ExKiwilass

http://www.rexvancouver.com/hotel.html

hotel/spa for dogs

when your friends said Van was dog friendly, they may have been thinking about this

ExKiwilass

http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com....ed=0CCcQtQMwAA

ExKiwilass

BTW, we've used Smallpaws for boarding and they're awesome.

BadgerNaboo

Thanks for the info pretty sure we don't have such things here good to know if need the dogs looked after from time to time.

dboy

http://www.dogcity.ca/contact.html

There are also a few doggie bakery stores and a deli!

http://www.threedogvancouver.com/

ExKiwilass

Yeah, 2 blocks from me there's an organic dog bakery. They also have a home delivery service of raw meat for dogs.

dboy

Not to mention, pouch gets to hang out at kits beach on his own off leash area:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ePmlEjGSs

ExKiwilass

har. Cos that's how we roll on the west coast, beotches.

Oink

I think most people in Vancouver are friendly to dogs, I never seen anyone being unkind to them. The odd teenager can be cruel, but that can happen anywhere.

BadgerNaboo

Looks like a lovely beach with a fantastic back drop..

Just watched the videos on the Rex Dog Hotel looks like a great place.

Lychee

Government regulations aside, Vancouver is a very dog-friendly city as far as the general populace goes. The locals are obsessed with their dogs, even those who live in the downtown condos own dogs - from chihuahuas to great danes. There is a huge industry in Vancouver that caters to dogs - doggie boutiques, doggie daycares, and dog bakeries, etc. Even some downtown businesses have dog water bowls outside their front door. Vancouver has a very active population into being healthy and doing outdoor activies, and dogs go along with that - they're a part of the local outdoor culture.

While it's true that you can't just take your dog off-leash anywhere, there are plenty of dog parks and dog beaches where you can, and that's really where you'll get acquainted with the rest of the dog-obsessed locals.

For a laugh, look at these signs in North Vancouver:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimli/383092745/

BadgerNaboo

Thanks very much Lychee it is very good to hear some more positives

I love the sign

dboy

Here is Chap (the dog that it is) and the other is mrs dboy. This is Kits beach in early spring, no one seems to care outside of summer where the dogs are - at least I've never had a problem:

[ATTACH]87059

dboy

Very true - even some of the local coffee shops in Kits have free doggie treats on the counter for pouch.

[ATTACH]87060

BadgerNaboo

They have only been on a sandy beach once (this was a tiny bit of the Thames at low tide, so not really a beach) However they both went crazy it was a fantastic sight