The dog wants to go out
Oh, yeah - it's my day out - I'm gonna ride in a car and slobber on the windows, go for a boat ride, run on the grass, pee on every tree and bush, chase a ball, wag my tail, get some good chow and later, I plan on dreamin' of chasing rabbits while I nap.
My best friend asked me what I wanted to do for an entire Sunday and here's what I told him:
After some early-morning tummy rubs in bed, a nice long walk and breakfast, we're going to jump in the car and drive into the city for a canine cruise in Lake Michigan with Mercury Cruise Lines. I love sniffing all that sea air and palling around on the boat with other dogs. They even put some newspaper down in case I get too excited. Yeah, I gotta wear a leash, but so what? And I'm sure I can catch a fish or two.
Then I'll suffer through a quick toweling off before jumping in the car and heading back to the burbs for the Ruff 'n It festival at Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville so my best friend can check out some new leashes and I'm going to enter the tail wagging contest to see if I can win a prize.
Afterward, we're going to run on over to the east branch off-leash area near Swift Road and North Avenue so I can run free and get in some light stick-chasing time before we get serious with a ball and swimming in the Swift River. I think we should have done the swimming part first (that's sure to help me win the tail wagging contest), but there's so many trees here I need to be marking so it's good I've got unlimited time.
Now that I've run myself out, I'm ready for a short nap in the car and then some food at Quigley's Irish Pub in Naperville. I love this place. The patio is a cool place to hang out and the servers are big dog fans. They always bring me fresh water.
Then we head back home. No foo-foo spa for me. I'm good being hosed off in the back yard before we settle in for a night of watching baseball on the couch.
It was a perfect day (Shhh. Don't tell my best friend, but I've got my eye on the Rottoberfest next weekend!)
Spend the day
Ruff'in It: Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Naperville, Greene Valley Forest Preserve's north parking lot; dupageforest.com.
Mercury canine cruises: 8:30 a.m. Sundays through Sept. 28 at Riverside Gardens, Michigan and Wacker avenues, Chicago; tickets are $20 for adults and $6 for dogs. More info at: mercuryskylinecruiseline.com/
Thorr Rottoberfest: Sunday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at B.C. Dog Training, 920 Turret Court, Mundelein. Event includes a pig roast, dog obstacle courses and animal experts. All proceeds benefit True Hearts of Rottweiler Rescue. More info at thorr.org.
Quigley's Irish Pub: 43 E. Jefferson St., Naperville, quigleysirishpub.net/
Pet friendly restaurants: petfriendlytravel.com/pet_dog_friendly_restaurants/US/Illinois/IL
Tres Bone Bakery and Boutique: 508 N. Seymour Ave., Mundelein; (847) 837-8901; thepetgourmet.com
Kimberly's Grooming and Dog Spa: 206 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lake Villa; (847) 356-5540, kimberleighsgrooming.com/
Sutton Studios: 3417 Church St., Evanston; (847) 679-8090, suttonstudios.com
Pampered Pet Store: 2450 W. Grass Lake Road, Lindenhurst; (847) 245-3774, papmperedpetstore.net
- Teresa Schmedding
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