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[caption id="attachment_11594" align="alignnone" width="600"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11594" rel="attachment wp-att-11594" target="_blank"><img class="wp-image-11594 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040005-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a> Downward Facing Dog or Downward Facing Human?[/caption]

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I thought that everyone had already heard of doga.  I really did.  That's the kind of dog-centered universe that I live in.

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But over the past couple of weeks, I received a lot of blank stares when I mentioned doga.

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So . . . . In the event that you live outside of New York, Los Angeles or LA Wannabe (The Greater Phoenix/Scottsdale Metropolitan Area) and/or are a stranger to doga, I now introduce you to this doggone crazy concept:

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>Dog + Yoga = Doga</strong></span>

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Are you into this or are you laughing?

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i.e., Are you saying, "Awwww....I want to take Scruffy to doga!"

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or

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"What kind of kooky people take their dogs to yoga?  Oops, I meant 'doga'?"

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I'll tell you what kind of kooky people!  Click <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/03/day-156-doga-yappy-hour-canine-nirvana/" target="_blank">here.</a>  </strong>

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Shocking, I know.  People are freaks!  And their little dogs, too!

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I never thought I'd return to doga.  (Ok, so you really do need to click <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/03/day-156-doga-yappy-hour-canine-nirvana/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong> </a>if you didn't up above because a) my last statement won't make any sense AND b) there are World's Most Precious Pooch photos that can't be missed.)

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Previously, I thought doga was something you tried once for a laugh.  <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/22/day-205-yappy-hour/" target="_blank"><strong>Or another time for a 365 day blog project.</strong></a>  :-D

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But that was until my friend Sarah started teaching doga.  And the cost of admission benefitted <a href="http://faithsrescue.org/" target="_blank"><strong>Faith's Animal Rescue.  </strong></a>

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<em>Tug, tug, tug went the heartstrings.</em>

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World's Most Precious Pooch and I schlepped on down to doga.  Dogis (dog + yogi = dogi) were meant to dress in costume in celebration of Halloween, but WMMP decided that she is a non-conformist.  A harvest bandana would have to suffice.

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<a href="http://www.near112.com"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11595 alignnone" title="47a2cf24b3127cce985498bef0a700000035102AZNGrFu0bso" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/47a2cf24b3127cce985498bef0a700000035102AZNGrFu0bso1-199x300.jpeg" alt="" width="199" height="300" /></a>

Photo credit: <a href="http://stillnmotionpicturecompany.shutterfly.com/" target="_blank"><strong> Still 'n Motion Picture Company</strong></a>

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I must say -- and I'm NOT just saying this because she's my friend! -- IF you just so happen to live in my fair city AND you have a precious pooch AND you are open to a late afternoon of warm fuzzies and smiles, then you should really check out Sarah's doga class.  It's.  the.  sweetest.  thing.  EVER!!!

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Sarah's Doga Class = approximately 45 minutes of play for the pups + socializing with fellow dog enthusiasts for the humans + wine &amp; beer for the humans + healthy organic treats for the pups + 5 minutes of gentle doga (because the pups have the attention spans of toddlers)  + bonding for the humans and the pups + $$ for animal rescue organizations + WARM FUZZIES GALORE

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= Priceless

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Want to be updated on all things doga?  Join Sarah's Doga Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/DogaAz/212744732111441" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.

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[caption id="attachment_11605" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11605" rel="attachment wp-att-11605"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11605 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040002-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Anonymous Zenned Out Dogi[/caption]

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And now for  . . . .

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>The Shockaroo of the Day! </strong></span>

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I take that back.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>The Shockaroo of the YEAR!</strong>  </span>

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You're not going to believe what happened in doga.  I'm still pinching myself two weeks later.  (Yes, The Queen of Procrastination strikes yet again!)

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Bella and I sat patiently on our yoga/doga mat waiting for class to begin.  The woman next to us kindly commented on Bella's cuteness.  When you're World's Most Precious Pooch, this happens quite a bit.  Thankfully, the attention has yet to go to her head.  Bella has vowed to never forget her humble beginnings as a street urchin.

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<strong>Woman:</strong>  She's adorable.  What's her name?

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<strong>Me:</strong>  Bella.

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<strong>Woman:</strong>  I thought that was her!  I love your blog!

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<strong>Me:  </strong><em>(silence) (unable to speak from the shock)  </em>

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>There comes a time in every blogger's life when she wonders who reads her blog besides her mother and her father.  </strong></span>

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Of course, I know that sometimes my sister reads the blog, too.  And my loyal friend from high school.  And a lovely reader from Pennsylvania who is an Internet friend of my mother's.  And an artsy dude who just married my lovably wacky friend.

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But is there anyone else?  Could someone completely unrelated to me or my family read my blog???  And then recognize me out in public???  Though my <em>dog</em>, no less?????

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<strong>Me:</strong>  (somewhat recovered from the shock)  Thank you so much.   How do you know Sarah?

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<strong>Woman aka My New Favorite Person:</strong>  Who?

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<strong>Me:</strong>  Sarah?  The doga instructor?

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<strong>My New Favorite Person:</strong>  I don't know Sarah.  I found out about doga through a flyer at the gym.

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<strong>Me:  </strong>Oh!  So how do you know about my blog?

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<strong>My New Favorite Person:</strong>  I don't remem. . . . Oh, wait a minute!  I saw Bella's picture on facebook!

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Whoa.  She found my blog through <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/06/day-220-my-dog-hijacked-my-computer/" target="_blank"><strong>my little social media hound!</strong> </a> Could this get any better?!?!?!

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Anywho, My New Favorite Person aka Paulina and I are now real life and facebook friends and plan to meet for lunch soon with the dogs.  I can't wait to chat about life and her skincare secrets.  It doesn't seem possible, but Paulina somehow has 2 college-aged children!  Look at her!  Wowza!

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[caption id="attachment_11600" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11600" rel="attachment wp-att-11600"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11600 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040001-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Paulina and her canine cutie pie, Oliver aka Doga's Best Costume Winner[/caption]

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Speaking of lunch with the pooches . . . .

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My fair city happens to boast a large number of dog-friendly patios in an area of town known as The Biltmore.  It's practically European over there with dogs running amuck EVERYWHERE!  In the stores!  At the restaurants!  At <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/17/day-231-dogs-allowed-at-the-apple-store/" target="_blank"><strong>the Apple Store!</strong></a>

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Sarah and I took Bella and her angelic Cavalier King Charles rescue pooch (who had just been freed from a puppy mill that very week!) to dinner.

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[caption id="attachment_11604" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11604" rel="attachment wp-att-11604"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11604 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040006-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Squash Pie for dessert at True Food. True Confession: This photo was totally staged for the blog. Bella is not allowed on my lap at the table. :-D[/caption]

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What a hectic day for World's Most Precious Pooch!  Yappy Hour.  Doga.  Doggie Dining.

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It's a ruff life.

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Ba dum bum.

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*****

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Bella wasn't allowed to eat squash pie, but she did make a piggy out of herself at doga.   <a href="http://www.puppybellydeli.com" target="_blank"><strong>Puppy Belly Deli</strong> </a>was there offering up their organic homemade treats that are made from USDA-certified ingredients.  That's right.  Even <em>you</em> could eat these treats if you were so inclined!

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<a href="http://puppybellydeli.com/" rel="attachment wp-att-11622" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-11622" title="cropped-PBD-Logo-Header" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cropped-PBD-Logo-Header-300x86.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="86" /></a>

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Too bad Puppy Belly Deli wasn't around when I was in first grade and decided to try a purple Scooby Doo Milk Bone dog biscuit.  I was curious and <em>just had</em> <em>to know</em> what it tasted like.  It wasn't as bad as cat food (although I've never actually nibbled on cat vittles), but it wasn't good either.

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World's Most Precious Pooch's new fav treats are made out of whole wheat flour, beets, kale, carrots and filtered water.  I haven't taste tested them (yet), but Bella gives them two enthusiastic paws up!  Waaaaaayyyyy up!

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>And now another "<em>Tug, tug, tug went the heartstrings" </em>moment brought to you by Puppy Belly Deli:</strong></span>

<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong> </strong></span>

<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>ALL profit is donated to animal rescue.  100%!!!  I could cry right now.</strong></span>

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Actually, I really am misty-eyed right now.  This is a beautiful thing.  There really are angels who walk amongst us.  Please check out Puppy Belly Deli <a href="http://www.puppybellydeli.com" target="_blank"><strong>here.</strong></a>

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[caption id="attachment_11615" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11615" rel="attachment wp-att-11615"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11615 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040003-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Sarah and Ruby who was freed from a puppy mill that week![/caption]

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I will let Sarah share Ruby's story in the comments section below. JUST SAY NO to puppy mills!  That means ALL pet store puppies, some "backyard breeders", and some breeders advertising on the Internet!

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RESCUES ROCK!  Bella is one of the greatest treasures in my life.

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If you are going to buy a purebred puppy, then please make sure that you investigate and purchase from a reputable breeder through the <a href="http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm" target="_blank"><strong>American Kennel Club.</strong> </a> Way back when, <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/09/day-43babymakestwo/" target="_blank"><strong>that's how I found my beloved, Woofie.</strong></a>  RIP.

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<strong>What do you think?  Are you and Fido going to doga anytime soon?  Please share your thoughts in the comments below.</strong>

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