Japan's Pet Rental Service! Check out this business cashing in on the bonds people have with man's best friend...

Apartment not big enough for a dog? Too busy for walkies? In crowded Tokyo you can rent a mutt for a few hours of wet noses and unconditional loving from Man's Best Friend.

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Pets Make Us Healthier!

Having a pet can really cheer a person up, but it can also have a much deeper impact than you might realize.

DCI

For seven-year-old Rino Kakinuma, surrounded by toy poodles and beagle pups, it is the perfect solution -- a fortnightly chance to play with her four-legged friends.

"She really likes dogs but our home is not suitable for pets," her father Shinji Kakinuma tells AFP.

"I was a bit sad for her so I looked for places where she could hang out with dogs."

Rina and her father are not alone.

The tightly packed Japanese capital can be a challenging place to keep a pet; even if your building managers allow animals, the average apartment is just 60 square metres (650 square feet) -- barely enough room to swing a cat.

That is where places like Dog Heart come in.

Just a few minutes' walk from Yoyogi Park, one of Tokyo's main green lungs, Dog Heart is part petting zoo and part rental shop.

Visitors can choose between sitting and stroking the more than 20 animals, or taking them for a walk around the park.

Half an hour of play-time costs 950 yen ($8), while 60 minutes of dog-walking will set you back 3,600 yen. Both can be extended for additional cost.

Since opening in 2012, owner Yukiko Tsuchiya, 50, says her business has been growing, with some clients coming in weekly.

 PLAY VIDEO

Pets Make Us Healthier!

Having a pet can really cheer a person up, but it can also have a much deeper impact than you might realize.

DCI

"In the suburbs, it is easier to get in contact with dogs, but in Tokyo, there is a demand for a places like this," she says.

"People bring their kids here, couples come for dates, men and women come on their own... and elderly people as well, because they feel too old to have a pet at home.

But not everyone is impressed.

The Japanese Coalition for Animal Welfare (JCAW), a campaign group, says dog rental shops subject animals to possible physical and psychological risks, such as mental stress from poor handling.

"The animals will no doubt be confused or frustrated with the wide variety of people that will come to the facility," JCAW head Koichi Aoki said.

"If any interaction is unacceptable to the animal they will display avoidance behaviour and may even be traumatised."

Dogs that go out for walks with paying clients might be forced to perform beyond their physical limits, possibly resulting in fatigue, lameness or inflammation of joints, he says.

Dog Heart's Tsuchiya says she is very careful to look after her animals, all of which, she says, are happy to be walked, petted and picked up.

"Some people worry that the dogs are exposed to too many people... but they were born in this environment so it is not a problem," says Tsuchiya.

"People say that it is stressful for the dogs, but when the weather is bad and no customers come, the dogs get bored.

"They are actually less stressed when the customers are here."

What Makes a Great Sled Dog? Breed, Ambition, Tough Feet

A mixed heritage gives sled dogs their love of running, a desire to work, and a need for wild places.

Jane J. Lee

National Geographic

PUBLISHED JANUARY 31, 2015

Spur, Sultana’s brother, is a reliable leader who’s a pro at spotting bad ice.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL A. LEIFHEIT, NPS

Like many top athletes, Sultana trains hard and has no time for the shenanigans of younger teammates. But you won’t find her in a stadium.Sultana is a sled dog born and bred to work in the punishing winters of Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, and she’s gearing up for another season on the trail.

Like Sultana—a trailbreaker who moves supplies for researchers and park staff—the animals competing in these races are a cut above your normal dog.Right now, sled dogs around the world are busy preparing for the upcoming racing season or for jobs hauling equipment or tourists. Premier events like theIditarod, the Yukon Quest, or the International Pedigree Stage Stop kick off over the next couple of months, drawing as many as 1,300 dogs and thousands of people to frozen places from Alpine, Wyoming, to Nome, Alaska.

Contrary to popular belief, Siberian huskies or Alaskan malamutes are not the most popular sled dog breed. That spot belongs to the Alaskan husky, an unofficial breed with a hodge-podge heritage that’s custom-made for the rigors of racing and hauling.

Don’t let their scrappy looks fool you. Generations of breeding have produced animals that love to run, are capable of pulling hundreds of pounds through the snow, and that work together like a well-oiled machine.

Eight-year-old Sultana is one of the best lead dogs at the Denali National Park kennels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL A. LEIFHEIT, NPS

The Crucial Ingredients

To breeders, sled dogs’ looks don’t matter as much as performance does. No matter the breed or whether they’re racers or freight-haulers, all these dogs have an insatiable need to go. Howard Thompson, a former racer who now breeds sled dogs near Mondovi, Wisconsin, calls it wanderlust. It’s the idea that “somewhere else is better,” he explains.

A healthy appetite is essential, Thompson adds. Long-distance sled dogs—those competing in events over 300 miles (483 kilometers) long—or freight-haulers like Sultana are out for days or weeks at a time. They can’t be finicky about their meals or prone to digestive issues, he says.

Sled dogs also need tough feet, says Charlotte Mooney, a racer and breeder in West Yellowstone, Montana. Racers can use booties to protect a dog’s paws, but the footwear slows the animals down, she says. Not ideal for sprint races—events less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) long—where dogs run full blast for the duration.

EMILY M. ENG, NG STAFF. SOURCES: JENNIFER RAFFAELI; HOWARD THOMPSON

Leaders, Swing Dogs, and Wheel Dogs

Teamwork is also key. Attach a pack of “normal” dogs to a sled, and they’re not likely to go far before chaos ensues.

Lead dogs—the ones out in front—help maintain order. They execute a musher’s commands, set the team’s pace, and ensure everyone’s going in the right direction.

A good lead dog can also think for itself, says Jennifer Raffaeli, manager of Denali’s kennels. They must have the confidence to disobey if a musher’s commands will send them over bad ice or off a cliff. And it helps if they can keep the others in line. Sultana is part of the Denali kennel, and she’s one of Raffaeli’s best leaders.

She’s tough enough to keep the young males focused on work, Raffaeli says, and smart enough to take advantage of inexperienced drivers, or mushers.

When the blue-eyed, eight-year-old Alaskan husky wants a break, she’s been known to stop on a trail, turn around, and come back to the driver while dragging the rest of the team behind her. When Sultana is with an experienced driver, though, she’ll do whatever is asked of her, the kennel manager says.

Backing up lead dogs like Sultana are the swing dogs—positioned right behind the leaders. They help to turn the team left or right. Wheel dogs may be last in line, but they help to steer the sled. The good ones know to go wide on turns to guide the sled around trees and other obstacles, says Thompson.

The dogs in between the swing and wheel positions are called team dogs; they provide the muscle. Their job is to keep pulling until it’s time to stop.

“A Strong Dash of Greyhound”

That willingness to work is a hallmark of sled dogs. But Raffaeli, who breeds all the dogs the park uses, also looks for a sociable personality. The animals interact with visiting tourists during the summer months, so aggressive dogs just won’t do. (Watch how the park raises its puppies.)

A tendency toward aggression is likely one reason why Alaskan malamutes—historically used as sled dogs—have fallen out of favor with many racers, says Thompson, who used to use them. “They have a bad reputation in the sled dog community.”

They’re also slow. “If you want to come in last, race malamutes,” he says.

Siberian huskies, another iconic sledding breed, have also been overtaken. The Alaskan husky, which owes a good portion of its heritage to Siberian huskies and malamutes, are now the “premier” sled dog breed, Thompson explains.

The American Kennel Club doesn’t officially recognize the group, but Alaskan huskies are genetically distinct from purebreds, research has shown.

Breeders looking to boost speed mixed Alaskan huskies with German or English pointers, says Thompson, and added “a strong dash of greyhound.”

The “marathon” runners—including dogs running in the Iditarod—have some border collie, hound, or pointer mixed in, says Stuart Nelson, Jr., head veterinarian for the Iditarod.

Denali’s sled dogs shift gears during the summer months, giving demonstrations and interacting with visiting tourists.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NEIL BLAKE, NPS

No matter the breed, though, most sled dogs seem happiest when out on the trail. And somehow, they’re able to communicate that love to the people they meet, says Raffaeli. “These dogs, even though they don’t speak, manage to communicate to our visitors about the importance of wild spaces.”

For more pet info and vacation planning, visit our site! http://www.petfriendlynorthamerica.com/

Man's Best Friend: Photos From Around the World

More photo galleries »

To kick off the 139th Annual Westminster Dog Show, which opens at Madison Square Garden in New York City today, we've called up some favorite pictures of pooches from the National Geographic archives.

In the photo above, a pair of dogs—viewed over the hood of a car—roam the Bushman village of Wit Draai in South Africa.

Human companionship with dogs stretches back to the Stone Age. Although scientists still debate the exact origins of domestic canines, many think they evolved from a group of wolves that have since died out. Some believe humans adopted wolf pups, favoring the ones that were less aggressive.

Today, about 80 million dogs live in households across the United States. While they're still our loyal companions, they have become our co-workers too. They keep guard, soothe patients through therapy, star on the big screen, and march side-by-side into combat with soldiers

On the HuntPhotography by Chris Johns

In KwaZulu-Natal Province in eastern South Africa, a pack of dogs assist a hunter in catching cane rats, abundant rodents prized for their meat.

African hounds can also help hunt down more than dinner: They also track elephant poachers. Tanzania's tracker dogs are proving to be an effective weapon in the war against criminals who kill the pachyderms for their tusks.

Born to ServePhotograph by Willard Culver

Showing off its athletic ability, a Doberman pinscher clears an Adirondack chair and its occupant with room to spare.

Nineteenth-century German tax collector Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann originally bred these dogs to protect him from thieves as he was making his rounds.

 

Ever on the alert, the dogs are prone to developing canine compulsive disorder, or CCD—repetitive behavior such as chasing their tail or licking their paws.

Scientists recently discovered that dogs with CCD and humans with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, have similar brain abnormalities. They hope these dogs will someday help them understand human anxiety so they can develop better treatments.

Man's Best FriendPhotograph by Sam Abell

Humans domesticated dogs not only for companionship, but also for practical purposes such as herding and fetching animals during hunts. The bond holds up even when tested in extreme conditions.

In this photo, a canine called Cisco Kid braves the winter winds of Judith Basin, Montana, along with cowboy Gerald Mack. (Read about a Chilean cowboy and his dog who work in the wilds of Patagonia.)

House Dog, Show DogPhotography by Chris Johns

In a portrait of companionship, an elderly farmer poses with his poodle in Lamont, California.

Praised for their extreme intelligence and agreeable dispositions, poodles are regular competitors at the Westminster show.

 

One competition they're not allowed to enter? The Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska. That rule was established in the early 1990s after poodles on one team suffered from frozen feet and coats matted with ice.

Today, only huskies and other northern breeds need apply. (Read "5 Surprising Facts About the Iditarod.")

Check out National Geographic for more info!  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/pictures/150216-dogs-westminster-show-photos-archives/

Check out our websites for all the pet information you need to have a nice vacation with your pet!  http://www.petfriendlynorthamerica.com/

Rats Remember Who's Nice to Them—and Return the Favor

It's the first time scientists have found direct reciprocation in the animal kingdom.

Norwegian rats emerge from a hole in Oregon.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL DURHAM, MINDEN PICTURES/CORBIS

Ralph Martins

National Geographic

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Rats can remember acts of kindness by other rats—and treat them accordingly, a new study says.

While rats are known to cooperate and assist one another, rewarding another rat for no immediate gain wasn't thought to be common behavior. (Also see"Rats Show Regret After Wrong Choices, Scientists Say.")In experiments, Norwegian rats were most helpful to individuals that had previously helped them—perhaps to try and secure their assistance again, scientists suggest.

The study, published February 24 in the journalBiology Letters, suggests otherwise.

In fact, a rat rewarding a fellow rat for help—an act called direct reciprocation—is a first among nonhumans, said study co-authorMichael Taborsky, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Bananas, Please

The study was based on female captive Norwegian rats' preferences for two types of food: bananas and carrots. For these wild-type rats, bananas are a favorite—carrots, not so much.

In the experiment, each of a pair of rat helpers could deliver one of these tidbits to a rat in another enclosure by pulling on a stick. (Watch a video of rats at night.)

Eventually, the receiving rat would recognize each helper as either a high-quality helper (if it delivered bananas) or a low-quality helper (if it delivered carrots).

Then, scientists switched the rats' places, so the rats on the receiving end were now able to pull on a stick that would deliver cereal flakes to a certain helper.

The rats that had given bananas generally received cereal more quickly and more often than carrot-givers. In the same vein, the rats that had given carrots got cereal less often than the banana-givers did.

Brainy Rats?

But are the rats really rewarding helpers for their generosity?

Researcher Taborsky thinks so, adding that the rats are making a simple association.

"Two elements are involved: recognizing an individual, and responding to the quality of service," Taborsky says.

The latter, he says, is evident from previously known behavior—rats will flock to good feeding spots, for example. And recognition, he points out, is widely documented in many species, including rats. (See "Rat Made Supersmart-Similar Boost Unsafe in Humans?")

Since Norwegian rats exchange favors, a desire to reward others—and perhaps to ensure more exchanges in the future—"might not be as complex as we think," says Taborsky.

An even simpler explanation is that the rats simply "associate the [helper] with the preferred food," Thomas Zentall, an animal behaviorist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, said in an email.

That is, the rat associates bananas with the presence of the banana-giver, and thinks pulling on the stick when the banana-giver is present might bring bananas.

But Taborsky argues this isn't the case, since it's known that rats can tellthey're delivering food to another rat, not themselves.

In his view, rats clearly use the quality of service they receive to determine how much they give back.

Wonder what that says about their tipping habits?

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Many Animals—Including Your Dog—May Have Horrible Short-Term Memories

National Geographic Article:

Dogs may forget an event less than two minutes after it happened, according to a new study.

Dogs may be glad to see an old friend, but they won't remember when they last saw her—they forget events within two minutes.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL BACHMAN, ALAMY

James Owen

National Geographic

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2015

The next time your dog happily greets an old friend, remember this: Your pup likely can't remember the last time they met.

A recent investigation of short-term memory suggests animals don't remember specific events much at all—instead, they store away useful information about what could help them survive.We often say someone has "a memory like an elephant," or, if it's a forgetful person, "a goldfish." But in comparing our memory with that of animals, what's the truth? (Read "Animal Minds" in National Geographic magazine.)

Covering 25 species that ranged from dolphins to bees, the study found the average short-term memory span of animals was 27 seconds (which was the midway point before the memory is lost), according to a team led by Johan Lind, an ethologist at the Centre for the Study of Cultural Evolution at Stockholm University, Sweden. (See "Dolphins Have Longest Memories in Animal Kingdom.")

Dogs forget an event within two minutes. Chimpanzees, at around 20 seconds, are worse than rats at remembering things, while the memory spans of three other primates—baboons, pig—tailed macaques, and squirrel monkeys—exceeded only bees (the sole study participant that wasn't either a mammal or a bird).

Since chimps are our closest living relatives, Lind said he was surprised by their poor performance. It suggests human capacity for memory evolved after we branched from the most recent shared ancestor with chimps, over six million years ago.

Reported in late 2014 in the journal Behavioural Processes, the findings drew on data from almost a hundred studies of captive animals that used a memory test of recent random events known as the delayed matching-to-sample (or DMTS) method.

In this test, an animal is typically shown a visual stimulus such as a red circle. The red circle disappears, then, after a delay, it's shown again with another sample stimulus—a blue square, say. The animal, usually with the incentive of a food reward, has to select the original sample it saw.

Compared with animals, humans find this type of test a breeze—we pick the correct sample effortlessly after 48 hours or more, studies have shown. (Also see "A Message From Your Brain: I'm Not Good At Remembering What I Hear.")

"The data tell us that animals have no long-term memory of arbitrary events," Lind said. Based on the new study, "we think humans' ability to remember arbitrary events is unique."

Memories Not Created Equal

This ability is also called episodic memory, and it allows us to remember almost any occurrence, however trivial, for long periods.

"We experience this daily when we remember where we parked the car or that we have to pay a bill next week," Lind said.

While there are plenty of examples of animals with long memories—elephants never forgetting a face, the cat that's scared of the pet carrier after a past visit to the vet, swallows returning to last summer's nest—they aren't using episodic memory, according to Lind.

Such cases "are due to associative memories," he says. They're not based on "memories of specific events. In the second case, the cat associates the carrier with danger. Such memories are very robust and will stay for a long time—for life—in animals."

That's because animals may have specialized memory systems hardwired to remember certain "biologically relevant information" (such as where to find food), the study authors proposed.

Take the example of the western scrub jay, a food-caching bird whose ability to remember and choose between its buried stores has been reported as evidence of episodic-like memory in animals. (See "Bird-Brained Jays Can Plan for the Future.")

But, said Lind, "if these scrub jays had an episodic memory, as humans do, they would have no problem solving the matching-to-sample experiment."

The scrub jays' performance in the experiment is really no different than that of other birds, however. Their "memory will decay within half a minute," he said. (See pictures of animals that are smarter than you think.)

Scrub jays like the one above can remember where they hid their food, but their short term memories aren't great, according to researchers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY VICENT J. MUSI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Mental Time Travel

Scientists see this memory distinction as key to trying to understand what mental skills we share with other animals and what's unique about the human mind. (Read about the amazing human memory in National Geographic magazine.)

"The study of episodic memory is crucial, since it is still under debate whether other animals can retrieve memories of personal past events in the same way humans do," Gema Martin-Ordas, who studies animal and human cognition at Newcastle University's Institute of Neuroscience in England, said in an email.

"For example, I remember that I went for a run to the park yesterday, and I am perfectly aware that this memory is part of my personal past experience," said Martin-Ordas, who wasn't involved in the new study.

Given our current knowledge, however, "it might be too early to argue that humans are the only ones who are able to mentally travel back and forward in time," she added. (See this interactive: "Mapping Memory in 3-D.")

Martin-Ordas's own research has found evidence that great apes do remember episodic-like details for days and even years, noted Victoria Templer, a psychologist at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Both researchers urged caution in interpreting the results of the new study.

As the study authors themselves observed, "some species or individuals might adjust well to a laboratory environment, and some may not," Templer said.

For instance, it could be that chimpanzees recollected worse than rats in the DMTS experiments because the rats had more training in the memory task.

But if the short-term memory spans of chimps and other primates really are as mediocre as the DMTS tests indicate, "the study reminds us that evolution is not a unidirectional ladder of improvement with humans at the top and apes close behind," Templer said.

That's something for us humans to remember—we might not be as smart as we like to think.


Check out our site for pet friendly travel and vacation info!

Check out Pet Friendly Nashville!

Travel with your Pet to Nashville!

Pet Friendly Nashville!

Getting Out and and Into it in Nashville! 

1) Honky Tonk Time – You know this is why you came to Nashville!  So be sure to pack some boots, pick up a cowboy hat, and line-dance your heart away.

Full Moon Saloon - “The crowd is always participating and it’s always a great time till close!  Oh- drinks are quite cheap considering it’s a Broadway bar” – NashvilleBarHound.com
Honky Tonk Central - Nashville's latest and greatest honky tonk on world famous 'Lower Broadway' in downtown Nashville, TN. , with 3 full stories of live music, great food and great times, Honky Tonk Central is the destination stop when in Nashville.
Whiskey Bent Saloon – located right in the middle of all the action that makes Nashville famous. It is a great place for you and your guests to kick back, have fun, and let loose. When you are in the market for an authentic Nashville experience, look no further! Whiskey Bent features a built in stage perfect for bands and live performances, Broadway's largest whiskey selection, the only iced down beer on the street, and extra friendly service.
Legends Corner - Some will say that a trip to Nashville is never complete without visiting the tried and true honky-tonk saloons along downtown Broadway.  While it's hard to go wrong in any of these gritty watering holes, Legends stands out as one of the best. Country music record covers plaster the walls, but the real attraction is the bar's live music.  Some of the city's finest contemporary acts make their mark onstage.  Nashville City Search voters recently selected Legends Corner as the Number One Country Bar in Nashville; an honor well deserved.
Swingin’ Doors Saloon: Where Country is King!  - located in beautiful and historic downtown Nashville Tennessee right off of Broadway at 111 4th Ave S (right behind the Hilton). Swingin’ Doors Saloon is Nashville’s newest downtown honkey-tonk with classic country roots as well as the latest and greatest that Nashville has inspired. World-class country music in an old western saloon setting. When the live music isn’t rockin’ you can play your favorites on the jukebox.  This all-around saloon style bar experience offers the big-screens for Nashville’s sport’s enthusiasts as well as fresh grilled food you can enjoy before a downtown game or concert.

2. Museums: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum -
 The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the non-profit, educational Country Music Foundation (CMF). The mission of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is to identify and preserve the evolving history and traditions of country music and to educate its audiences. Functioning as a local history museum and as an international arts organization, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum serves visiting and non-visiting audiences including fans, students, scholars, members of the music industry.  Check out the calendar now here: http://countrymusichalloffame.org/calendar/
Music City Walk of Fame - on Nashville's Music Mile is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration and made a significant contribution to the music industry with connection to Music City.
The Johnny Cash Museum - Come here to learn everything about Johnny Cash!  Be sure to stop by the great gift store as well.

3) The Arts-
Tennessee Performing Arts - TPAC is located in the James K. Polk Cultural Center at 505 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville, occupying an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues and Deaderick and Union Streets. Also housing the Tennessee State Museum, the cultural center adjoins the 18 story James K. Polk Office Tower.  The Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre perform here as well!  Look at the calendar here: http://patron.tpac.org
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts - Unlike any traditional museum you’ve ever visited, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts has become a magnet for Nashville’s rapidly expanding visual arts scene. With an exhibitions schedule that has new art flowing through the magnificent Art Deco building every 6 to 8 weeks, no matter how often you visit, there is always something new and exciting to see in the spacious galleries.

4. Botanical Garden and Museum- Experience Cheekwood, the 55-acre estate built by the Maxwell House Coffee fortune in Nashville, Tennessee, and one of the finest examples of an American Country Place Era estate in the United States. The Botanical Garden is a spectacular showcase of color and horticultural diversity with eleven specialty display gardens and stunning natural landscape. The Museum of Art has collections of painting, sculpture and decorative arts.


5. Beer and More-
Jack Daniel’s Distillery – Drop by for a firsthand look at our distillery where one of our guides will accompany you on a tour and tell you the complete story of our whiskey. And you’ll probably hear an interesting story or two about Mr. Jack as well. We hope to see you around Lynchburg sometime soon.
Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream - SPEAKeasy Spirits is an artisan distillery nestled in the Historic West Town neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.  SPEAKeasy Spirits’ Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream™ is the distillery’s flagship brand. Recognizing niches, as well as creating new categories such as Tennessee Sipping Cream™, will build a unique and highly sought after portfolio for SPEAKeasy Spirits.
Tennesse Brew Works – Our Company founders have conducted plenty of craft beer “market research” over many years. But the real genesis of Tennessee Brew Works began with the discovery that great beer can be brewed at home. What began as a kitchen hobby quickly transformed into a serious outdoor brewing system. During that evolution we discovered high demand for our beer amongst family, friends, and acquaintances, converting many into craft beer consumers. Their enthusiasm (and support) has inspired us to follow our passions and share our creations with a much larger audience, but remain focused on producing superior and distinctive beers.

6. Dinner Theatres and Shows!-
Chaffin’s Barn Theatre - Nashville’s ‘Original’ Barn and most unique dining and entertainment experience!  We are now in our 46th season serving the Nashville area with premium buffets and professional theatre.

Miss Jeanne’s Mystery Dinner - An interactive mystery play with live music, comedy and a fully served dinner. Each table is a team and each person has play money to bribe the suspects.
Nashville Nightlife Theatre - Check out Nashville's newest production, "The Best of Country Music Dinner & Show" at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater! Come and experience a celebration of Country Music from both past and present. Hear songs from many of the great artists in country music history along with today's hottest superstars. Enjoy the music of everyone from Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline to the superstars of today like Sara Evans and Toby Keith! Throughout the season we have many guest stars appear at our theater including "Grand Ole Opry Star" Jeannie Seely, "The Fiddle Man" Tim Watson, Diana Murrell, "Nashville's favorite" Brenda Best, Paula Murrell (from the Tammy Wynette show) and many other celebrities!
The General Jackson Showboat - Our 300-foot paddlewheel riverboat is one of the largest showboats in the country. It boasts four massive decks with a beautiful two-story Victorian Theater located in the center of the boat where live music shows are performed. Both midday and evening cruises offer a variety of entertainment options throughout the year. You'll always find something new just around the bend. Holiday cruises begin mid-November each year, and special cruises includes a festive New Year's Eve celebration. The General Jackson is an experience you'll only find in Music City!

7. Festivals you definitely should be on the watch for:
Nashville Film Festival – NaFF provides three year-round programs: Livin' Reel gives urban teens a hand's on experience in filmmaking. The Hope Tour brings films and volunteers to the bedside of patients and veterans. The Tennessee Film Tour helps Tennessee cities start film festivals. Spread the love.
Oktoberfest - Here's a short list of what to expect at this amazing festival:
• Authentic German Food & Beverages
• Specialty Food Items & Home Baked Treats
• Polka Dancing
• Street Performers
• Tours of Germantowns Historic Churches
• FREE FunLand for the Kids- Arts, Crafts & Antique Specialty Booths
• 4 Stages of Entertainment
Outback Concerts - Outback Concerts produces hundreds of shows & festivals across North America, selling up to 2 million tickets a year. Our special events division is positioned to assist, advise & accomodate corporate clients in buying & producing entertainment and overseeing their needs.

Restaurants	Description
Fido 1812 21st Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37212 Hillsboro Village Phone: 615-777-FIDO (3436)	Fido - Fido blurs the line between upscale coffeehouse and casual restaurant with an emphasis on organic and local foods served in an inviting atmosphere. The all-day menu features Nashville’s finest mix of organic, exotic and junk foods: from the famous Local Burger (local beef, lamb and cheddar with caramelized fennel & fig aioli), the Liberal Salad (greens, fruits & nuts), to whole grain pancakes and desserts made on premises. map
12 South Taproom and Grill 2318 12th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37204 Phone: (615) 463-7552	Pet friendly restaurant in Nashville: 12 South Taproom and Grill - Opened in June 2006, The 12 South Taproom & Grill has been committed to providing the 12 South Neighborhood in Nashville, TN with quality food, drink, and atmosphere. With an ambiance as eclectic as its patrons, the Taproom serves as an inviting home to all the residents of 12 South and beyond. Our hot and made-to-order culinary delights, distinct and well-crafted libations, and well-informed (and good looking) staff combine to create an experience that is simultaneously novel and intimately familiar. Bring Spot to chill out on the porch with you! map
Pinkberry 2306 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 679 9789	Pet friendly restaurant in Nashville: Pinkberry - Everyone knows Pinkberry! Spot can't come in, but the friendly staff can provide a bowl of water on the patio for him/her! map
Calypso Cafe 1106 Gartland Ave Nashville, TN 37206 Phone: (615) 227-6133	Pet friendly restaurant in Nashville: Calypso Cafe - Calypso Café offers fast, affordable meals that are good for you! For over 24 years our restaurants have been serving up our Cuban black beans, bountiful salads, rotisserie chicken, island burgers and vegetarian side items in the Nashville area. Our mission is simple…high quality, hearty, healthy dishes at a reasonable price in a fun, relaxed and efficient setting. Fido can join you on the porch! map

Check out our site, Pet Friendly Nashville, for more information!

Check out Pet Friendly Florida Keys!

Having Fun for Yourself in in the Florida Keys!

Pet Friendly Florida Keys!

Getting Out there and into it in the Florida Keys!

1) John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The first undersea park in the U.S., John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses approximately 70 nautical square miles. This is at the north end of the Keys in Key Largo! The coral reefs and their associated marine life are... life changing! Many enjoy the view of the reef from a glass-bottom boat tour, but visitors can get a closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling. This is a must!

Canoeing and kayaking through the park's waters are popular activities; fishing is permitted in designated areas. Visitors can enjoy walking on short trails, picnicking, or swimming at the beach. The Visitor Center has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and nature videos are shown in its theater. http://pennekamppark.com/

2. Dolphin Research Center
This is one of my favorite places in the Keys. Research is going on all around you in small pools filled with marine mammals of all kinds. You can pay to actually get into the water with dolphins, or feed them,... but your really only need to gain admittance to wander around and watch happy dolphins, seals, manatees up close. http://www.dolphins.org/ - map

3. Sunset at a Pet Friendly Restaurant
Well, this is for both of you! Snook's is right on the beach on the bay side in Key Largo. There's a ledge where you can sit right on the water to enjoy the sunset. Surrounded by tiki torches, every seat has a sunset view. They offer local catch! And they are pet friendly-They welcome dogs at their outdoor dining area and at the bar. There is ample area to walk your dog as well. Often, bartenders will bring their dogs to work and you will see the owner walking her two pugs. Come by boat or car. map


4. Rent a Small Boat and...
Swim in the mangroves or get a good sea map and don't go too far offshore, but find your own place to snorkel! The mangroves are all around on the bay side of the keys, and are filled with baby fishes. It looks spooky, but it is fun and safe. We go off of Islamorada and it isn't far. But all the Keys have snorkeling spots and the local boat rental places will tell you where to go. Here's one: Robbie's, in Islamorada...http://www.robbies.com/

5. Rent a Small Boat (part 2) and...
Throw your anchor on a sandbank and party and drink beer! This is a time-honored tradition in the keys and it is hilarious. Every time you go over a bridge in the Keys you will see these sandbanks, caused by dredging so boats can go under the bridge. The water above the sand banks is about 2 inches, so people throw their little anchors a yard or two off. You can swim in with your dog. Paddle about and enjoy the warm water... you will still see little fishes and crabs and your dog will have a ball.


6. Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native and migratory wild birds that have been harmed or displaced, to provide or locate a humane shelter for those birds that cannot be released, and to educate the public toward the importance of coexistence with all wild bird species. http://fkwbc.org/ - map


7. Rent a Kayak (or a Jetski)
And get out on the water! yes, your dog can get in the Kayak! Notice I keep trying to get you out on the water... it is so beautiful- the colors of blue so amazing, that I keep trying to find ways to get you out into that warm salty water. Our example: Key Largo Kayak Rental- they have mangrove groves in their purvue, which are fun to kayak thru. Their are rental agencies on all the keys.


8. See the Deer on Big Pine Key
The National Key Deer Refuge headquarters is located on Big Pine Key which is 100-miles south of Miami and 30-miles north of Key West on Highway US-1. So... a bit further down into the Keys, but not all the way to Key West. This is a huge preserve, but it isn't hard to see the deer.




9. Watch for a Manatee on the Docks
Watch for manatees around the docks. They come looking for fresh water, as the salinity in the Florida Bay has risen and they crave fresh water. This one was trying to catch a drink from the hose we were using to wash the boat. Don't water them on purpose or try to attract them- we need them to distrust man and stay wild. They have no defense, and even tho they are huge they are less scary than a kitten. You can see lobster peeking out from under docks too... but remember, only in season!

10. Hire a Captain and Go Fishing!
Dying to catch some dolphin (the mahi mahi type) and cook them up for your dinner? You can pretty much rely on success if you hire a local captain. We use Bud 'n Mary's Marina in Islamorada, but there are captains for hire at other marinas all over the keys. We went out for half a day and caught enough for several dinners' worth of dolphin and still gave 3/4 of it away. Local captains make all the difference. You have to go pretty far out, so wait for a calm day if you have a delicate sea-stomach. Most restaurants will cook up your dolphin for you.

11. Theatre of the Sea
Theater of the Sea provides a marine mammal adventure where you can swim with dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays in their natural salt water lagoons through our interactive swim programs. The lagoons, and lush, tropical gardens at are home to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, sea turtles, tropical and game fish, sharks, stingrays, alligators, marine invertebrates, colorful parrots, and birds-of-prey. They also offer marine performances, glass-bottom boat tours and a beach. http://www.theaterofthesea.com/ - map

12. Key West!
-No visit to the Florida Keys is complete without a stop on Key West. Did you read "The Old Man and the Sea" ? here is Hemingway's home...or visit the infamous Duval Street, -hotspot of partying and famous drinking establishments like Sloppy Joe's at the corner of Greene and Duval. Be forewarned: it gets pretty raucous at night!


13. The Dry Tortugas
Located 70 miles west of the tropical paradise of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of a cluster of small islands, coral reefs, and one impressive fortress.  While it’s certainly not advised to make an impulsive trip to Dry Tortugas, with a little planning you and your family can make a trip to one of America’s most unique and legendary national parks.

Travel with your Pet to the Florida Keys!

Pet Friendly Florida Keys!

We want to help you bring your cat or dog on vacation to the Florida Keys!

We have had tons of fun bringing our Cocker Spaniel "Duke" to the Florida Keys. That is him to the left. He love the water, loves going out on the boat, and absolutely loves fishing!
We stay at a pet friendly hotel, so haven't really even had to go to the dog parks. All the Keys are parks! and the ocean around them are parks!

Because the florida keys are so large, we made maps for every category - restaurants, pet care, vets, hotels, by owner rentals and parks. PLEASE take a look at the fun page! Now that is something we know about in the Keys! If you are serious fishermen and are going way out, maybe pet day care would be the best. Or if you want to go to a really amazing restaurant indoors. But most restaurants are pet friendly in outside seating, or close their eyes to pets under the table outside.... just fyi. here's what you need to know:

Pet Friendly Hotels in the Florida Keys!	See our selection!
527 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo, FL (305) 451-4107	Pet Friendly Hotels in the Florida Keys Marina Del Mar Resort- Key Largo Dogs and cats accepted with no weight limit and a $25 pet fee, max. 3 pets per room. The marina is attached to the hotel, so bring your boat! $$-Map and more pet friendly hotels in the Florida Keys!

Pet Friendly By Owner Rentals in the Florida Keys!

See our selection!

Pet Friendly By Owner Vacation Rental in the Florida Keys Home in 5-star Venture Out Gated Community on Cudjoe Key Rental includes free use of 2 kayaks, 80' community pool and jacuzzi, salt water swimming area, marina with fuel and boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, and tennis courts. Sleeps 6, rented nightly, weekly, and monthly. $$-map and more pet friendly by owner rentals in the Florida Keys!

Pet Friendly Dog Parks and Beaches in the Florida Keys!	See our selection!
Key Deer Blvd and South St, Big Pine Key, FL 33043	Dog Parks and Beaches in the Florida Keys Big Pine Bark Park Free- Separate big and small dog areas, pools for dogs to cool off in. Lots of toys and water bowls everywhere, decent sized. Hours: Sunrise- Sunset Map and more dog parks in the Florida Keys!

Pet Friendly Restaurants in the Florida Keys!

See our selection!

522 Carribean Blvd Key Largo, FL (305) 453-0999

Dog Friendly Restaurants in the Florida Keys Sharkey's Pub & Galley Restaurant With a family friendly atmosphere & affordable prices. Enjoy local seafood featuring a nice selection of fresh fish prepared several ways. Try crabmeat stuffed with creamy lobster sauce, a local favorite! Seasonal specials include Stone Crab and Lobster dishes. Hours: 7:00 am - 2:00 am map and more dog parket friendly restaurants in the Florida keys!

 Check out Pet Friendly Florida Keys for more info!