As on other 757s, you enter from the side, behind First Class, so all I can tell you about the First Class under-seat measurements is that they didn’t look impossible for an in-cabin dog. Economy Class has three seats on each side of the aisle, except for a couple of odd rows at the front (which are also exit rows, so you wouldn’t be able to sit there anyway).

On this plane, you’ll want to choose a center seat or a window seat. All of the seats have a thick bar running underneath them which limits the height of the under-seat space to 11 inches (though there’s a bit more height available — an inch or so — on the inner side of the bar). The center seat space is 19.5 inches wide, and the window seat space is 19 inches wide. The aisle seat space is defined by one of those rails — what purpose do they serve? — and is only 14.5 inches wide. From front to back, you have about 17 inches of space.

This post is part of an ongoing series recording under-seat measurements of the various planes we fly on. Keep in mind that most domestic and international airlines have rules about the maximum size of in-cabin pet carriers they allow on board (see Dog Jaunt’s handy charts under the “Taking your pet on a plane” tab above).

Chloe’s Clicks: Dog travel links we liked this week

This week’s first link asks “Which of Montana’s cities is most dog-friendly?” and describes dog-friendly places and businesses in Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Flathead Valley, and Billings. And the answer is? Missoula appears to be the leader, but there are excellent options for dogs and their people in all of these cities.

A new (to me) blog called How Sam Sees It has just started a feature called “Pet Friendly Arizona!” Check out Sam the Golden Retriever’s suggestions for fun things to do around the state — this week it’s the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, near Superior, AZ, which sounds like a delight (and looks like one too — great pictures!).

While we’re still in the wild, wild West, please note that Palm Springs’ website for visitors is a good resource for visitors with dogs — run a search for “pet-friendly” to find dozens of pet-friendly places to stay. Thanks to MankindDog for the tip!

Two links this week take you to Asheville, NC. The Inn on Mill Creek, located about 20 miles east of Asheville, welcomes guest dogs — and the inn’s resident pugs recommend the Hickory Nut Falls Trail at Chimney Rock State Park for a dog-friendly outing. Around Asheville posted a great list of dog-friendly restaurants located all over town (including one named Cats and Dawgs, featuring all-beef hotdogs and catfish sandwiches!).

Our friends Rod & Amy Burkert of Take Paws reported from Asheville last fall, but this past week found them on Hilton Head Island and in Savannah. Both posts are well worth a click — and check out this great idea of theirs: They created their own dog-friendly walking tour of historic Savannah by collecting a trolley map from the visitor’s center and following it around town.

Here’s a useful link for those of you who are celebrating spring by rummaging through your closets for your hiking boots: TripsWithPets.com knows you’ll be taking your dog with you, and urges you to be prepared.

One last link: March 2010 was the tenth anniversary of the PETS scheme, which allows pets to travel to the U.K. from the E.U. and other listed countries (mainland U.S. is one of the listed countries) without enduring six months of quarantine. K9 Magazine noted that in those ten years, nearly half a million pets have traveled across the Channel via Eurotunnel Shuttles, which carry you and your pet in your car between Folkestone and Calais (a 35-minute crossing).

Photo Friday: Dog travel photos wanted!

This photo was taken a couple of years ago at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and although the angel on my right shoulder compels me to point out that your carrier needs to be closed at all times when you’re inside an airport, the devil on my left shoulder loves having a good look at this beautiful and laid-back doxie. Also, please note the excellent drawing on the ID tag!

Looking for a pet carrier of your own? Dog Jaunt and Will My Dog Hate Me? are giving away a Sleepypod Air pet carrier ($150 value)! Be sure to enter — it’s an outstanding product we know you’ll love. (For one thing, it’s built so your dog can see out perfectly while still being fully zipped-in, unlike this carrier.) The giveaway ends on Monday, April 12.

Photo by tombothetominator

Please send me links to your favorite dog travel photos! They’ll get listed below, for everyone to click on and view. Here’s how it works:

  1. Every Friday, I’ll put up a post like this one, sometime during the morning (Pacific time).
  2. If you have a blog or a website, post a dog travel photo on your site on Friday and link back here to the current week’s “Photo Friday” post so that your readers can see other great dog travel photos. Please take a moment to make sure that you are linking directly to your photo post instead of your homepage.
  3. If you don’t have a blog or a website, simply post your photo to Flickr (or Facebook, Twitpic, etc.).
  4. Enter a link to your photo or your blog post in the form at the bottom of my post. That way, Dog Jaunt will link back to you. Please include a few words in the “Link Title” box describing where you took the photo.

Dog on my toes: Birki’s Woodby clogs

Happy April Fool’s Day! Yesterday, my sister-in-law sent me a photo of the Birkenstock Woodby clogs featuring a goofy dog across the toes:

Photo by Birkenstock

Wouldn’t they be great for the BlogPaws conference, she joked…. Now I’m $93 poorer (less on Amazon than on Zappos, but free shipping from Zappos, so take your pick) — if you’re looking for me at the conference, look down!

Amazon link:
Birki’s Woodby Clog (Dog)

Hol-ee Roller: Great travel toy for a small dog

Photo by JW Pet Company

I’m always on the lookout for toys that travel well — in particular, ball-like toys that Chloe enjoys fetching but that don’t damage hotel room walls or make an unholy racket. In the past, I’ve told you about felted balls (with instructions for making them yourself!), but I’ve started to lose the love now that Chloe knows she can settle down with them and chew off loose bits of the felting.

Currently at the top of the charts is the Hol-ee Roller, a hollow ball made of a mesh of sturdy rubber. It bounces and rolls, but not noisily, and so far it’s withstood some chewing too. We bought the Size 3.5 for Chloe. She got her bottom jaw caught in it the first time she grabbed it, but she rapidly learned how to carry it without getting it hooked on her teeth — and she loves it.

If it were solid it would be too large for packing, but since it’s hollow and rubber, it squishes nicely into a suitcase.

Amazon link:
Hol-ee Roller 3.5 in Assorted Colors

Which seat works best with an in-cabin dog? [Delta Embraer 145]

I’ve been posting the under-seat measurements of planes we’ve been traveling on, and I invited readers to add measurements if they found themselves on a plane with a tape measure and a willingness to fold themselves into a pretzel. Lovely reader Jen stepped up to the plate and sent me the following message about her recent trip on a Delta ERJ-145:

“Hello there. I thought I would share some measurements I took on a flight this week. It was a Delta Embraer 145. It is a regional jet, so one class only. My seat was 16b (on the aisle). 11hx17dx17w. Note, the window seat is significantly smaller in width measurement as the airplane wall curves inward.”

Thanks so much, Jen! I’ve added this to Dog Jaunt’s ongoing series recording under-seat plane measurements. Keep in mind that most domestic and international airlines have rules about the maximum size of in-cabin pet carriers they allow on board (see Dog Jaunt’s handy charts under the “Taking your pet on a plane” tab above).

Sleepypod Air giveaway: Show us your dog’s favorite toy!

Last Thursday I reviewed the Sleepypod Air pet carrier, and today I have the pleasure of offering an Air carrier to a Dog Jaunt reader! Many thanks to Sleepypod for making this giveaway possible.

Photo by Sleepypod

In my review, I called the Air carrier “outstanding” and “revolutionary” (I had some complaints too, but they were pretty minor). The carrier breaks new ground by giving you the option of shortening it from its normal length to either 19 inches or (with both ends folded up) 16 inches — allowing you to meet even the most stringent of airline maximums. Once the plane is in the air and you’ve pulled the carrier out from under the seat in front of you, the ends drop down again and your pet has an unusually large space to sleep in. No other carrier I’ve seen offers that kind of flexibility. And the “outstanding” part? The carrier is very well-made and well-designed. Check out my review for the features I particularly liked.

How to Enter

This giveaway is being co-hosted by Dog Jaunt and by my blogger friend Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me. Feel free to enter from either site! We will give away a Sleepypod Air pet carrier to one lucky reader. The winner will choose their favorite color.

To enter, send us a photo of your dog’s favorite toy or blankie — the one that you’d tuck into your dog’s carrier as you set off on a trip, because you know he loves it best. It can be filthy! It can be tattered! Chloe’s squeaky sheep would turn your stomach, but it’s her lovey and it keeps her company on every trip. If your picture includes both your dog’s favorite comfort toy and your dog, we’ll love it even more!

Using the form below, please send us a link to your photo. If your link is over 100 characters long, please shorten it with bit.ly (http://bit.ly/ ) or tinyURL (http://tinyurl.com/ ) before pasting it in. In the link title, please include your dog’s name (and if your dog’s toy is too mangled to recognize, a description of what the toy is!). Be sure to fill in your e-mail address so we can contact you if you win. Your e-mail address isn’t shared with anyone, and we will not send you e-mail unless you win.

Alternatively, send us an e-mail and attach your photo to it! My e-mail address is [email protected] and Edie’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Please put “Sleepypod Air giveaway” in the subject line, and let us know your e-mail address so we can contact you if you win.

Deadline

Please post your photo before 11:59PM Pacific Time on Monday, April 12th. Edie and I will confer and announce the winner on both of our sites on Wednesday, April 14th.

The fine print

Please note that the Air carrier is meant for small pets — cats or dogs under 15 lbs. Chloe is a 13-lb. dog, about 12″ tall at the shoulders, and although she was comfortable, she only just fit in the carrier.

Please, only one photo per person! Duplicate entries and anonymous entries will be discarded. Please make sure that the e-mail address you send us is valid. The winner must claim the prize within three business days after the date of notification of such prize. A winner’s failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three business days will be considered such winner’s forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. To enter, you must be a U.S. resident, age 18 or older. Employees, partners and vendors of Dog Jaunt or Will My Dog Hate Me? and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. We will disqualify any entries that we believe are generated by scripts and other automated technology. All prizes will be awarded. No substitutions including for cash are permitted, except that Dog Jaunt and Will My Dog Hate Me? reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for the prize. The winner shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of the prize.