A funny thing happened on my way to doggie daycare. Riding through Glenwood Park, I spied a new boutique called Spoiled Rotten. Owner Michele Simpson set up shop last November. Now that the weather is warming up, she enjoys a steady stream of foot traffic as shoppers flock to her assortment of colorful gear for trendy kids and pets. I found a few drool-worthy items in the boutique — located below the Enso Apartments at 880 Glenwood Ave. SE — including a blue robe that would make bath time much more tolerable. I also discoverd Cha Cha, the store’s four-legged mascot. She kindly offered a quick…

Did you know that February is Pet Dental Health Month? Mom celebrates by stuffing her face with candy hearts and chocolate bonbons, while chasing me around the house with a toothbrush. Human behavior remains a mystery to me, but I do realize that good dental hygiene is essential. Dog breath simply is not cute on anyone, whether you have two legs or four. Left unchecked, tartar buildup can lead to gum disease, costly extractions and other health issues. With that in mind, here are a few of Lulu’s Life Lessons for protecting those pearly whites. 1. Brush regularly.Pet stores stock plenty of …

Happy New Year, Everyone! With 2011 in my rearview mirror, I’m ready to grab life by the paws and have a really good time. Mom likes to begin each year setting goals for growth and improvement, so I gave her a list of things she could do better this year. (I want more treats, longer walks, and more belly rubs.) Those suggestions didn't go over too well. Evidently, I was supposed to set goals for myself. Since she brings home the kibble, I made the following resolutions for 2012. I will not chase the neighborhood cat, except maybe on weekends. I will not have accidents in the house. I will not…

by Lulu Thanks to a few discipline challenges, I don’t expect lots of gifts under the tree this year. But there’s still time for me to redeem myself and earn a full Christmas stocking by helping others. In this economy, I hope you will take a moment to support the small businesses that make our neighborhoods special. As you dash around the city in search of gifts this season, consider supporting these pet-friendly small businesses: Wag-A-Lot (Reynoldstown or Decatur)I always put a little extra pep in my step when Mom takes me to Wag-A-Lot in Reynoldstown. Maybe that’s why I was voted “Best …

Mom considers my angel Halloween costume hilarious, but I fail to find the humor. Besides, it beats the boring pumpkin outfit she picked for me. Who wants to be a pumpkin?! That’s what you eat for tummy trouble. Only babies look good dressed as pumpkins, probably because they’re still so round. But I have a reputation to protect, and nothing about that pumpkin costume reflects my personality — or life in the Lulu lane! Also, the angel outfit really helps me embrace my better half. Wearing the halo helps me think twice before causing mischief; and my white gown limits mobility. That means I …

It's that special time of the year. Does your pet get dressed up for Halloween? Photographer Vyvyan Hathaway celebrated her fourth year of spooky pet photos during a weekend shoot at Park Pet Supply in East Atlanta Village. Share your pet Halloween photos, and check out my latest column. Animal trainer Kristen Collins of the ASPCA offers expert advice about pet safety during this spooky holiday.

Life in the Lulu Lane hasn’t been so fabulous this month. First, I got punished for enjoying a little free time — even though I'm not the one who left the crate door open. (Hello, I don’t have thumbs!) Then, I had a little run-in with a Labrador while Mom was out of town. Our play date started well. We were romping around in the yard having a great time, then something changed and that four-legged tyrant bit me. That’s one butt I will never sniff again, he is sooo off my Christmas card list! Mom was so upset that I got a few extra treats when she returned. I plan on using her guilt to my …

Mom is mad at me. Again. For some reason, she just can’t embrace my “seize the day” approach to life. Things reached a boiling point recently when Mom accidentally left my crate door open before leaving for work. With a name like Lulu, I wasn’t going to just sit there and pretend that freedom wasn’t within reach. Instead, I stepped out of my crate and seized the day — and boy did I have a good time. Unfortunately, Mom got home before my nap ended and things were still a bit of a mess. She got so angry that you would have thought I ate a shoe or something. What’s the big deal? I got a little …

I try to be a good dog — really, I do. But sometimes life gets in the way. Fortunately, Mom understands the power of a good belly rub and a new treat. A little bribery goes a long way with this East Atlanta pooch. After a recent stroll through my favorite pet store, I want to share a few cool, new products that bring a smile to my face. Hope your pet loves them, too. DuraChew Galileo from Nylabone: Nothing tastes as yummy as a nice suede peep-toe pump. But Mom catches a major ‘tude when I eat her shoes so Nylabones serve as my go-to chew toy. If you have a “powerful chewer,” the funky and …

More than a few dog trainers have labeled me “willful” or "stubborn." I consider myself a free thinker. But I had to bring my A-game while visiting a dog training class last weekend. My Mom volunteers with the Humane Society of the United States. As part of their effort to end dogfighting, the HSUS has established training programs in cities known for participating in this vicious crime. The goal is to build a stronger bond between dogs and owners thorugh free training classes in agility and obedience. This year, training courses take place at a facility on the West side. When Mom suggested …

Life is pretty short, especially when you count in dog years. That’s why it’s important to live every day to the fullest — even if you get in trouble. While my Mom doesn’t always embrace my outlook, she knows that life in the Lulu Lane is anything but boring. She also knows that pets make life better. That’s why we open our home to foster dogs every now and then. It’s a way of helping other people find a bond like ours. I shared a little bit about our adventures with a foster pooch named Hooch. But we also have helped a few other dogs over the years, and my absolute favorite was Tonka. (Sorry…

I have a little boy! Technically he’s not mine. He’s my Mom’s two-year-old nephew. But I think this kid has the potential to be a great playmate. He just needs a little more training. Before my cousin Daisy passed away, she taught him to play  fetch, one of my favorite games. Unfortunately, he still needs a little work in that area. Instead of throwing the ball for me, he throws the ball at me. Thank goodness I’m a pretty tough pooch. Once that right arm gets a little stronger, I think we’ll be in business. Kids really are fun to be around, and I’m enjoying our time together. Here are a few …

As much as I love my Mom, sometimes she drives me a little crazy. You may think it’s cool to live with someone who loves pets so much, and I do enjoy trying out new treats and toys. But it also means that I have to be the test case for training tools, leashes and other annoying pet trends. The latest involves having me work…for my food. The other day she brought in a box from Amazon.com and was so excited to show me this shiny blue toy called an IQ Treat Ball. I like playing fetch as much as any dog, but that’s not what she had in mind. Instead, she filled it with some of my favorite treats …

This just happens to be my absolute favorite time of the year. I see flowers  blooming, I keep finding green spaces to poop and I always meet a new friend during walks. Please take a little time out this season to enjoy some of my favorite EAV activities with your four-legged friends: Get thee to the Farmers Market Now that the East Atlanta Farmers Market has opened, there’s no telling what Mom will sneak into my food bowl. I’m partial to apples, sweet potatoes and spinach. I will tolerate collard greens, but I draw the line at bananas. One time Mom just wouldn’t get that message and kept …

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I beg to differ. At six years old, I’ve learned quite a few lessons from my cousin Daisy, who passed away on Saturday. In honor of my feisty, fun-loving cousin and her decade of sunshine on this planet, I want to share some of my favorite life lessons from Daisy. You can train people to respect you.She weighed only 14 pounds, yet Daisy quickly established the pecking order when I arrived on the scene. Her toys were her toys, and my toys were her toys. If I interrupted her couch time with a little too much butt sniffing, Daisy kept me in …

My Mom can be a bit of a drama queen. The other day, she thought I had gotten into the garbage, so she actually pried my mouth open to check my breath. It was so insulting. I don’t eat garbage; I eat shoes — expensive shoes. I also like to indulge in the occasional treat. That’s why I’m really, really excited (more so than usual) by my second celebrity interview. Like most discriminating dogs of East Atlanta, I love Big Daddy Biscuits. These all-natural pet treats come in flavors like peanut butter, cheese bites with garlic, and turkey bacon. Well, these yummies are made right here in East …

My aunt has a birthday coming up, so Mom visited Traders for a couple of gifts and a greeting card. She chose a card with an African proverb on the front, “I am because you are.” It really stuck with me, and not because I ate the card. (I didn’t. Really, folks, I'm not that bad!) Writing this column for EastAtlanta.Patch.com is a way to honor all of my pet friends who keep me going. This week, I want to introduce you to a few of my pet pals. Lance and Celeste are in search of loving homes, while Buster wants to help make your loving home more beautiful. Look for more Patch Pets from our …

My Mom keeps slipping medicine into my food bowl and I’m getting really sick of it. She means well and I appreciate the effort, but those horse-size pills are a little hard to swallow. Unfortunately, I am what you would call an itchy pet. I get hot spots, watery eyes and really severe allergic reactions to grass, pollen and a lot of other things most dogs love, so this is a tough time of year for me. Initially, Mom would add Benadryl capsules to my food, which was fine. Those little pink pills are easy to hide behind my bowl when she isn’t looking. With time, my condition has gotten worse, …

I can’t have puppies. When I was little, my Mom said, “One Lulu is more than enough for this world.” To be honest, I think she’s right. I can be a bit of a handful. Also, I don’t mind sharing my toys with the occasional foster dog, but a bunch of mini-Lulus running around chewing my Nylabone or competing for my favorite spot at the window just rubs me the wrong way. So, with help from a nonprofit spay/neuter group called the SPOT Society, my Mom made an appointment and I got fixed. That may be a bit too much information, but it relates to a mini controversy that began on the Midtown Patch …

I’m a little hot under my collar today, so please forgive the rant. Two doctors in California thought it would be fun to conduct a study about health risks associated with allowing pets to sleep in the bed. Their research  suggests that allowing pets in the bed can expose people to Bubonic plague, Chagas disease, cat-scratch disease, zoonoses and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The Bubonic plague sounds like something I would catch at the Georgia Renaissance Festival, and I don’t even think dogs are allowed. My Mommy buys antibacterial gel by the gallon, so this…