Pet Guide - Camels & Chocolate: Travel & Lifestyles Blog

MANDY WHITLEY

64 MAY 2015

TOP DOGS 2015

Paws Up

If you're like us, your pet is as much a part of your family as your spouse or kids. At Nashville Lifestyles, we know a little something about pampering, socializing, caring for, and all-around adoring our furry friends, which is why each spring we invite Nashville's pooch population out to Cheekwood Botanical Garden for our

annual Cover Dog contest. On the following pages, you'll find the best of the best--as voted by readers along with a panel of judges--out of almost 300 pups who came out for the competition, as well as a roundup of our favorite Nashville

rescues and a handy resource guide for the greatest pet spots in town.

PRODUCED BY KRISTIN LUNA AND SIERRA PILAND PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL BOBO, KELLY COYLE, BEV MOSER, AND MANDY WHITLEY

MAY 2015 65

2015 Cover Dog

66 MAY 2015

2015

COVER DOG

Ryman (1 1/2 years),

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

This year's Cover Dog, Ryman, loves to frolic with children, lap up ice cream from Jeni's, hang out on the patio at Frothy Monkey, or lounge on his pool float with his sunglasses on. As a therapy dog, he's busy working much of the week, but on weekends Ryman can be found relaxing with his pals Jackson and Bailey from Retrieving Independence, the Brentwood-based service dog organization with which he's affiliated.

"The service dogs are trained all week at the prison and come out on the weekends to be socialized," says his owner, Sara Mallen. "It is a fantastic organization that we are proud to have Ryman involved in!"

Ryman also enjoys a bevy of other active pursuits: retrieving tennis balls, playing tug, shaking hands on command, and long walks at Radnor Lake. He's a sucker for a good belly rub and is spoken for by his cocker spaniel girlfriend, Gladys. (Sorry, ladies.) The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a boundlessly friendly and energetic companion, Mallen says, one that demands the company of his owner and is always up for an adventure.

"This breed has an infinite capacity for intelligence and energy and requires frequent mental and physical challenges. He needs the companionship of his family but also a warm bed to sleep in at night," she explains. (And yes, he sleeps in a king-sized bed.)

MANDY WHITLEY

READERS' CHOICE

You went online, you judged, you voted. Here are the awards for your favorites.

BEST SKIN AND COAT

2015 Award

OVERALL FAVORITE

2015 Award

Koto, German Shepherd/

Labrador/Husky Mix

Bubbles, Great Pyrenees

2015 Award

BEST SMILE

B EMS TI DOSFI ZTEHDE OBGE S T

2015 Award

Scout, Boxer/Jack Russell Mix

Sugar, Bichon Frise

2015 Award

BEBSETSSTMOAFLLTHDEOG

Louis, French Bulldog

2015 Award

Quincy, Saint Bernard BEST OF THE BEST LARGE DOG

It's hard enough to choose between two dogs, but more than 250? We here at Nashville Lifestyles had our work cut out, but you voted and gave us some of your favorites. Thanks to everyone who came to Cheekwood and voted online. The choice gets tougher every year, but with these great dogs, we're in a win-win situation.

MAY 2015 67

KELLY COYLE, BEV MOSER, AND MANDY WHITLEY

We S AY C H E E S E ! couldn't resist featuring these congenial canines who were all about showing their pearly whites.

KELLY COYLE, BEV MOSER, AND MANDY WHITLEY

Highland,

Golden Retriever/Border Collie Mix

Tux, Shih Tzu/Maltese

Stella, Schipperke

Cocoa Bear Schneider,

Pomeranian

Louie, Golden Retriever

68 MAY 2015

Scout, Bernese Mountain Dog

Barkley, Terrier Mix Dan, Australian Shepherd Aldo, German Shepherd

KELLY COYLE, BEV MOSER, AND MANDY WHITLEY

It B I G P E R S O N A L I T I E S doesn't get cuter than this--check out these characters and their abundance of charisma.

KELLY COYLE, BEV MOSER, AND MANDY WHITLEY

Kembo,

Boxer/Husky

Avery, Bichon Frise

Digger, Papillon

Fluff,

Pyrenees and Chow Mix (Pyr-Chow)

Whiskey, Weimaraner

70 MAY 2015

Finley, St. Bernard

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download