Step Right Up: Tours by Gizmo

Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Kate & Gizmo, her scruffy Pug mix.

As Giz and I explore various tourist sites in our new city together, I’ve been imagining what a Gizmo-led tour would be like. I’m not sure how popular it would be with the humans, but I’m pretty sure Giz Tours Inc would be mobbed with curious dogs!

Ferry Building

We’ll begin our tour at the Ferry Building, a backwater transportation hub that confoundingly does not allow the furrier sex. But fear not! There’s always something salty and strange to sniff along the outside.

The Buffet (Embarcadero)

Next up: a tour of the waterfront, or as we like to call it, the sidewalk of earthly (fried) delights. There might be water and sailboats and things over there, but the real attraction is right under your nose: a smorgasbord of fried foods, onions, and crumpled napkins thrown like confetti all over the walkway. A feast for the senses!

Trash Can Hill (Coit)

While we let our pet humans take in the views, we’ll admire something a little more important: the trash cans! There are at least four on this hilltop, each with its own olfactory delights. Please note that there is a dog-accessible drinking fountain here, but we do recommend that you fully ignore it and force your human to improvise when you’re suddenly thirsty later in the tour. It’s important to provide them with enrichment.

Stairs, I Guess (Lombard Street)

A quick jaunt down this hill and up the next, and we’ve arrived at our next stop: the famously crooked Lombard Street! Honestly, we’re not entirely sure why this is on the tour since it’s pretty minimal on garbage. But it’s important to get your steps in…

Running Grass (Marina)

Finally, some grass! This field is long and skinny, making it perfect for the sprinters in the crowd. Just watch out for the tiny humans playing soccer.

Pigeon Playground (Palace of Fine Arts)

From here, we’ll zip over to the arched place. Apparently, this was built for a world’s fair, so let your human admire the architecture while we chase a few pigeons.

Salty Sandy Birdland (Ocean Beach)

And now, the final stop on our tour (and my personal favorite): the big stretch of sand! For those of you who grew up in a landlocked place, prepare yourself. Miles of open sand to run in, ocean breeze to cover your barking, tiny little birds to chase through the waves… truly a doggy heaven.

Thank you for joining us – we look forward to seeing you on our next tour! And remember that treats are always appreciated…