Naturalist John Muir’s dog-friendly legacy

Man, woman, child and dog running on a hill

John Muir might be most famous for his conservation efforts in the Yosemite region, but he wrote and raised a family in the East Bay community near Concord and cherished the rolling landscapes. The John Muir Land Trust was created 30 years ago to protect a growing collage of ranches, farms, parks and shorelines that total more than 2,500 open-space acres in Contra Costa County, all open to the public for recreation and education. Read more.

Paws up for the Mount Diablo Region

The dog-friendly East Bay communities of Concord and Pleasant Hill in Contra Costa County have something very much in common: both look out on Mount Diablo, an isolated peak that juts up almost 4,000 feet between the East Bay and the Central Valley. From the summit on a clear day (and there are lots of them in fall and winter, especially following a storm), one of the most expansive views in North America opens up. Read more.

Shedding concerns

By Dr. Sophie Liu, SF SPCA Resident in Behavior Medicine Aside from being the largest organ, skin also plays a critical role in health and, equally, is reflective of your dog’s health. Because of selective breeding, many dog breeds have developed different types of fur with varying maintenance and grooming requirements. All dog coats, however, require a balance of high quality nutrition and some level of grooming care to ensure a healthy skin barrier and a normal coat. Read more.

Around Clear Lake we go

Close to a dozen communities sit on or near the shores of Clear Lake. While it would take days to explore them all, we can suggest a few highlights in Lakeport, Kelseyville, Clearlake and Upper Lake. Start in Lakeport, on the lake’s northwest shore, travel counter-clockwise and make time for meals, wineries, brew pubs and other places you can enjoy with your canine companion. Read more.

Vet Buzz: Fireworks anxiety

Your dog's sense of hearing is one of his best strengths, but when it comes to those glorious loud kabooms on the fourth of July, his hearing is his greatest foe. To him, those explosions sound like a 747 landed in the front yard, and may send him hiding under the bed, urinating on the floor or chewing up the door frame to escape. Read more.