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.

My day went like this: leave city, enter gorgeous area with many trees, sigh deep breath of relaxation. That was just my drive out of Minneapolis. Then I rounded the bend, just 30 minutes from home, into Minnetonka Orchards where I was greeted by Jay Schaper, his daughter Emily and her “Uncle” Oliver — her grandparents’ stately Goldendoodle.

Then, like in a city slicker escapist fantasy novel, I was whisked away in the farm’s utility vehicle through tree-lined, winding trails on soft, mulch-covered ground that skirted horses, goats, turkeys, an outdoor stage and event area and then — aaah — three separate apple orchards that grow more than 14 varieties of apples.

We made it back to the apple store (not that Apple store), but a place where you can buy the orchard’s produce along with a variety of locally made foods such as jams, cheeses and ice cream, and locally made artisan goods like wooden magic wands made from the orchard’s apple trees and “tractor wear” created by Jay’s wife, Nora.

I was greeted by Jay’s brother Scott (pictured left with Emily, Oliver and Jay). “

This was our parents’ orchard. Jay and I pretty much planted the first orchard as boys [...reluctantly. Very reluctantly],” he said. “At the time, it all seemed like hard work to us.” Jay chimed in, “But even then,” he added, “we always thought that maybe someday we could take over the place and make a go of it.”

That day has come. Now in their second year of ownership, Jay and Scott offer a variety of regular attractions and activities including a mountain of hay for climbing, the spectacle of free-roaming goats, turkeys and chickens, a large tent for weddings and family or corporate events, children’s comedy theater performances, a corn maze and acres of wooded trails.

And everyday in the orchard leashed dogs are welcome!

When asked how dogs figure in to all of this Jay replied, “We just LOVE dogs. Oliver has a great life here, hunting and running free. We want to share that with other dogs and their owners. We welcome well-behaved, trained dogs to come and roam on-leash on our beautiful 40 acres and enjoy the day with their owners.”

Jay emphasized that weekdays are the best time for dogs. Admission is free Monday-Friday and it’s a little less crowded. He also stressed the importance of leashing dogs at the orchard due to the turkeys, chickens and goats roaming around.

They also offer specific activities for dog lovers including demonstrations from the Twin Cities Disc Dog Club on September 14 and Dog Days of Fall October 25-26 when there will be a “best dog sweater” fashion contest, dog hayrides and dog adoption.

Minnetonka Orchards opening weekend is September 5-6 when admission, caramel apples and hayrides are free! Regular cost of admission Saturday-Sunday is $4 per person. Children under the age of 3 are free.