Let us do the shopping for you.

It's that crazy-busy time of year. Your to-do list grows, your calendar is full, and your inbox is flooded with promotions. In the midst of all this noise, we'd like to offer a hand. 

Let us take care of the dog-lover on your shopping list this season. Nominate your recipient by visiting @Yark's instagram and tagging them in the comments section. We'll select a winner at random and send the winning nominee a complimentary Yark collar on your behalf.  

Deadline to enter is Sunday 12/4/16 at midnight PST. Open to recipients worldwide. 

Yarking Around NYC

The next stop on our #YarkingAroundTheCity tour is one of our favorite places on the planet - New York City. It may come as no surprise we've enlisted the help of the style-savvy Katie Sturino and her pups, Toast, Muppet and Pants. Katie gives us the scoop in her guide to dog-friendly NYC below. 

Katie and @ToastMeetsWorld photographed by @reginedavid

COFFEE:  We are regulars at the High Line Hotel. They serve Intelligentsia coffee. I always get a latte, and it gets me going in the morning. Plus, they have dog treats. The girls know it and pull me there as soon as we hit the block. The entire hotel is pet friendly and they encourage you to bring your pup to the lobby!

DINING:  The NYC dining rules just changed for the better, and now you can have dogs with you on a restaurant's outdoor patio. I love to take the girls to CookShop because their food is amazing, and they have homemade biscuits for the dogs. Another fun spot to dine with your dog is Shake Shack. You can order your pup a Pooch-ini® or a to-go bag of biscuits from NYC's own Bocce's Bakery. 

RUN/ PLAY:  When in the city, I take the girls to Central Park during off leash hours in the morning. They love it.  When we head out of the city, you can tell the pups love the great outdoors. As soon as they're in the fresh air, they are constantly running around and playing. In the summer they love to run on the beach in “Toasthampton” as we call it. They race each other, and it is such a contrast from their normal behavior of sleeping. The occasional dead crab is also a big treasure for them and a nightmare for me. In the fall we head to Connecticut on some weekends. They play in the leaves and look especially dapper in their fall coats.   

SHOPPING:  I basically bring them everywhere, but when I shop, its uptown. Bergdorf’s, Saks…I am a big department store girl. We recently moved near Soho, which has been fun because there are so many good stores, and the girls are welcome in all of them! For grooming, we love The Urban Groomer, who offers a stress-free at-home grooming experience. 

LODGING:  For those visiting the city with their pup, the Park Hyatt gives dogs the royal treatment. Plus, they donate the hotel's pet fee to Friends of Finn, which works to put an end to puppy mills. Another great dog-friendly option is The Surrey. Their chef has even prepared gourmet meals for Muppet and Toast. 

Huge thanks to Katie for sharing her hangouts.  You can keep up with Katie on her blog and follow her crew on Instagram @toastmeetsworld, @muppetsrevenge & @underpantsthedog. 

Yarking Around Chicago

Chicago is the next stop on our #YarkingAroundTheCity tour. We asked Laura Kujawa, Senior Curator & Spokesperson at Gilt City Chicago, to dish on her favorite dog-friendly spots in the city. Laura is in-the-know when it comes to all things cool in Chicago. Read below to see where Laura and her adorable mini schnauzer, Jane, hang out.

COFFEE
I know how you want to start your day…with coffee, already! Getting a dog-friendly coffee fix can be a tall order, but I've got you covered.  Star Lounge in Humboldt Park has the best coffee with a dog-friendly patio.  Another convenient option is the Starbucks Wicker Park (Six Corners). It has an outdoor "doggie window" you can order from. Plus, they give your dog a treat while making your drink. Jane and I think this is genius, and it makes me very happy since I can get my Starbucks fix when we're out and about.

DINING
A great spot to dine with your pup is Big Star in Wicker Park. Delicious tacos, boozy mescal margaritas, and a large sunny patio make this hot spot a crowd-pleaser. It's also a prime place to people watch with your pup. My personal favorite dining patio would be Parson's Chicken & Fish. Bring your pup, and post up at a picnic table. You can even play ping pong while enjoying a negroni slushy with your pooch.

RUN / PLAY
Along Lake Michigan's shores, there are tons of great spots for your pup to enjoy. Montrose Dog Beach is popular choice in the summer and was featured as one of nine best dog parks in the USA by Huffington Post! When it comes to grassy parks, Chicago offers tons of options. Jane frequents Wicker Park Dog Park, Ohio Street Dog Park and our current fave, Fred Anderson Dog Park in the South Loop. If you're looking to get out of the city, Prairie Wolf Dog Park is heaven on earth for dogs! It's in Lake Forest, IL, but it's well worth the hike. Prairie Wolf is one of four designated off-leash dog parks within the Lake County Forest Preserves where dogs can run free. With 44 acres of large fields, trails and two different ponds/swimming areas, you've never seen dogs so happy and free. This place is good for the soul for dogs and humans alike. 

SHOPPING
Doggy Style in Ukrainian Village is our favorite dog boutique, and Liz's Pet Shop is our favorite local spot for treats and bones. Jane's other favorite place for treats is Bentleys Corner Bakery. Another spot Jane and I visit regularly is Benefit Cosmetics Wicker Park. Jane has so many friends here and loves coming along for my monthly brow appointment. They give her dog biscuits, and let her run around the store greeting everyone. She should totally be their mascot. As a schnauzer, she's got the brows for it. As for Jane's grooming, we would be lost without Kriser's in Bucktown. Kriser's also has really amazing events - most recently a massage workshop and pet portraits! Other boutiques Jane and I frequent include Eskell, Moon Voyage, Dovetail, and Humboldt House.  And lastly, Jane is always welcomed when I run errands at the Shops at North Bridge, Home Depot, Urban Outfitters and J.Crew. 

Photo by Hallie Duesenberg

Massive thank you to Laura for giving us the scoop on dog-friendly Chicago.  You can follow Laura and Jane on Instagram @laurawkujawa and keep up with the latest cool spot Chicago deals via Gilt City Chicago.

Yarking Around the City

The only thing better than exploring a new city is bringing your pup along for the adventure.  We are thrilled to kick-off our "Yarking Around the City" series with a dog-friendly city guide to Vancouver, curated by Jillian Harris. We love Jillian for so many reasons (her amazing sense of style!), and we're pretty much obsessed with her handsome boxer, Nacho Cilantro, whom she adopted from Mexico. We asked Jillian to share her favorite dog-friendly Vancouver hangouts. (Warning: this will make you want to pack your bags for Vancouver immediately.) 

Looking for parks and beaches? Vancouver is packed with them, and the best ones are indeed dog-friendly. Fraser River Park: This park has everything your dog could want: fields for running, sand for digging, and a river for swimming.  Fraser River Park even has designated areas where your dog can run off-leash year-round.  Another great spot where your dog can run free on the beach is the Spanish Banks Beach Park. Your pup will enjoy the sprawling grass, beach and water while you take in a view of the North Shore Mountains and the Vancouver skyline.  Want more gorgeous views and off-leash fun? Try Ambleside Park, where Jillian takes Nacho before or after filming in North Vancouver.

Dining: Vancouver has plenty of restaurants where you can leash-up your dog beside you while you dine on the patio. LOCAL Public Eatery is a favorite, as it sits right on Kits Beach. Plus, there's a hidden dog beach around the corner. Another spot to explore for good food is Granville Island. Formerly home to industrial factories, this peninsula is known for its public market, brewery and artist studios. Pick up a fresh baked dog biscuit and stroll the sea wall with your pup. Then head to the nearby restaurant, Tap and Barrel for some comfort food. Looking for dinner with a view? Check out The Mill Marine Bistro: There's no better place to take in the view, overlooking the float planes in the Vancouver Harbor while dining with your pooch.

Hiking: Vancouver has a ton of backcountry wilderness at its doorstep. Lynn Canyon is a great spot on account of its lush scenery and convenience (just about 15 km outside of Vancouver.) If your dog likes to swim, there are lots of great places to take a dip along the trails.  Other awesome places to hike with your pup? Check out Quarry Rock and Deep Cove.

And lastly, If you're visiting from out-of-town, the boutique hotel Opus Vancouver takes dog-friendly lodging to the next level. There's even a off-leash dog park two blocks away.

Huge thank you to Jillian for sharing her tips and of course, to Nacho as well. You can follow Jillian and Nacho on jillianharris.com and on instagram @jillianharris and @nachocilantro. Images courtesy of @jillianharris. 

Tucker's Taste of Fame & An Interview with Mrs. Sizzle

Meet Tucker.  He comes from a family of high-achievers. His dad, W. Bruce Cameron is the author of a multitude of best-selling books, and his mom, Cathryn Michon is a talented actress and the writer and director of the award-winning film Muffin Top: A Love Story. And Tucker? Well, he's a movie star and a perfect muse for great stories about dogs. Catch their full interview on Mrs. Sizzle, and find a few teaser photos by the amazing Mark Leibowitz of handsome Tucker all Yark'd out below. 

Tucker in the Quinn collar and leash

Tucker in the Parker Lounger

The happy family: Cameron, Tucker & Michon

Dog Lover Doing Good - Nicole Elliott

Here at Yark, nothing inspires us more than dog lovers doing good. When we came across the story of Chester's Final Journey, we felt compelled to take action. Nicole Elliott was browsing a Georgia animal shelter's Facebook page when she discovered Chester, a scruffy gray dog who was 14 years old and dying of cancer. Not only did Elliot adopt Chester, but she's created a bucket list of activities to spoil Chester during his final days. "I only hope someone would do the same for me if I was terminally ill," said Elliott. 

We are happy to announce that 20% all Yark collar & leash sales for the month of July will be donated to the Animal Ark Rescue Fund to help other senior dogs have a loving final journey like Chester. 

UPDATE: Shortly after posting this blog entry, it was announced that Chester passed away peacefully.  We are honored to support the memory of Chester and to help other senior dogs like him. 

View fullsize

Nicole Elliott and Chester, whom she adopted from the Ark Animal Rescue in Columbus, Georgia.

A Beautiful Farewell

When someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy." -Writer David Dudley quoted by Ben Moon in his film, Denali

If there's one art form I really admire, it's short film. When I find myself moved -and I mean truly moved- by a film that's less than 10 minutes long, I want to tell everyone I know about it. Named after his beloved dog, Denali is a film created by photographer Ben Moon. The film is narrated from Denali's perspective and offers a reflective glimpse into their beautiful bond. I hope you enjoy it. 

As you'd imagine, this film has received no shortage of accolades, including winning both the Best of Festival and People's Choice awards at the 5Point Film Festival. Denali was also the official selection at the Telluride Moutainfilm.

You can find Ben (@ben_moon) on Instagram for more of his incredible photos. 

• Posted by Colleen Carr Bayless - Yark Founder •

Home of Their Own

We're constantly inspired by the work of animal rescue organizations, which is why we're thrilled to announce our first official partnership: Every Yark Lounger sale now supports Wags and Walks with a portion of proceeds. Wags and Walks is an LA-based organization which is well on it's way towards reducing shelter overcrowding and saving as many pups as possible. We love that they're committed to choosing family-friendly dogs based on temperament rather than breed.  Now, when you give your dog a Yark Lounger, you'll give her/him a stylish place to rest in your home, and you'll help shelter dogs find a #HomeOfTheirOwn with Wags and Walks. 

We had a blast meeting adoptable pups and some amazing Wags and Walks volunteers at our Home of Their Own photoshoot. Check out the pups below: 

Nina: This 10-pound darling is a 3-year-old Chihuahua mix. Nina is just as sweet as she looks. 

Andy: This handsome Beddlington Terrier Mix is deaf, but that doesn't slow down his learning via hand signals. His smile says it all. 

Emma: This little fluff is a 4-month old Wheaten Terrier / Maltese Mix.  We can hardly even handle her 4 pounds of cuteness. 

Visit Wags and Walks for application details or to see other adoptables: www.wagsandwalks.org/

For the Dog-Lover on Your List

The season of giving is in full swing. As you might guess, we have lots of dog-lovers on our list. Here are some of our favorite items to gift both those who have dogs and our friends who simply love them.   

1) Doxie Beanie 2) Hair of the Dog Flask 3) Ground & Hounds Coffee 4) Collapsable Water Bowl 5) Toast Meets World Tote 6) Ruby Rufus Dog Sweater

And if you like to keep things simple, a Yark gift certificate is a foolproof hit.