The Purrfectly Ruff Life of Pets in Loudoun
Friday is National Love Your Pet Day and in Loudoun, we love the furry friends that call our wineries, breweries and distilleries home. Guests at our attractions are often greeted not just by winemakers and tasting room staff but also by dogs, cats, horses and other animals that love to interact with the visitors at their homes.
Before venturing to Loudoun with your pet, we wanted you to meet some of the iconic animals that call Loudoun home. We asked these pets just what it’s like living in the spotlight and sharing their owners-and their homes- with hundreds of guests each year. See what they had to say below!
Name: Mia (pronounced Maya)
Breed: Great Dane
Age: 8
What’s your favorite place to travel in Loudoun with your human and why?
Nevaeh Vineyard. It is a great big place to run around and chase critters.
What’s your favorite people food and why?
My daddy sucks and doesn’t let me eat people food unless he is irresponsible and forgets to buy my food. Then I get roast chicken and it’s tasty. I also love fresh venison from the field but daddy gets uptight when I go after that.
Name: Frank
Breed: Pug
Age: 11
What’s your favorite place to travel in Loudoun with your human and why?
My favorite place in Loudoun is the distillery, of course. Why? Well, have you ever tasted spent mash? Let me tell you, IT IS WONDERFUL! Every morning after Human Greg empties the spent mash for the farmer’s cows, he and I clean the tanks. I would love to get in there and clean it all up myself; I’m very concerned about hygiene, but Human Greg only lets me have a small bit from a paper plate. Even so, that mash is so yummy, and it makes my morning.
Sometimes, I get into trouble for overstepping “my bounds.” My humans call it thievery and treat me like a filthy raccoon, but I just call it trying to get what’s mine. Here’s a video to show you what I mean. Tell me if you don’t agree I was wrongly persecuted…
When visitors come- do your prefer a belly rub, paw shake, treat or pat on the back? And, why is that your favorite?
When visitors come, I always prefer any kind of treat. Treats are best! But if you don’t have a treat, a back rub or scratching my ears is the best way to pay homage. It’s tough to be a pug!
Name: Goldie
Age: 9
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Where is your favorite place to go in Loudoun and why?
I love the vineyard, my job is to protect the vines.
What is your favorite wine?
My favorite wine is Cab Franc, because I love to hang out in the Cab Franc section of vines!
Name: Charlie
Breed: Black Lab
Age: 10
What’s your favorite place to travel in Loudoun with your human and why?
I love to go to the market with my loved owner, Nicki. She takes me for car rides often and it’s a lot of fun!
What percentage of your day do you spend napping?
I spend at least ¾ of my day napping, sleeping or resting and when I’m not doing that I beg for food. I really love cheese, salami, cracker and bread.
When you nap, what do you dream about? Food.
Many of our wineries are dog friendly and invite you to relax outside with a bottle of wine and your four-legged companion. 8 Chains North is the most recent winery to expand its animal amenities and opened a fenced in dog park in 2014.
We want to know how your animals take in all Loudoun has to offer. Share a picture of your pet on our Facebook page and we could use it to promote pet-friendly Loudoun on our social media!
Dog Friendly Wineries in Loudoun
*In designated areas
Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg
