::here comes the crazy lady with the baby and three dogs::

That's probably what people say when they see me out with O and the three beagles. Actually, it's not such a difficult task as long as you have the right equipment and attitude.

To accomplish this, you need the following gear:

1. Baby carrier--any kind will work; I normally use the Kate Spade front carrier for this purpose because O is securely fastened to my body in case I have to pick up dog poop.
2. Halti no-pull collar--the gentle leader also works; as anyone who has a beagle knows, they PULL...big time. So in the event of a squirrel (or rat!) sighting, I use the Halti to keep the hounds from pulling me and O to the ground.
3. Four-foot leash--depending on the size of your dog(s), you will need a leash length that will keep the dogs close to you. However, if you have just one dog, an extendable leash also works.
4. Poop bags--just make sure they are easily accessible, because you DO NOT want to fumble around for them when the time comes.
5. A good attitude--you must keep a positive attitude, and not see this as a chore; rather, this is a chance for everyone to get out and socialize.

Spring is here...so go out and have some fun!

::alright, now for the beagles::

I'll have to admit, ever since O was born, the beagles have taken a back seat. Although, as a good friend reminded me, they're probably pretty happy that mom is home with them all the time; not to mention daily mid-day walks with mom and O. I'll tell you how I do that another day.

Before I became obsessed with modern, well-designed baby gear, I concentrated my energy on modern, well-designed doggie gear. My best friend, M, introduced me to Wagwear years ago, and it has been my favorite doggie gear vendor ever since. The company was founded by a former fashion model, Amy, who has a modern and elegant sense of style. The materials and designs used by Wagwear are both classic and innovative at the same time.

My favorite--the suede shearling collar and leash set--looks adorable on the hounds and the shearling-lined leash handle is incredibly comfortable in our hands. We've had the sets for a few years now, but we still keep bring them out every winter. The beagles also each have the two-tone merino wool sweater, as well as the reflected all weather raincoat (with removable quilted lining). In the summer, the hounds (beagles are hounds, not dogs, as I was reminded years ago by a beagler) wear the canvas reflective collar and lead...very preppy.

I guess the only drawback to Wagwear is the price point. Many people cannot imagine spending $68 on a shearling-lined suede leash. But think about it this way: you are paying not only for the design, but also for quality and longevity.

Wagwear has finally opened its first store on 48 East 11th Street in Manhattan. Between cool baby stores and cool doggie stores, we'll have plenty of things to do the next time we're in NYC. Sorry architectdad!