Who's A Good Dog?! Traveling Long Distance or locally with your Pet??

Tips for Travel to the Nation's Best Hotels and How to Eat Out in Reno with Your Dog!

Puppy love!  Although the news everywhere is that the U.S. economy as a whole is "in the dog bowl," last year Americans lavished $53 billion on their pets' food, veterinary care, kennels, and other services.

The American Pet Products Association's research shows that is a 5% increase from 2011. APPA President and CEO Bob Vetere predicts another 4% gain this year as pet enthusiasts "share the love."  Founded in 1958, APPA is the leading not-for-profit trade association made up of over 1000 pet product manufacturers,

According to the APPA: 

$34.3 billion was spent on food and vet care, representing about two-thirds of total spending on pets.

Spending on the growing market of alternative vet care, such as acupuncture, totaled about $12.5 billion.

Vetere says spending on services like grooming, boarding, hotels and pet-sitting grew nearly 10 percent during 2012 to almost $4.4 billion.

Locally, pet people are getting out more, too.  The number of outdoor restaurants in Reno, for example, that allow dining with pets is growing by leaps and bounds.  This is a list of where you can take your pup, courtesy of DogFriendly.com:

Outdoor Restaurants



•    4th Street Bistro -3065 W 4th Street  Reno
•    Anchors Bar and Grill -325 Harbour Cove Drive  Reno
•    Archie's Grill -2195 N. Virginia St.  Reno
•    Baja Fresh Mexican Grill -5140 Kietzke Ln.  Reno
•    Emerald City Cafe -3594 W Plumb Lane  Reno
•    Freeman's Natural Hot Dogs -106 California Avenue  Reno
•    Jamba Juice -5140 Kietzke Lane  Reno
•    Java Jungle -246 W. 1st Street  Reno
•    My Favorite Muffin & Bagel Cafe -340 California Ave.  Reno
•    Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs -420 S. Sierra St.  Reno
•    Riverview Café -1 Lake Street  Reno
•    Sup Restaurant -719 S Virginia Street  Reno
•    The Squeeze In -5020 Las Brisas Blvd  Reno
•    The Stone House -1907 S Arlington Avenue  Reno
•    Walden's Coffee Co. -3940 Mayberry Drive  Reno
•    Walden's Coffee House -3940 Mayberry Drive  Reno
•    Whole Foods Market -5695 S. Virginia St.  Reno
•    Wild River Grille -17 S Virginia Street, # 180/H 395  Reno
•    Z Pizza -4796 Caughlin Parkway  Reno
•    Zpizza -3600 Warren Way  Reno
•   Delta Cafe Coffee Co -1500 Prater Way  Sparks
•    Jamba Juice -1495 E Prater Way, # 123  Sparks
•    Sunset Cove Coffee and Wine House -325 Harbour Cove Drive  Sparks
  
  

  
  

  There are top dogs among hotel chains too. Pets are enjoying a wonderful life at the Hyatt-Regency, Ritz_Carlton, and La Quinta hotels and inns nationwide.  The website Pet Hotels of America listed its picks for the dog-friendliest hotel chains in America based on scores given by the website's users.
  
  
  

  
  

  Top Four Individual Hotels for Fido:
  
  
  

  
  

  1. Ritz-Carlton Hotels:  Central Park, NY and Half Moon Bay, CA
  
  2. LaQuinta Inn & Suites:  Las Vegas/Red Rock, NV and Denver/Golden, CO
  
  3. Omni Hotels & Resorts:  Los Angeles at California Plaza and Richmond, VA
  
  4. Destination Hotels & Resorts:  Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and Stowe Mountain Lodge, VT