The Fairy Dogfather

03/02/2024

Halfway wanted to go down the hill. I wanted to go up. The long line wasn’t long enough. We compromised and walked across the hill. Me on the trail. Him through the grass. 🌾

12/26/2023

Happy Third Birthday to Zelda the Christmas Pug!

11/07/2023

Gustav was the gentlest of pugs and a fabulous friend. Like so many of the greats, his passing came too soon. He delighted everyone who knew him just by being himself. I feel fortunate to have spent so much time with him.

He was 11 months old when we first met. Back then, he didn’t care for treats and couldn’t sit on cue. Soon enough, he started spinning for meats, and his hip sits became a signature pose.

I’ll miss his quirks. The licks to my legs on walks when he needed reinforcement. He liked to drink water, especially when it was punctuated with snacks. His exhales that expelled pug essence all over my face, followed by an attempt to clean me up with bursts of his tongue. Silly boy.

10/31/2023

Halloween is so last weekend. Fresco is ready for Thanksgiving. 🦃

10/29/2023

It was thrilling to be a judge at the 7th Annual Church St. Howl-🎃-Ween Pet Parade & Costume Contest! There were many spook-tacular pooches, paw-some group costumes, and so much tail-wagging displays of creativity!

Thanks to and for organizing such a fun community event!

10/15/2023

It’s National Pug Day! Let’s celebrate Gustav and Zelda’s adorably squishy faces and zest for life. May their tiny grumbles and big personalities remind us all to find joy in the simple things.

10/10/2023

Mishka picked this spot 📸
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#柴犬 #犬 #豆柴 #黒柴 #赤柴 #柴犬マニア #いぬのきもち #しばいぬ #日本犬 #ここ柴部 #犬のいる暮らし #ふわもこ部

10/01/2023

Mishka, your ‘paws’-sonal guide to the hills and stairways of San Francisco. When the view is this good, you’ve gotta paws and reflect! 🐾
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#柴犬 #犬 #豆柴 #黒柴 #赤柴 #柴犬マニア #いぬのきもち #日本犬 #ここ柴部 #犬のいる暮らし #ふわもこ部

09/20/2023

Wildfire Smoked Börté. She always looks cute! We cut our afternoon outing short due to poor air quality. Her health matters, as does mine!
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09/07/2023

Clients sometimes get embarrassed telling me what they do for their dogs. Whether it’s consoling them when they’re frightened or going to extra lengths to ensure they’re comfortable, they’ll say, “I know I’m spoiling them!”

But in the three decades I’ve worked with dog families, I can’t remember when I thought, “Yep, they’re spoiled!”

Accommodating your dog's needs isn't spoiling them—it's about understanding and respecting their agency. By creating an environment where they feel safe and understood, you're not indulging them; you're nurturing a deep, mutually beneficial relationship!

Remember, if anyone says you're spoiling your dog, it isn’t any of their business! That’s a matter between you and your furry family member.
🐾❤️
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09/07/2023

Your dog needs a friend like me! I’m taking on new clients. Help spread the word!
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09/01/2023

Reunited with Stormy after 3.5 years!
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08/30/2023

Tatum turned nine today! We met when she was a wee doodle. Her shock orange hair was more orangutan bear than dog. Did you know some folks don’t believe orangutan bears ever existed?! Anyway, Happy Birthday to the Greatest Doodle Do!
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08/01/2023

Hello, Friends of the Fairy Dogfather! I'm taking on new clients! Please feel free to share the news with your dog-loving friends!

07/11/2023

Stormy! It's fun to visit with an old friend. She’s 15, and her essential qualities remain the same. 🥰

07/01/2023

A Zuzu blep is a most auspicious sign!👅✨

06/25/2023

Happy Pride!

06/23/2023

🐶🏳️‍🌈

06/08/2023

Riley and a bokeh of Shining Pink Rock Purslane 🐶💐

06/06/2023

Fresco + pelargonium is another SF Summer vibe.

05/31/2023

My friend Zuzu. Her ear waves hello. 👋

05/26/2023

Pema & Rhododendrons are a lovely San Francisco summer vibe.

03/10/2023

Happy Birthday, Fresco! He’s 11 years old today.

He’s a good boy who likes to party.
Do you like his festive hat? 🥳

02/17/2023

Zelda and Gustav enjoy the Oxalis pes-caprae, aka wood-sorrel or soursop. Sure, it’s invasive, but at least it’s pretty blanketing SF’s parks and open spaces. Soon it will all be replaced by the equally invasive but dreaded Hordeum murinum, aka foxtail and my pug friends will have to stay away.

09/27/2022

My buddy Mishka, an almost 3 y/o Shiba Inu, spent two weeks hanging out with me while his dads were away. I had a lot of fun with him. While all dog sits incorporate enrichment activities— longer sits allow me to reinforce silly tricks like a wave. Mishka’s so clever shaping this behavior was effortless.

02/01/2022

Hello Everyone! How's the pandemic been treating you and your dogs? I've had my share of challenges over the last two years navigating the shutdown and eventually reopening my business while the pandemic continues.

Part of my time has been spent furthering my education in applied ethology of companion animals, focusing on dogs, while also working towards the requirement of 300+ hours of behavior consulting I need to sit for the Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed exam from CCPDT.

I've realized how much I miss my pre-pandemic dog friends and what an impact working with the same dogs weekly had on my wellbeing. Some of those dogs have passed away. Others have moved out of SF. But I've reunited with a few and even made some new ones!

As I near my 300+ hour goal I now have time in my day to make new dog friends! I will be taking on new solo walk clients.

If you know of a dog that could benefit from a friendship with me, please have their humans reach out! I'd really appreciate it.

Best woofs,
Eric the Fairy Dogfather

06/11/2021