DOG-LOVERS SHOPPING GUIDE TO SLO – THE PET STORE TAILS of SLO (745 Higuera St. Tel: 805 544 PETS) Where better to start dog-themed shopping than Tails of SLO, with the added bonus of being greeted by one of these Instagram cuties, each belonging to a member of staff. I first glimpsed Ridgeback-mix Lola (aka @lovablelolapup) in the bedding section, she gave me a tentative sniff and then graciously agreed to pose beside her Scooby Doo-esque portrait… This store has happy memories for me as it was the location for a joint book-singing with fellow dog author Teresa J Rhyne (The Dog Live ..read more

Last time I strolled through the seabreezy Babcock & Story bar at the Hotel Del Coronado, I heard a woman muse, “Whenever I come to the Del I always feel like I’m travelling back in time…” Having just set a time travel novel there, this tickled me greatly but of course it’s almost inevitable that your imagination would start a-swirling – here you are in a classically Victorian building famous for a 1950s Marilyn Monroe film which itself was set in the 1920s! And then there are all the personal memories you might have – from honeymoons to he ..read more

Not only is Coronado Island a paradise for dogs, it’s also a great place for dog-lovers to shop! Here are 40+ highlights from 8 of our favorite Coronado stores – all of which allow your pups to peruse alongside you! WAG’N TAILS DOG-LOVERS SHOPPING GUIDE TO CORONADO ISLAND 945 Orange Ave, Coronado 92118. Website: Wag’N Tails Of course we have to start with Wag’N Tails – Coronado’s quality pet store. Aside from every doggie goodie you would need, owner Melanie offers special Islander items such as City of Coronado street signs customized with your dog’s name or ..read more

This review is supported by Furbo, who kindly gifted Bodie with this nifty gadget so we could give you the lowdown! All thoughts and experiences are our very own. MISS YOU ALREADY Do you… Wonder what your darling doggie gets up to when you’re not home? Worry that he or she could be barking, stress-pacing or pining? Wish there was a way to send him or her a little love and reassurance – or better yet a tasty snack to break up your time apart? Want to watch over your pup while they are sleeping and/or gaze fondly when you should be doing your work? HOME ALONE I ha ..read more

To celebrate the US launch of BODIE ON THE ROAD: Travels with My Rescue Pup in the Dogged Pursuit of Happiness we’ve rustled up 20 goodies from our favorite pit-stops from Los Angeles to Portland and you can win the WHOLE DARN LOT! Yep, that’s one lucky person winning all 20 items – everything from Kennel N.5 organic dog furfume to Bo Derek’s Pet Care range and a gift box of Moonstruck’s yummy Chocolate Lab truffles! Have a peruse of Bodie’s Road Trip Booty then we’ll tell you exactly how to enter the easy-peasy comp! BO DEREK PET CARE RANGE (Chapter 8 – Bo Derek on a Bicycle) W ..read more

It’s amazing how much exceptional beauty can be packed into a mile-wide island. Dog-friendly Coronado lies just across the bay from the sunny city of San Diego and offers an irresistible mix of tropical paradise, quaint village life and megabucks glamour. This is Bodie’s Happy Place, guaranteed to add a jaunty spring to his step and here we show you the very best of dog-friendly Coronado…  CORONADO BAY This pic was snapped on our first week as Coronado residents and makes me smile because it’s such a Mad Dogs & Englishwoman way to ..read more

Dog-friendly Hendry’s Beach in Santa Barbara is utterly sublime and will always have a special place in my heart as this is where Bodie had his very first experience of sand and sea…  I’d never seen him bound with quite such abandon… His first steps towards the ocean were tentative but the gentle lapping of the waves quickly encouraged a confident stride… At moments he went into stealth-mode, creeping up on the frothing surf! I loved seeing such a happy reflection in the wet sand! Another perk about this beach – lots of potential playmates! Bodie got into a yin an ..read more

For an American dog with an urban jungle background, Bodie has taken to English country life like landed gentry. To celebrate a year in the UK Bodie donned his new Tail Trends tweed dog bandana and we went to sip Earl Grey at Bovey Castle. JEEVES & WOOFSTER! Meet Shaun, guardian of the grand entrance to Bovey Castle, a former manor house turned five star hotel. Built in 1906, it first opened its doors to the public in 1930. Set in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle’s grounds span 275 acres, including a 18-hole golf course. Here Bodie stri ..read more

EXTRACT FROM BODIE ON THE ROAD – THE DOGGED PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS We’re on our way to see a 60-year-old dog that generates more than two billion dollars in annual sales, thanks to its licensing deals with the likes of Hallmark and Ty Warner of Beanie Baby – we’re talking SNOOPY! Specifically we’re visiting the Charles M Schulz museum in Santa Rosa. When I say we… Bodie gets to play in the maze shaped like Snoopy’s head and sit on a bench with a fiberglass statue but he’s not allowed in the museum itself. Handily there’s a doggie daycare just minutes away so he can rough-house with the boys whil ..read more

DOG-LOVERS SHOPPING GUIDE TO SLO – THE PET STORE TAILS of SLO (745 Higuera St. Tel: 805 544 PETS) Where better to start dog-themed shopping than Tails of SLO, with the added bonus of being greeted by one of these Instagram cuties, each belonging to a member of staff. I first glimpsed Ridgeback-mix Lola (aka @lovablelolapup) in the bedding section, she gave me a tentative sniff and then graciously agreed to pose beside her Scooby Doo-esque portrait… This store has happy memories for me as it was the location for a joint book-singing with fellow dog author Teresa J Rhyne (The Dog Lived) and he ..read more