guest post: sitting on the sidelines

I know, I know, enough with the Frenchies. But, I met Liz (@iizliz) via Twitter and then in person. When I found out she had a Frenchie, too, well you can imagine. :) Hamlet used to go to the beach, but can't anymore because... (I'll let Liz tell the story)...

Thanks for inviting reader stories on your blog, Jen. I’ve been enjoying living vicariously through the lens of your camera and it’s a pleasure to gab about my dog here.

Our pup, Hamlet, is a Frenchie, just like your Riptide and Tempest! As a first-time dog “mom,” I spent a lot of time at dog parks when Hamlet was a puppy and my husband and I even purchased our first home in part because it was walking distance to an off-leash dog park.

It was such a highlight to take Hamlet to dog beach – both in Ocean Beach, where your blog is based, and in Coronado. In general we were warned that Frenchies don’t swim, but that didn’t stop Hamlet from playing in the surf. With a dog smile from ear-to-ear, Hamlet would take to the sand, running full-speed like a crazy-bunny, and he found great pleasure at barking at the waves.


Unfortunately the wave-barking turned into barking at other dogs and kids so we no longer take Hamlet to the beach or any unleashed dog park. Even though he gets along great with the two human kids we’ve added to our “pack” since Hamlet came into our family, we just don’t want to take the risk that he will nip at some kid or dog when he’s excited at the beach. We have worked hard to break the bad habits but this stubborn bully seems intent on proving he’s a Doberman in a 25-pound body.

So for now, we sit on the sidelines and watch the dogs in your blog have a great time on the San Diego beaches. I have some great memories of Hamlet making dog friends; one friend in particular was a brindle Frenchie girl named Bijou (and after talking to her dog moms, we discovered that the two dogs were actually related through bloodlines).

Hope you enjoy a few pictures of little Hamlet romping around on the dog beaches of Ocean Beach and Coronado, here in San Diego.

Liz Philips is a sleep-deprived, iced-tea addicted San Diego dog mom (and now mom of 2 human kids). She keeps a fun blog called www.BabyBlooze.com; photos of sad/mad/bad and completely adorable kids.