Among the many obligatory holiday errands is that trip to the liquor store to pick up a little something to make the celebrations (or, rather, those doing the celebrating) a bit merrier. Not so merry is the idea of leaving the pooch behind as you prepare, but several Twin Cities liquor stores have made shopping for spirits a six-legged endeavor by embracing dogs in their shops.

At Sam's Wine Shop, Nan Haislet, wife of owner Sam, and her dog Toumie both enjoy spending passing the time and greeting other visiting dogs.

Sam’s Wine Shop in Minneapolis welcomes customers of all breeds with water dishes and two kinds of treats “for the choosier puppies that visit us,” says owner Sam Haislet. And when Toumie, Haislet’s adopted terrier/beagle/aussie shepherd mix, isn’t spending time on the family farm, he graces the store as a mascot of sorts.

Just down Washington Avenue, Sorella Wine & Spirits also keeps a steady supply of dog cookies ready for four-legged guests. And, since many of the employees bring their own dogs to work, there’s usually plenty of good company to be had.

If you’re craving a big-dog fix with your pinot noir, South Lyndale Liquors is home to Abbey, a 7-year-old, 160-pound Saint Bernard, who was trained Colorado in avalanche rescue and is spending her retirement in Minnesota as a much-loved shop dog. The decades-old has always been dog-friendly, says owner Dan Campo.

Abbey leads the way to great wine deals at South Lyndale Liquors.

Saint Paul pups with good noses might like to visit Solo Vino in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood, where they’ll probably be more interested in the treats than the wide variety of hand-crafted wines. Owners should note that the store specializes in bottles from the Iberian Peninsula.

Or, dogs from east of the river can hang out at The Wine Thief for a custom experience. Owners—and husband-and-wife team—Paul and Trina have actually admitted to custom-grinding treats with a mortar and pestle to make them more palatable for smaller dogs that visit.

So whether you’re planning on popping a cork or mixing a cocktail, there are plenty of places to stock up on holiday libations with your furry friend in tow. A nice full-bodied cabernet for you, a belly rub and a treat for him.

Gear up for cold weather.

It’s that time of year, when we all wave farewell to one of the more pleasant autumns in memory and turn to confront another winter head-on. For some, this gradual movement toward the bottom of the thermometer is when Fido’s first and last walks of the day are no longer described as “invigorating,” but instead make the move into “numbing” or “as-short-as-possible” territory. Not so for those savvy readers who know about these dog-friendly places who have the gear they need to protect themselves and their puppy pals from the elements, however.

Jan Guenther, the owner of dog-friendly Gear West in Long Lake, stresses the importance of smart preparation: “Dressing for humans is all about layering, especially wicking materials,” she says. “If you’re doing something with your dog that makes you perspire, like running, your first layer needs to wick moisture away from your skin.”

Dog-friendly Midwest Mountaineering located in Dinkytown in Minneapolis.

At Midwest Mountaineering in Dinkytown, the cashiers hand out dog treats like candy as Jewels, the shop dog, surveys her terrain. Her—and the store’s—owner, Rod Johnson, advises wet-weather walkers to choose “a thinner, water resistant material” as an outer layer, and suggests “soft and warm merino wool” as a no-fail inner- or mid-layer for any type of cold weather. “Its longer thinner filaments are not scratchy, are machine washable and don’t retain odors,” he says.

Marathon Sports in south Minneapolis can help you keep your feet from freezing with Mizuno Breathe Thermo socks—which heat up—as well as YakTrax, which slip over your shoes or boots to give you better grip on ice and snow. General manager Corey Swan points out that the store welcomes dogs, with lots of room to roam and water bowls scattered about.

Shop Dog Tulear models packs at 45 Degrees in Stillwater.

45 Degrees in Stillwater, MN offers plenty of cold-weather gear for people and pups. Melissa, a manager and self-proclaimed “shop-dog wrangler” splits her time between taking care of Tulear, the shop’s Hungarian Vizsla and providing a font of information on booties, jackets, leashes, collars and packs that are available to aid cold-weather walks (the shop carries many options for keeping owners warm and happy as well.)

Now that you’re prepared, there’s no excuse for letting the weather keep you and your four-legged loved ones from enjoying winter’s underrated appeal.

So many days, so many activities so many smells, sights, sounds and experiences to be had!

Here’s how we’ve been enjoying the Summer of 2008 so far.

• Dining out on restaurant patios such as Herkimer, Cafe 28, Cafe Maude, Cue, W.A. Frost, Lucia’s To Go
  and more!
• Treat bobbing in the plastic kiddy pool.
• Weekends away to Stillwater and the North Shore.
• Sorbet at local ice cream shops, Sebastian Joe’s and Crema.
• Waggin’ through the local garden shop.
• Shopping in Minneapolis in Linden Hills and Downtown, as well as Grande Ave. in St. Paul.
• Digging in the sand at the playground up the street.
• Conducting official business at the UPS Store on 50th and Xerxes Ave. S.
• Free concerts at Lake Harriet Bandshell.
• National Night out with the neighbors and a fateful meeting with an abandoned hot dog bun.

What have you been doing with your dog? Respond here.

The Dog Perk is now open and serving up a new clothing concept called “owner wear” — gear such as t-shirts, mugs, bandannas and more with fun dog-related sayings and logos that let dog owners celebrate their pride. And, of course, dogs are welcome to shop with their owners at store.

Proud store owner Amy Waara pledges 100% of her year-end profits to a growing list of pet-related charities. (Current charities include Pleading Paws, Second Chance Rescue, Minnesota Valley Humane Society and The Wild Cat Sanctuary.)

Stop in during August and save $5 with their in-store coupon, or catch them Aug. 21-Sept. 1at the MN State Fair Pet Building (dogs not permitted at the MN State Fair).

The Dog Perk
6528 West Lake Street
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
763-242-0817
Hours: T-Th, 10AM-7PM; F-S, 10AM-5PM

Now that Jessica Lange, her labrador and family have moved on from their 2-acre home in Stillwater, MN, there is a new trend rising up to put the town, once famous for its wall-to-wall antique stores, back on the map: dog-friendly shopping.

Ali and I hit the Stillwater Main Street with Luc and Indie for nearly 90 minutes of shopping bliss in truly unique shops, chatting with owners and patrons and getting great pets all along the way. This was shopping heaven!

Our first stop was at Jake’s on St. Croix, a Genuine Neighborhood “Life is good®” Shoppe, owned by husband and wife Dog Lovers, Peter Grimes and Jen Stewart (pictured right with Luc and Indie). Their two dogs, Tua and Molly, usually accompany them to work. You’ll know you’ve reached the dogs when you stumble upon their very own Life Is Good branded beds at the front counter.

The shop is full of clothing and gear for people and dogs that spread optimism to people every day through uplifting quotes and the signature caricature of the company’s leading man, Jake, displayed on almost every product.

Then we hit up Rose Mille and Collaborations Boutique where we also found out that Art-n-Soul welcomes dog, too! Tuckered out from all the excitement, we headed to our lodging for the night at the Outing Lodge at Pine Point – also dog-friendly. Whew! A full weekend and a weekend full of fun — with our dogs! Happiness.