Springer Spaniels are often known for two instinctual skills: showing affection, and hunting. Sophie, Jackie Romolo’s six-year-old Springer, is great at exactly half those things, and it’s the one that’s as far from loud noises as possible. Pouring M&Ms into a bowl will send her hiding in the bathroom. So despite an initial goal of bringing Sophie along on pheasant …
Life has got a lot more color with the right cast of characters. Just ask Katie, her husband Andy, & their three golden retrievers: Fergus, Grace, & Fletch. As they’re known collectively as the “Hippie Goldens.” And, while there’s much they each have in common, their personalities complement each other like a great, well-rounded ensemble. “It’s absolutely a sitcom,” Katie …
Big or small, for better or worse, expectations govern much of our lives. Dogs have their own sets of expectations too, they’re just usually a little simpler. And mostly tied to walks and treats. Helen and Hans, an Illinois-native human and White German Shepherd respectively, are a great example of the fickle and funny nature of what we expect. Growing …
“I told myself I wasn’t gonna adopt another dog.” It’s okay, Justin – we all say things we don’t mean. In his own words, longtime Chicagoan Justin Hagman is “A 50 year old truck-driving bachelor, so I’m kind of a no-nonsense guy.” So when heading to the adoption event that ultimately brought him Charlie, he admits that, “Yeah I don’t …
“Aren’t you so glad you were wrong?” A loving family has many sounds. In the case of Jessica, her husband David, & their Aussiedoodle, Ragnar, that question is most certainly one of them. Today, Jessica & David couldn’t imagine living life without their furry, enigmatic Ragnar. But less than two years ago, that wasn’t exactly the case. For Jessica, it …
Meet Travis. Or ‘Muzzy’ as those who know him best might call him. Like dog nicknames often seem to, Muzzy sits in that sweet spot between “it’s just perfect for him,” and “I actually have no idea where it came from.” When then Travis-less Lindsey Gruber moved to Chicago in 2016, bouts of anxiety and homesickness sat in that same spot. …
As just about anyone who’s ever had a dog can attest, tennis balls aren’t for tennis at all. They’re tickets to a different world. It’s understandable why. For a pup, a game of fetch means they’re free to run. It means they have a clearly defined task and they’re (usually) very successful at completing it. Over. And over. Tennis balls …
At Mutt Jackson, we believe that being washed up can actually be a great thing. Especially when it means transforming a sandy dog into a shiny one before putting them in your car. As for our flagship location at Montrose Dog Beach, well, we’re not quite ready for a bath because we’re still kicking up dirt as we work to …
For most, Montrose Dog Beach visits happen seasonally or weekly. For some, visits to the dog beach are a daily ritual. For Serdar Cetinbag – known as Steve to his friends – one trip to the dog park is a slow day. “Some days, I’m the first one on the beach and the last one off it. I have to …
The receptionist at Mike Shively Architecture announces your presence with fanfare and gusto normally reserved for royalty. By the time you’ve made it a few steps past the door, Finland has already run a couple laps around the office. In a final flourish, the exuberant Scottie slides to a stop at your feet and looks up with a smile. “Well, …
