Amanda Lucidon / The Press-Enterprise Don Sullivan and his son, Ethan Sullivan, 6, train Orchid on the escalator in Saks Fifth Avenue at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert.
I got the link to this very neat news article from an online friend of mine who knows how much I love all things that are dog-friendly. This comes from somewhere in California where you can actually take dogs into some malls. Isn't that super? There's also a video that goes with the story that you can click on.
The world and time marches on - and we as dog owners are stepping up and taking our place in it - and our dogs are by our side. Where they should be.
It's about a mall in
Best friends and shopping go together like the Captain and Tennille, even if the best friend is four-legged and furry.
While pet stores often invite Fido and Fifi inside to take a gander at the merchandise, more shopping centers are allowing man's best friend to come in and browse.
"There are some specialty malls coming out that cater to pets," said Len Kain of DogFriendly.com, a Web site that publishes pet travel guides.
He noted the Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista, just outside of San Diego, which has a dog park for its furry patrons next to the Macy's.
"What you're seeing now is the shopping centers are actually putting (water) dishes outside the doors," Kain said.
While the dog parks aren't at Inland Empire malls yet, a number of complexes in the Coachella Valley are pet-friendly.
"We see it all the time," said Sara O'Flynn, marketing director of The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert.
She said she usually sees smaller dogs.
The Gardens on El Paseo isn't the only shopping area that has furry customers.
"We usually have a slew of them in the morning," said Debbie Hobbs, an administrative assistant for The River in Rancho Mirage.
She said owners and their animal-kingdom pals will stop by Starbucks for the morning brew. The complex allows pets as long as they are on a leash, Hobbs said.
The shopping center even has a kiosk, Barkies Boutique, which sells clothes, treats, carriers and strollers for pups.
"They all love dogs around here," said Supree Hammond, who mans the booth.
She said people will bring their dogs to the kiosk so they can try the clothes on and she often sees people bring their dogs to the center with them.
Sandy Namvar, of Palm Desert, often takes her dog, Chanel, with her to shops along El Paseo.
"Everybody brings their dogs," Namvar said.
Chanel is also a fixture at Bellissimo, the clothing store on El Paseo that Namvar owns.
She said she keeps treats in the store to give to the pets.
Don Sullivan will take dogs into a number of stores around Palm Desert, including Saks Fifth Avenue. The La Quinta man is an off-leash and anti-aggression training specialist for dogs. Last week, he worked with a 12-week-old puppy on being off-leash.
Sullivan said he took the dog into Saks and commanded it to lie down and stay, and then he walked away. He said the dog stayed still, despite the number of people walking by.
"We left him down there for 20 minutes," he said.
He said that dogs trained in the correct way can be unleashed and not run into the street or be distracted by other people and animals.
"You don't have to leave your dog ... sitting at home pining for you," Sullivan said.
Both Ontario Mills and the Galleria at Tyler do not allow dogs, unless they are service animals. However, pets are allowed at Westfield Palm Desert if they are held or are in a carrier, according to Katie Thomsen, marketing director.
Kain said dog-friendly complexes tend to be bigger outdoor shopping areas.
"We are a pet-friendly center," said Kathy Frederiksen, general manager of Desert Hills Premium Outlets. "Pets are welcome in our common areas."
She said a pet needs to be on a leash, controlled, held or in a carrier at the Cabazon shopping center. If a pet does become unruly or barks, the owner will be asked to leave.
Frederiksen said it was up to the individual store to decide whether or not pets were allowed inside.
Kain said dogs that are allowed in stores are usually very well-behaved.
"You don't see dogs peeing all over the place," he said.
Reach Vanessa Franko at 951-368-9575 or at vfranko@PE.com
Shopping with SPOT
Len Kain of DogFriendly.com and dog-training specialist Don Sullivan offer tips on taking the pooch shopping:
GET REAL: Don't take the dog unless it is well-trained and housebroken. Make sure your pet is well-behaved around people, kids and other dogs.
ASK FIRST: Always ask if it's acceptable to bring a dog inside.
TEST-DRIVE ROVER: Go for a trial run in the pet store.
NO-DOG ZONES: Stay out of hair salons and places with food.
WATCH THE FLOW: If the dog is unleashed, try to tuck him away where he won't be trampled in a store.
For more information, visit www.DogFriendly.com or www.DogTrain.com
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