Celebrating all American small town spirit. The independence day parade!

The spirit of small town America comes alive in our tiny town. You'd think we were way more than 25,000 people here... because we all come out, we all show up and we all celebrate together. The July 4 parade in Hood River, OR - celebrating our independence!

Go Doodle, go!

Speaking of Go, yes that's a GoPro... video coming soon.

Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Doodle and our next door neighbor Kelsey and I - July 4, 2018 Hood River parade.                Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Doodle, my surf dog son #4 in 2018.   Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Howdy, my first surf dog and I at Dog Beach circa 1998.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

At SurfDogDiaries, our first parade was in 1991, with my first surf dog, Howdy, on a surfboard in the Ocean Beach Christmas parade... marching with the OB Geriatric Precision Surfboard Drill Team.

OB had/has a total small beach town vibe. 

Howdy and I marched in red, white and blue, supporting our home beach - Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, where we held events to fix up the beach, and started dog surfing.

And it became a tradition... from surf dog 1 (Howdy) to 2 (Elvis) to 3 (Dude) and then generation 4 (Doodle.) 

Everyone but Elvis was named after Howdy Doody, the #1 surf dog. Elvis was always just Elvis.

For a while, I had three dogs on board for parades and surfing (RIP - miss you basset sons and brothers.)

L to R: Doodle, Elvis, Dude. Hood River July 4 parade 2014.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Dogs on parade continued after we moved to Oregon, where they redefine the term small town spirit. Our home beach changed from Ocean Beach's Dog Beach to Hood River's Dog River more than a decade ago.

Dude continued surfing, and doing parades, after he went blind. No biggie. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

About celebrating independence.... and the spirit of adventure.... Oregon goes off. 

Ever heard of the Oregon Trail? Lewis & Clark? Pacific Crest Trail?

Celebrating life - together with neighbors and family and friends - is what parades are all about. 

And now that July 4 celebration has come and gone - you know what that means.... 

Welcome back SUMMER, old friend! 

- Barb n Doodle, DogDiary.org

Plunging waterfalls, craggy cliffs, salmon, eagles, vertical forests - our Columbia River Gorge

"Ice Age floods carved a wide river gorge through the Cascade Mountains, tearing through ancient volcanic rock and cresting at more than 700 feet high.

"After the floodwaters receded, they left behind a mighty river flanked by towering cliffs, its tributaries now flowing into dozens of towering waterfalls.

"The 75-mile Columbia River Gorge is easily one of the most spectacular, scenic stretches in the state of Oregon."    - The Oregonian

With these words, The Oregonian, just begins to capture the story of this magnificent place we call home.

Photo by Claire Griffin, Griffin House B&B

Check out their story today "10 natural wonders of the Columbia River Gorge."

It's our own Oregon, and national, treasure. The Columbia River National Scenic Area.

The Oregonian just published a book, Oregon's National Treasures - it's for pre-order sale now. It looks amazing.

Of course we love our Gorge the most - but there are many spectacular natural treasures here - the Oregon coast, Crater Lake, Mount Hood, Smith Rock, Painted Hills, Multnomah Falls. (Oh but we claim you Multnomah Falls and Mount Hood - your are our own.)

We're in this together.

Savor our state and support our hometown newspaper. Maybe even buy their book.

Dog Diary's Doodle. Deep thoughts on our front porch.  Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, Dog Diary.org

The Latest Trends in Pet Ownership

The pet business is increasing, and it’s going to continue to grow.

Pet owners are trying to find new ways to entertain and protect their best friends, so you can find many new and different toys, food, and services for pets.

People’s habits are changing. Pets are no longer left at home, and few people choose to keep them on a leash. Animals have emerging rights as well, so see what’s trending in the pet product industry.

Natural products

People are more conscious about what they eat, what they put on their skin, and the products they use in their yard. We worry about the potential toxicity of synthetic chemicals and other harmful materials, so we’re informing ourselves more and choosing more natural products.

We all want to protect pets from harm. Now you can find more and more companies selling holistic cat and dog food, cat litter, natural flea and tick repellents, and toys made with natural fibers. The desire to improve the health of a pet is completely normal since they are part of the family.

Pet-friendly travel

There are an increasing number of pet-friendly hotels and motels because more people travel with their pets. There are apps available that can direct you to places that welcome cats and dogs. Vacation is not the same without your pet, and some people don’t like to leave them behind.

For road trips, you can get safety equipment and seat belts for your pet, so your pet won’t be running around the car, and you won’t be distracted while driving.

And, there is health insurance for your pet. This trend is expected to increase dramatically, and it can be a smart thing to do in case something happens. 

Pet sitting

No matter how much you would like to travel with your pet, sometimes that’s just not possible. If you are going on a business trip, or your pet doesn’t like to travel, you can’t just leave an animal at home while you are gone.

Luckily, you can rely on pet sitting services, at your home or at a boarding facility. Employees will feed and walk your pets, and keep them company when they're lonely. This can be a win-win solution for both you and your pet.

Adopting a rescue animal

There are millions of vulnerable dogs and cats that are striving for some love and attention, so why not make this planet a better place and adopt a rescue animal? Nowadays, adopt and rescue organizations are simplifying animals adoption procedures, making it easier for animals to find their way to loving homes.

According to ASPCA, more and more people choose to adopt rather than buy from a breeder.

There are numerous services that can help your adopted pet feel better in their new home, such as this dog training in Sydney. Programs like this can help you learn to communicate with your dog in a language it can understand.

Weight-loss clinics

As much as you care about your dog, you have to be careful when it comes to quality and quantity of food. Obesity is affecting pets’ life quality, so a number of veterinary practices are opening weight-loss clinics. No kidding!

This is a growing health problem among pets, and can be solved. You can find therapeutic dog and cat food or calorie-controlled offerings that can improve pets’ health. Remember, an obese pet isn’t a happy pet, so don’t show your love through food.

Mobile pet grooming

Nowadays, people treat pets like humans. Pets can get their nails done, have stylish haircuts or even massages.

Some things you just can’t do on your own, so mobile pet grooming can be useful for both you and your pet. There are specially equipped vehicles that travel to pet owners’ homes and treat animals there. This service is perfect for older people who can take care of their pet on their own, but it could be useful for everyone, because it reduces potential stress on the pets.

Pets are family, so naturally, we want what's best for them.

Some trends cause controversy. 

People tend to spend more and more on their companions, so the pet business is definitely going to increase even more in the future.