It's NOT Too Late to VACATE-tion. Summer Fun!

Summertime is nigh upon us....August temps are warm...so where else to go but a lake for dogs sake!

And I know JUST the place to make tracks to chill out for some summertime fun!  Elephant Butte, New Mexico.  And here's a top-dog hint....stay at the fabulous Elephant Butte Inn when you go!

Take my dog's-word for it!  

Nice comfy rooms...even room for my travelin' crate....

 with great views of the lake right from the room...SWEET! 

 A nice veranda to check things out  from a pup's-perspective....

why you might even catch sight of a hummingbird in the flowers...if ya have sharp eyes like this dawg!

Oh and a Gi-normous grassy lawn with a  Lakeside Pavilion too!  Yup no dog-doubt about it...Elephant Butte Inn  is one Top-Paw Resort in my dog-estimation.  'Course they have all those other neat resort things for people too....like a SPA right on property, a dandy restaurant and Pub that I hear through the bark-vine serves up some mighty tasty food...there's a swimmin' pool for the kids...and just about everything you could want at a lake resort! 

Why out front they even have a hiking and biking trail.....they even remembered us pups with a Doggie Clean Up Station...pretty snazzy don't you agree?

And there'll be no thirsty dogs on this trail....they even have a 3-level water fountain...one level JUST FOR ME!  Thanks Elephant Butte...pretty doggone hospitable if ya ask me!   Okey-dokee doggie....now that I've found JUST the dog-dandiest place to stay...let's see what fun adventures we can find...Gotta get a dog's-eye view of the area. Here I am at the Dam Site...and NO...I'm not cussin.....wouldn't do that- nope not this dog!  But I'm ABOVE the Elephant Butte Dam to check out the views from high up. Pretty cool lookin' lake and "elephant butte" wouldn't you agree?

Why they're set up pretty nice for eatin'  and listenin' to live music on the weekends up here too!  Dog-definitely a grand place to come at Sunset!  Time to head back to the Inn now...for a good night's sleep...can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring for this snoop-doggie reporter!

AH.....morning coffee on the veranda...quite the dandy way to start the day off....Now that I've had my cup o' joe (wonder why they don't call it a cup o jack?)...I'm ready for some adventure!  So it's off to Elephant Butte Lake State Park for a morning walk on the beach!  Tippie Toes.....hmmmm don't know if I should get my feet wet....ah yes, it's good....nice cool water to walk in.....but hey..what's that out there in the water? 

Looks like there's some pretty doggone cool boat action on the lake....Take me to a boat would'ja...I wanna ride the waves!

Well maybe a nice family (and pet) friendly ride on a Pontoon Boat!  Yah..that's the ticket!  We hooked up with a fun adventure at Marina Del Sur on the lake for our ride.  They have boat rentals, a marina store...all the nicessities for a fun day on the lake!  
 

I've got my doggie-water vest on.....for safety

My goggles to protect my eyes from that bright sun glare shining off the water.......
..and I'm ready to roll........

                                               AHHHH....now this is the dog's-life! 
My recommendation:  For a good summertime getaway to the Lake....head to Elephant Butte.....you can't go wrong, I dog-guarantee! 

And if you want some more advice from this travelin' pup...here is my latest TV spot on "New Mexico Style".   ...where I'm talkin' about great getaways like the Butte...and more.  So sit back, watch me and Nikki in action on the Tube....while I sail away......

Bon voyage!

DOGGIE HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!

Sudsy Pups and Perfect Pawdicures!

Some pups are just meant to be pampered....and being the dog-famous Bulldog Model that I-Travelin' Jack am....I expect the best....no bones about it!  So when I'm on the Road or even at Home...it is VERY pup-propriate that I am in Show-dog form!  

  

And what's the BEST way to do that you ask?  Why...it means the WORKS!  A pupssage at Buffalo Thunder Resort ALWAYS works for me!  Or maybe a PAW-dicure?

Now I have to admit here.....as the Official Spokes-Dog for  Buffalo Thunder Resort in Santa Fe I'm on a special photo shoot here ...so I'm getting special treatment.  Usually they reserve the Wo' P'in Spa for PEOPLE only!  But who's to say people shouldn't get some dog-fabulous spa treatments too, eh? 

(But I'm just so doggone cute in these photos...I just had to share them!)

AND the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort IS pet-friendly...so that is really really good in my books! It's on my list of ALL-TIME favorites...and should be yours too!

But back to the subject at paw!  Suds and pawdicures!  You know it's not just about lookin' (and feelin' good.  Grooming for your pet is VERY important!  So I thought I'd share my pup-ersonal reasons for grooming your dog....at home and even when you are travelin' on the road.

So to share this info with you let's go on a little photo-journal grooming trip together!

Some people bathe and groom their dogs at home...and that's OK..but  I dog-personally just LUV my trips to my OFFICIAL Groomer...and that would be none other than Groomingdale's Pet Spa right here in  Albuquerque.

Regular grooming helps to ensure your dog is healthy and comfortable. And that doesn't mean just a haircut for your dog either!  Short haired dogs...like MOI....need grooming too! So I go every 4 weeks to my favorite pet spa for a make-over!  

And here's what happens at a typical visit to Groomingdale's Pet Spa!  Yolanda checks me in (BTW I love Yolanda!)...and she trims my toenails first thing!  Then when that business is taken care of....

 ....into the Tub I go for some luvin-dovin-scrubbin' by my all-time favorite groomer EVER...Miss Rose! After some baby talk from Rose, she gets down to dog-business in wetting me down....

 then sudsing me up good.....AAAAHHHH!  Now that feels SOOOOOO good!  She uses this special anti-shedding shampoo that is just dog-licious and keeps me from shedding so much.  (I think Jill really likes that!)

Next....gotta get those eyes nice and clean.  Very dog-portant to a dog's health too!

And then my ears get a good scrubbing too!  Now this has important health benefits in addition to feeling good!  Since I have been going to Groomingdale's I have not had ONE single Ear infection!  (And I did before then regularly!)  Now THAT is one doggone important reason to go regularly to the groomer, if ya ask this Dawg!

 
OK..so then I get some Conditioner....you know for that smooth shiny coat that every dog should sport! Now I'm shiny clean......time for the dry down......

                                       Rub-a-dub-dub-dog in a tub.
                                        You know that rhyme don't you?

And don't forget the face....ahhh...NICE! 
(Don't worry...my face was already smooshed...Rose didn't do that!)

                                              Next.....a little handy dandy Dryer treatment! 
And I am DONE...but Wait....not before I get a special present for being a good dog!

 
 I get to pick out a brand new bandanna to wear home!  Hot diggity dog!  Now let's see...what color should I pick today?

 How bout RED...shows off my now smooth, shiny, soft blondeness!  Pretty handsome don't ya think?

 Yep...Miss Rose...I give Groomingdale's my 5-PAW rating!  And you know it doesn't get any better than that!  Thanks for keeping me in great looks!  LUV ya!

                         BUT....there's more to this story dog-fans everywhere. 
What about those dogs on the road!  What to do when you have a dirty pooch in the car?  Well....I made one dog-DANDY discovery on a recent trip to Elephant Butte.   
 

We checked into the pet-friendly Elephant Butte Inn for our visit to the area....where I checked out the grounds up, down...and all around! PRETTY snazzy place!  Got  my vote for a great place to stay for sure!

One of my favorite things...this from my pup-spective!....A grand veranda that faced the lake...and lots of walking (and sitting too) areas for a dog to explore.  I do like that they put the rules up so that everyone can see what a dog's to do (and not too!). That way I can be sure to be a Great Ambassa-dog while I am visiting! Thanks Elephant Butte Inn!  We dogs appreciate your dog-hospitality! 

But back to the subject....clean dogs, right? Right!  This town is known for the fabulous Elephant Butte Lake State Park...where dogs can get pretty down and dirty with all the fun things to do in the water and on hikes in the area. But WHOA doggies....what does Elephant Butte RV Resort offer? (BTW they are right across the street from the Inn and a sister property for those RVin' dogs and peoples!) 

I heard through the bark-vine that they have something special over there!

 

A DOG BATH!

WoW! 

bow this I gotta check out! 

So I got Nathan...grand Pooh-bah of the Inn (I think that's his title!) to take me in to check out this state-of-the-art pooch spa.  It's the Do-It-Yourself kind....pretty handy for RVers, Inn-visitors and even locals!  NICE!

So here it is...in full color...and suds too!  Nathan just dropped some coins into this machine...dialed away 7 different options for a shampoo...

...everything from your favorite scented shampoo to conditioner..why they even have SKUNK REMOVER for the poor pooch who encounters MR. STINKY on the trail! 

And then with the Magic Wand, Nathan gives me the 7-step clean up! 

Now this is a pretty snazzy Dog Wash.....I'm sure dog-pressed! 

Thanks Nathan.  Now if I'm a good dog during the shampoo, do I get a treat? 

WHAT?????? 

I DO? 

You mean there's even a dog-treat station right in the Doggie Wash! 

Now THAT's what I call the whole kit-and-kaboodle...or the cat's meow....or somethin' like that!  Now I have seen it all!

So you see it's easy and important to keep a dog clean..whether he's at home

.....or on the road.

And with places like Groomingdale's Pet Spa at home...and Elephant Butte Inn on the road....this is one clean dog....why I'm SO clean...I'm ready to hit the runway for a style show

Till next time here's my dog-vice for the day!
Keep your pup clean and happy...and everyone will be a High-Stylin' Pup like me, Travelin Jack!


DOGGIE HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!

On my way to Dog-Gilligan's Island!

Well maybe not to an island...rather a lake....but I DO think that's a catchy title for a new block-buster movie...don't you?  And who better to play Dog-Gilligan than yours truly---Travelin' Jack! 

 Now THAT's a doggone good  Idea, if ya ask this dawg!  Are ya listenin' W. Disney Studios? 

Me-thinks I would be the Pawfect Dog-Gilligan too!

But....let's get tracking already!  Back to the Subject at paw....

This blog is about BOATING 

And Fun at Elephant Butte Lake State Park! 

Why..it's only the BIGGEST and most popular....er make that PUPular Lake in New Mexico! 

So we hooked up with our tour guide...(and a dog-dandy one too, I can tell ya that!)

Miss Dianne, the Tourism Director of Sierra County.

Now if there's anyone who knows where ALL the good action is...it's Dianne...so I put my paws in her trust and let her set up a fun schedule while in Elephant Butte.  And a doggone good plan it was too!

1st Stop: ELEPHANT BUTTE DAM SITE!

I really wanna get a dogs-eye view of this gi-normous lake...from all viewpoints!  Well maybe a little posing for the camera too! HA!  Did ya get it!  Now on with the site-viewing.... 

....where I got some very interesting sites in view through this dog-dandy ViewFinder. 

Got a close up look at the ELEPHANT BUTTE...why I was able to even SEE the elephant shape (thus the name...can't fool this dog no-way, no-how!)

Pretteeee Kool!  But it really made me want to get ON the lake, so......

...off we went for a little walk in the waves.!  Fun for me...AND for that family out in the water too! 

And check out that view....nice!  Great place to be on a steamy summer day...where you can cool your toes in the water!  Yes-siree doggie!  This is FUN! 

But what about some boat fun?

 Next stop.....we headed to their Marina del Sur! 

Dog-O-Dog were there a LOT of boats there!  Big, little, all shapes, styles and sizes of water vessels. And many of them are available for RENTAL too!

We picked out a Pontoon Boat....(also known as a party boat in some circles) and off we sailed under the Pawsome Piloting of Captain Neal!  Hey....this is some special deal.  Yah....doggies!  I donned my handy-dog-dandy water vest and my goggles (even dogs gotta boat safely ya know!)

We took off on our smooth-cruisin' pontoon boat...and I got to take in all the sites!

Aaaaaahhhhh! Feel that cool breeze would ya!  NICE!

 

And then...wnen I finally opened up my eyes again....what did I see?  This boat...pullin' a big ol' tube...wonder why? Well, I asked Capt'n Neal and he said..."come on...I'll show you"...

...then he docks (see-I got this boat lingo down pretty doggone good wouldn't ya say?) and we disembark at the marina store for a quick look-about!  And what do I see inside there but a Gi-normous tube....JUST for pulling behind the boat!  WoW!  Now THAT looks like fun!  And its available as a RENTAL too!  Gotta be grand fun for the KIDS...but maybe not for me!  

But while I'm in the Marina store...I better check out the goods here.  

 Hey Jill...take a look at these cute duds....er....SCUSE me Maam....I thought you were Jill there....guess you're just one of those Model Beach Chicks I read about!  Sorry to disturb you!
                              (I'm SO dog-barrassed!....better get back on the boat FAST!)

                                 

Yah..this is better! 

Rollin' along on a sunny afternoon on the blue waters of Elephant Butte Lake!  Can't think of a better way to spend a summer day....can you?  YOU should check it out for yourself!

But for now...I'm gonna while away the afternoon....I'll be bark...er back soon I promise!

DOGGIE HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!