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A concierge, a Jacuzzi, and a nice massage: Westminster’s dog stars get pampered
11:00 AM, February 9, 2009

Our colleague, T.J. Simers, is new to the Westminster scene, but certainly not new to the Wide World of Sports. He’s in New York to report on America’s most prestigious dog show (and, naturally, if you’re familiar with T.J. Simers, to insert his own unique brand of snark into the proceedings).

In his first dispatch from the Garden, Simers takes us on a grand tour of the luxury accommodations for the stars of the dog show world (and yes, there are both a doggie masseuse and a doggie Jacuzzi). Dogs like Lincoln, a Brussels griffon who’s a front-runner from the Toy group, can expect nothing less than decadence at the Hotel Pennsylvania, where they even have their own concierge:

There are 1,000 dogs staying in the Pennsylvania, and while I wonder who is checking into these rooms next week, there’s no containing the excitement of Jerry Grymek, who is wearing a name tag that identifies him as hotel “doggie concierge.”

“We welcome you with open paws, ha, ha,” Jerry says, obviously wanting to be a doggie concierge ever since he was a little pup.

“Oh, let me show you our doggie spaw — ha, ha,” he says, “where everyone is considered a VIP, ha, ha, very important pooch.”

There isn’t a blade of grass or a tree within miles of here, “but we have a loo downstairs for our guests with separate his and her areas because everyone gets their privacy,” says the concierge.

Just outside the loo, there’s also a “tip jar for Pepe la Pue,” and while not spelled correctly, I think I know who came up with that idea. Ha, ha.

Stay tuned for more T.J. Simers wit and wisdom as the show gets rolling.

–Lindsay Barnett

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Watch your step around stars of Westminster Dog Show

The big night is approaching for 2,400 pampered dogs in New York.
T.J. Simers
February 8, 2009
From New York — Page 2 here at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which begins Monday, but first the PETaPOTTY party.

Try saying that three times in a row while having a drink and watching the floor to avoid stepping on a Shih Tzu.

The Celtics are playing across the street in Madison Square Garden, while here at the Fashion Show on the 18th floor of the Hotel Pennsylvania, hundreds of guests and dogs are dressed alike, Eli the Chihuahua wearing a wonderful silver satin fabric shirt, full vest, of course, with black and clear rhinestones.

Eli the Chihuahua, by the way, is better dressed than Myung J. Chun, The Times’ videographer, who is here to document the next few days. Chun, told he’d be shooting video of the dogs in New York, initially thinks he’s going to a Clippers game.

AIRFARE TO New York, cab ride, hotel room, expensive restaurants and there is no prize money at Westminster. Yet there are more than 2,400 dogs here representing 170 breeds competing for ribbons and an ego boost — Choking Dogs for some reason not recognized as an official breed, but still California with 265 entrants to lead all states.

A beagle, Uno, won last year. A Brussels griffon, Lincoln, is favored this year. A writer, Charlotte Reed, quotes Uno extensively in something called “the blue boo,” and people think Uno is special.

There are 1,000 dogs staying in the Pennsylvania, and while I wonder who is checking into these rooms next week, there’s no containing the excitement of Jerry Grymek, who is wearing a name tag that identifies him as hotel “doggie concierge.”

“We welcome you with open paws, ha, ha,” Jerry says, obviously wanting to be a doggie concierge ever since he was a little pup.

“Oh, let me show you our doggie spaw — ha, ha,” he says, “where everyone is considered a VIP, ha, ha, very important pooch.”

There isn’t a blade of grass or a tree within miles of here, “but we have a loo downstairs for our guests with separate his and her areas because everyone gets their privacy,” says the concierge.

Just outside the loo, there’s also a “tip jar for Pepe la Pue,” and while not spelled correctly, I think I know who came up with that idea. Ha, ha.

I wonder, though, who will be using the exhibition area next week, right now the floor covered in wood shavings, red fire hydrants on the left for the boys, a pink settee and glitter saw dust on the right for the girls and 1,000 dogs seemingly always on the go here.

There are exceptions, of course, and available just off the lobby, pink panties are being sold with Poise inserts.

“Pink is a little sexier,” says sales lady Neena Pellegrini, and Myung Chun is nodding in agreement before we part ways.

DOGS EVERYWHERE, sticking out of purses, pushed in crates, Best in Show announced Tuesday night, but right now Page 2 only cares about Rhodonite Rolex Emberez. And I suppose, Chelsea Conway too.

Conway’s the one with the drool rag. She went to UCLA but says that has nothing to do with it.

She owns Rolex, paid $16,000 to get him from England and now feeds the 165-pound behemoth raw meat. That reminds me, haven’t seen Eli the Chihuahua lately.

“He probably eats about five pounds a day,” she says, and it brings back memories of Andruw Jones. “We got him a lamb’s shoulder here, a couple steaks, some pork, chicken and so far he’s eating better than we are.”

Got to keep Rolex happy and belching. He represents Dogue de Bordeaux, No. 1 in his breed and the first time such a breed will be included in judging here. For those who caught the movie “Turner & Hooch,” like Hooch, the slobber just kind of rolls out of Rolex’s mouth.

“Rolex has a morning ritual which involves a 29-inch head shoved in your face snorting, grunting and leaving you covered in a spray of who knows what,” says Conway, and from my experience, eating lunch with Tom Lasorda is not all that different.

Now in his own way Rolex comes across like Andrew Bynum, developing, imposing but very approachable, and recovering from an earlier injury too. Like Bynum, he now has to prance around like the big dog he is.

Haven’t followed Bynum all that much, so don’t know, but when it came time for Rolex to take care of business, he ignored the sign and went to the ladies restroom.

“It probably smells like a men’s club to him,” Conway says. “I know this, Rolex gets more action than my husband.

“He’s got 40 to 50 sons and daughters so far,” she says, although they can only allow Rolex to mingle with his favorite girlfriend and not actually finish the deal. “Too dangerous.”

Details, details, I just know this, the dirty dog’s frozen sperm draws $2,500 every time there’s a request, and Rolex never seems to complain.

THAT’S WHY spiritualist Annie Germani is here. She’s a pet communicator, charging $1 a minute to hear a dog’s complaints, wants and needs. Obviously something smells here, but maybe it’s only because her booth is directly adjacent to the doggie loo.

“You’d like to retire,” she says, sounding more like Sam Zell than a pet communicator. “You want some change in your life . . .”

She’s not the first woman apparently to think I’m a dog.

“I communicate with humans too,” she says, and she’s got me there, because for the most part I just deal with athletes and coaches.

They also have a masseuse here charging $1 a minute to essentially pet your dog, a woman making matching raincoats for owner and dog, treadmills for dogs, and a Jacuzzi to help a dog unwind. Candles and a bottle of wine for an additional charge.

“Ha, ha,” says the doggie concierge.

t.j.simers@latimes.com

Uno At the 2009 AKC WESTMINSTER Hotel Penn Green Room Uno 2008 AKC Westminster Dog Show Champ

Located adjacent to Madison Square Garden, the prestigious Hotel Pennsylvania is a Madison Square Gardeninstitution that personifies the city’s style, essence and history. Glenn Miller played there and wrote the famous song and band number entitled “Pennsylvania 6-500,” consequently the Penn’s phone number still reflects the song’s title. It’s tradition for the Hotel Penn to act as a media and social hub for Westminster. No matter where the exhibitors and spectators stay, they converge at the Penn for everything dog related. Skybark transformed the Penn Top Ballroom into the “place to be” for anyone looking to bring their pets, cut loose, and have a great time before the Westminster Dog Show commences. The glamorous ballroom met the high standards of Skybark and featured immaculate views that looked upon the Empire State Building and the marquis of Madison Square Garden.

The Hotel had a large lower-level conference room that was converted into an indoor bio-break facility for the competitors. The facility is referred to as “the Green Room” and PETaPOTTY, was found there taking care of the dogs’ potty needs. Droves of high society pooches clamored over the best pet potty space. The dogs loved it. Judy Davis of First in Line Animal Grooming Products and the veteran host of the Penn’s Green Room Salon, Spa and “Paw Mall’ brought us on and PETaPOTTY was overjoyed to be taking care of prestigious pet business. The accommodations for Westminster entries have made the Hotel Pennsylvania the Travel Channel’s “#3 Bathroom”. The Hotel draws in a great deal of media coverage. There are always paparazzi scouring the place for great shots and videos of the world’s top dogs. The Hotel Pennsylvania was where all the action is, which makes it perfect for an event like Skybark and PETaPOTTY.

Of Course PET A POTTY set’s up as they finish the taping of this AP segment. All the PET A POTTY’s we’re set up in the Hotel Penn Top Ballroom from the Skybark event the night before. Next year we’ll have a dozen more

We did make the shot at the end

Here is the “Marley and Me” Album:
http://web5.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/MarleyAndMe/Cover.asp?sets=MarleyAndMe
Event I.D.: “MarleyAndMe”

Also HOWL-O-WEEN:
http://web4.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/SkyBark1/Cover.asp?sets=SkyBark1
Event I.D.: “SkyBark1″

It started with a simple question: Why can’t I bring my dog to the bar? And has developed into the hottest, new nighttime event. Starting as a small vision and developing into luxurious reality. The newest underground place to be seen is SkyBark. The creative geniuses at PETaPOTTY found the perfect location, atop the PETaPOTTY offices with 360 degree views of Downtown Los Angeles, and began creating the outline for the makings of SkyBark.

PET-A-POTTY Commercial

The PETaPOTTY was designed with two people in mind, you and your pet. New pups can enjoy the PETaPOTTY as a potty training tool, while busy professionals living in the city can enjoy the freedom of not having to walk their pet every hour on the hour. Homeowners benefit by maintaining beautiful, stain-free, lush grass. Yacht/Boat owners can keep their “Sea” legs while keeping a PETaPOTTY onboard. Pet professionals such as Veterinarians, Store Owners, Dog Breeders and Trainers alike can all appreciate a clean, hygienic space for their pets to “go”. PETaPOTTY is the ultimate indoor dog toilet.

Skybark Red Carpet Makes a shot on the Season Trailer

Treat Fido to ‘Yappy hour’ for a muttini, get a pawdicure and more

By Sandy Robins
msnbc.com contributor
Fri., May. 30, 2008

Back in the ’70s, when singer Alicia Bridges was belting out her hit “I Love the Nightlife” and nightclub owner Steve Rubell had New York City trendoids on the velvet ropes outside his famous Studio 54 — a scene that forever encapsulated the night fever frenzy of the disco era — no-one could have possibly forecast that today’s party animals would, in fact, be animals. Dogs to be exact.

These days, many pooches around the country lead a very active social life after dark and the trend is definitely growing. And, if Rubell is the name most associated with the nightlife of the ’70s, then Los Angeles businessman Brandon Hochman must take today’s credit for putting dogs in the nightlife mix.

Hochman’s personal pet peeve was that he loved the L.A. party scene, but was troubled that he couldn’t take his own pooches Mish Mash, a Maltipoo, Lucy the Labrador and Baxter the Pug with him for a drink and a good time.

Consequently, he decided to open L.A.’s first doggie night club appropriately named SkyBark on the rooftop of his downtown offices, with unique doggie restrooms as part of the master plan — Hochman invented the Pet-a-Potty, an indoor pet toilet that allows pets to take indoor bathroom breaks. This grass sod system can be installed anywhere — nightclubs, theatres, hotels — wherever dogs are.

When SkyBark’s doors opened in 2005, California’s canines were howling to rock and roll on a special 3,000-square-foot lawn doggie dance floor, lap up “muttinis” and set a precedent nationwide.

The venue with a stunning 360 degree view of the city skyline has a full bar, DJ’s spinning the latest music and a wonderful mix of celebrities and pet lovers from all over Southern California.

“It’s not just about having a fun evening out with your dog,” says Hochman. “The covert charge from every event is donated to an animal charity and different rescue groups benefit from each event. This way we are sharing the wealth amongst all those in need.”

To get on the guest list is simple; anyone with a well-trained pooch can attend. Concierges at pet-friendly hotels are alerted in advance of parties so that travelers with dogs can plan ahead. Alternatively, anyone can sign up for the SkyBark newsletter on SkyBark.com which provides information on forthcoming events.

SkyBark has become a fixture on the Los Angeles social scene, last year winning awards for the best pet service in L.A., and was named “the hottest new club in Los Angeles in 2007” by the National Enquirer.