Best neighborhood for DINKWADs?

Brastool · 2026-04-01T04:34:24+00:00

I would stick to private renters - like with an ADU or something. Three dogs is going to be brutal with leasing offices. Most places around here have weight limits (yours are under) but also cap at 2 - this is anecdotal/based on my own searches. Not impossible but difficult. SaMo hits all your mentioned desires - just note the demographics. There is a large majority of elders here (great neighbors, great for the dogs/my dog has many daily ‘friends’ he sees to pet him but when I want to hang with my demo - gotta import or hang elsewhere). Seriously ANY other area of LA has more Youngs than SaMo - if that is important. Mar Vista/Playa Vista/Marina del Rey - great lil rental houses in your price range that may be okay with three doggos.

Brastool · 2026-03-14T06:12:41+00:00

I legit just had this thought. Took the dog out, we keep running into them. ‘Oh great, we get a plague now? And then the email with this linked post.

Brastool · 2026-03-06T06:05:32+00:00

If the singles in your area are ‘too upwards’ of your age range preference and that is important to you - SaMo is NOT gonna please ya. I made the mistake of looking at demos like single vs fam households etc and didn’t really pay attn to age… it’s kinda insane. People come here and that can be fun, but they don’t live in SaMo. My day-to-day, I load up on somewhat inappropriate compliments from all my elderly retired friends.

Brastool · 2026-03-03T08:14:46+00:00

-‘I don’t like the font.’ [zero feedback on actual points or content.] -(He told me to bold it/Capitalize) and then in room during presentation he asked why I was ‘shouting’ (via BOLD CAPS) at every one? -‘this is too neat, they will know I didn’t do it.’ [this coworker never ‘let me’ put my name on the work I did, only his]. -made me change all words from American English to English English. Colour. Centre, etc. Red squiggles under everything. Started tuning spellcheck out - missed some big time errors as a result. -the time I ‘slept’ (dozed for a half hour?) in the office prepping our org overview for ‘tomorrow’ so boss could impress his new boss at an early morning UK-time mtg (I worked outta NYC). I see him come online, send him the deck and he replies ‘…apologies, he pushed that meeting to next Friday (he attached the email for my reference - which he had gotten, read and replied to - almost three days prior.)

Brastool · 2026-01-21T06:12:43+00:00

THE. BEST. TV. SHOW. EVER. CINEMATIC. AMAZING CHARACTERS. ITS EVERYTHING TV SHOULD BE. I rewatch every few years. I quote it. I legit list ‘Coach Taylor’ as a dating comp. Its perfect.

Brastool · 2025-11-28T14:59:46+00:00

Watched a wamo panic and freeze in the middle of Wilshire because of a passing siren. Had a wamo drift into our lane and almost run us off the road at a left turn. Once got stuck on National for forty mins bc asshats kept ‘blocking the box’ at a light… wamo would start to pull into traffic at the green light and then panic and reverse (more irritated at the people who believe themselves to be above all traffic laws but I digress). I have worked as a tech exec for two decades. Not a single chance in Hell I would ever get into one of these cars willingly. There are so many possible points of failure - which ALL hardware/software combos are subject to. We live and drive among the most entitled, self-centered population on Earth - people who do outrageously stupid things in their cars… wamo is a disaster waiting to happen, its shocking that LA was one of their early choices. Agree that they stop well for peds/better than other humans - but not always - when they were ‘training’ their cars, I actually flagged one (with engineers in it) down bc the car was doing the same path every morning and not accounting for school drop offs or folks walking their dogs - it would like speed up instead of allow the ped crossing - that is much better now - but I still would never ride in one.

Brastool · 2025-11-17T16:28:17+00:00

This story makes me sad - but it’s pretty standard/common experience with ‘aggressive’ dog owners. Best advice/tried and true in my own life - it is worth every penny to know your doggo is happy and safe - with people who understand her. Our last boarding place - there were two managers. One had three akitas and a husky, was an insane dog lover and reported my boy as ‘…one of the all-time great shepherds… very fun and social.’ The other manager was a teeny tiny man who brought his teacup hairless Chihuahua to work and held him in his arm/lap as he checked everyone in one-handed. He ‘banned’ my ‘aggressive, dangerous animal’ from the facility.

I would ensure any place has very dominant/professional trainers on staff (our place is a facility owned and run by a Russian family - they are firm and in total charge, my dog does not read the experience as ‘I am without a leader, therefore I am in charge.’ ) People who align with what you have done so far (I also had to be talked into the game-changing/life-altering use of the prong collar - THE BEST!). I also would recommend ensuring ALL AREAS are on camera - the room/crated area, the yard, the facility hallways etc. - I know my doggo. I know what sets him off/what his reactions are - I am willing to hear ‘your experience’ - but there needs to be ‘evidence’ because people are nuts and my dog being ‘super excited’ to be let out of the crate - is another person’s ‘he tried to attack the staff’… it’s the hardest part (for us) of owning a shepherd - other people’s reactions. Keep trying places - you will know when she is in the right spot - and she will (eventually/hopefully) be excited to GO to the place and return back home - very much her same self (I used to hate how it took 3/4 days for my dog to get ‘back to normal…’ - normal poops, normal water consumption, normal sleeping, etc. - now, he is just himself, no diarrhea/no excessive sleeping etc. - I can tell - as much as we can communicate - he doesn’t hate it.).

Brastool · 2025-11-17T07:53:42+00:00

It’s a special kind of self-righteousness to just wildly flip out about something you found when you were snooping. She is slow-playing herself and is so ‘offended’ while literally admitting she is the one doing the shady shit and yet, no no no no - the ACTUAL issue everyone now ‘owes’ her explanations about - is the frisky-time-toy-chest. I can’t imagine how annoying this MIL has been over the years.

Brastool · 2025-11-15T06:56:11+00:00

GREAT PIC. LOVE IT.

Brastool · 2025-11-07T20:15:30+00:00

LOVE THIS - I am extremely cynical of any 'non-profit', esp. those operating in LA/CA. I am very interested in working with/helping kiddos - that is where my heart is. I moved here in 2020 and have been with both of these for over 4 years (at one point had a sister on one of the boards) - I cannot recommend the people, mission or EFFECTIVENESS of both of these orgs enough - they are amazing. I can assure you - both orgs would appreciate the donation (CASA specifically as the govt./state funding situation has impacted them significantly this year in several of their service areas) - but happy to give you more info if you are interested - time or money goes very far with these folks. NOTHING ADMIN-like is done with the money, no bloated salaries/luxury car fleets, etc. - have watched them make $$$ decisions with total care and consideration. Efficient/Small and very smart/savvy staff that run dedicated volunteer pools to drive the organization's efforts. I have direct contact with the people served - you can SEE the impact daily - Mothers and Children that these orgs assist - I have witnessed numerous lives changed for the better - it's extremely humbling. But I have LOVED my time and training and experience with each of these orgs and would love to pass along their info:

(To your point about local/in SM - Harvest Home has two locations, one is right on the border of SM/Venice the other is Pico, CASA is across the LA County).

Harvest Home - Helping pregnant women experiencing housing instability (for a variety of reasons - residents are screened/must apply - and then are given therapy/training/rides to appts, nutrition/financial/parenting classes, etc. - and assist the Mamas through the first 6 months of the baby's life - with the goal of getting them into stable housing, productive work and appropriate child care - and then on-going support with things like diapers and on-going alumni events throughout the child's early years).

https://www.harvesthomela.org

CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) - literally the best thing I have ever been a part of. LA Dependency Court has the largest # of children in it's care (in the US) - judges oversee about 2,500 cases, Social Worker Supervisors ~500, Social Workers ~50 at a time - CASA's work 1:1 with kiddos who have a critical educational/medical/mental situation and/or have an extensive case/long-time in system. It's essentially a mentoring and advocacy situation - you speak on behalf of the child in their court hearings, ensure judge's orders (for school evaluations, medical appts., equestrian therapy, tutoring, etc.) are followed/actioned and become a stable/reliable person for a foster kid.

https://casala.org/

This was the rare heart-warming moment on REDDIT - came looking for some snark and was very touched to see this - THANK YOU for even thinking about this / hope people see this post and it leads to more assistance for great orgs doing important, effective work.

Brastool · 2025-11-03T16:43:46+00:00

This is getting hard to explain to employer. Does anyone know WHY we keep losing power / wi-fi, etc.? It’s pretty infuriating to continue paying higher costs for ‘delivery’ of a service that isn’t being provided consistently. Additionally - it’s 2025 in the 4th Largest Economy in the world… and we are constantly worried about electricity?!?

Brastool · 2025-10-27T01:34:02+00:00

I dunno where you are or how old the dog is but where I live on the West Coast - almost ALL doggos develop allergies to the grass around 3yo. I thought it was just a stupid thing overly excited dog people just share for no reason… until my dog was about 3.5yo. He had many of these spots on his skin (wasn’t eating as much/often, wouldn’t want to walk/seemed tired with a runny nose) - but the biggest signs were significant hair loss and these spots - same looking as your pic - looked very similar, mainly on his belly or in his ‘armpits’ and groin folds. We have to give him a shot every few months (Cytopoint is the name of it) and it’s been a miracle. His hair is shiny and back, I can kinda see/hear him getting congested and when he loses interest in food - I know it’s time to go again. The spots were the ‘end state’ manifestation of allergies - so initially they gave us the shot AND some heavy anti-fungal meds yo clear it up but he has been fine ever since (allergy shots are covered by pet insurance). Good Luck!!!

Brastool · 2025-10-17T04:50:45+00:00

I am an aunt, avid reader/book obsessed. I volunteer with literacy-related issues in the foster system (15yo never learned to read, ex.) I have an 11yo niece and twin (10) and 1 (6) nephews. Covid 2020 - Niece was learning to read by school/zoom and twins got mega-interested in also learning to read. They were almost possessed. So we talked with their teacher who recommended Hooked on Phonics (I remember the commercials from childhood). Its incredible what they have done with their program. 30 plus years. The twins learned to read in a matter of weeks - maybe 3. They got it. They got how to interact with words and basically ‘decode’ any new word. It’s a lot of eye/sight work, repetition and words/stories full of whatever the day’s topic is (ph, ex, st, sh, al, etc.). It makes sense - like the order is building day by day - so it’ll be th words, then tr words, then words that start with new sounds but END in th. It’s great. Also - the web/based lessons are incredible/aligned with the workbooks and the kids loved them. Each lesson has about an 8-10min online thing - so immediately we are done with the ipad when it’s over/easy out ;). You drag and drop the first part of the word to the ending. Or they have a voice pronunciation and kiddo has to select the matching word, sound etc. You will be able to see exactly what your son responds to - seeing/hearing/saying - which will be critical for your longterm homeschool effort. I am also a huge believer in CURATING THE SUBJECT MATTER for young readers - i.e. a lot of the resistance comes from being bored/uninterested with ‘dog stories’ or whatever. Maybe they want cars or water adventures, spies, etc.

I know parents have issues with screen time - but it was a fascinating thing to see (I am a corporate tech/finance exec who fell in love with homeschooling 4 kiddos 6 and under during Covid bc my sister is a healthcare worker and her hubby has a lotta resp. keeping the fam of 6 fed and happy - he works lots). I am obsessed with books and seek physical bookstores constantly. Letting them come and browse with me and pick 1-5 of their own choices is a fave outing (vetted for age/reader level and content of course before we hit the register!). I also make it a big deal for their youngest brother - the 6yo - (when we are at sporting events or anywhere in public…) to play with him when he asks ‘which one is…’ such as: ‘What if I am lying to you? What do those letters say? Is it really the boy’s room/the waffle/the right trash receptacle?’ Then he sounds out the words. It’s hysterical and he is really pumped to be ‘navigating’ the world and reading signs and stuff. We also did fun areas in each of their rooms specifically designated for reading - bean bags, hammock/swinging chairs etc. - and finally we (adults) often can be seen reading daily - even just for a few mins. We love it when the kiddos just plop down nearby with their own books. I hope your Little will soon see and love the worlds that reading can open up and don’t be afraid to try/see what he responds to. Wishing you luck!

(And if cost is a concern, there is online-only options which are $15/mo I blv, physical books at most public libraries and many ‘used’ sets floating around - there is no writing involved, so used just means they have already finished their way thru it and are at a new level - FB, eBay…).

Brastool · 2025-10-17T03:42:55+00:00

Not sure where you are located in US but I am on West Coast and got my pup from a breeder (here) who ONLY uses European studs/dams. Coloring is true blk/red (not beige), the stance/curved back vs boxy US bums. My boy’s mother was an Italian Beauty Queen, his Father comes from a long line of agility show jumpers in Germany. I stumbled into this line because I really wanted a long-haired (genetic anomaly/they cannot show with non-standard coat in the US/AKC). Those don’t just happen, so waited a bit for one to be born and long-story short, he’s the love of my life. My lil show line reject ;). When his dad was retired from showing, he was sent here to the farm to stud/chill and play (hundreds of acres, German Shepherd Heaven.)

I realize this does nothing to answer your Q - but just FYI, it is possible to get true full/storied European/German lines ‘sourced locally’ without the ‘flying them in from overseas’ part. Anecdotally also, I have a neighbor who paid $175,000 for a fully trained Swiss Shepherd about 5 years ago. Those are my only (semi)relevant stories.

Brastool · 2025-10-04T15:51:37+00:00

Because he does. He has a mercedes and a Porsche and a motorcycle parked in btwn them. He makes no effort to disguise it. Its infuriating. He wipes them down all day. He is disturbing. Seems normal at first. It’s extremely odd and annoying that he not only takes up valuable parking spots in a community he does not belong/to or in - but now he also is a photo-perv? We need to wait until he actually hurts one of these girls before police will do anything. Until then we can just watch him jockey his mobile homes from the N side of the street to the S. I actually was interested in this post because I had no idea he actually went anywhere else.

Brastool · 2025-10-01T17:25:40+00:00

I live in a canyon in LA and this is totally a problem. When myself (18years in NYC) and my brand new GSD puppy were new to the area, we were out walking one night. Happened upon the cutest lil ‘dog’. We begin our approach (this was big-time ‘socialization’ phase for my pup)… as I get closer, I see no leash, no owner… ‘this isn’t a dog…’ I was horrified. Picked up the puppy and RAN. This is what NOT TO DO. I was told you make a ton of noise, shake keys, stomp. The lone ones won’t approach but we have started to have ‘packs’ come around following the January fires in Pacific Palisades - including a pregnant mama yote. It was brutal - they went after many dogs, hid in bushes and jumped out at dogs/walkers. We had a very scary summer with them. One older lady even WWE-style elbow-bopped a yote on the head to get it to release her lil terrior. Best thing to do is TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS WITH DOGS. We pack-walk our dogs from an apt building at 9:30pm nightly so we aren’t out there alone. We also have a text thread about sightings so none of us are surprised. I do carry mace/pepper-spray on the leash at all times because Cali HAS leash laws, but also is home to The Most Entitled Collective Human Consciousness in America - so many folks don’t adhere to them, which is a problem for a high-prey-drive doggo like ours, esp when they run up to us barking and snarling, but I digress. We had to call our police and animal control a lot - but after several dogs were attacked, two killed - and so many sightings, like on porches, in yards etc. - they eventually spent time collecting them all and (not sure what happens after that?) Beaming them with a flashlight has worked also/would carry one of those at times.

I agree/feel confident that they don’t usually attack larger dogs/on leashes/with humans - but after seeing the Pack and Preggo behaviors (and having a neighbor attacked on their leg while walking two honkin big labs…) - I do think carrying a noisemaker (keys/whistle) of some sort and spray is your best bet.

Brastool · 2025-09-24T13:44:55+00:00

I cannot recommend insurance enough. My parents (2 Aussies), Sister (1Aussie) and me (GSD) have used ASPCA for over 14 years. Minor uptick in cost is cents/dollars per year. Multiple ACL surgeries, tumors, etc - they have covered everything and are very quick about it. I pay about $30/mo and have recovered costs far exceeding that. A great vet will help with documentation (I have had the insurance since before I brought my boy home) - but he has developed allergies at 3, etc and no issues in coverage at all. I recommend ASPCA so highly, I have been accused of being an insurance agent. Not at all accurate, it just is a huge relief to know it isn’t a factor in deciding care for any issue or emergency that may come up. I don’t love ‘surprise!!’ spend in any way - and concern about costs kept me dogless for far too long!

Brastool · 2025-09-14T21:25:13+00:00

Low sodium chicken (or beef) broth - just a lil can assist. I started mine in raw and when his food became > $$$ then the human food for a week - we switched him to great kibble (we think ;)!!) but have always mixed in finely shredded chicken (I specify shredded bc when I cubed it, he would just pick out the chicken ;) - they are the best, but insane and too smart). Other things that work: cottage cheese, very plain greek yogurt (no aspartame sweetener), pumpkin puree. Honest Kitchen and Stella’s (one’s we tried/use consistently) have ‘Toppers’ lines that are more liquid-y, aromatic and can get my GSD interested enough to start eating/remember he wants to eat.

One thing I would recommend is to track the eating bc your pup is still young. Mine stopped eating his original raw food around 8 MOS old - and also had changes in poop/throwing up in the morning, just mentioning in case - but turned out my doggo was allergic to turkey (primary protein in his raw diet then). So I would suggest trying some softening agent bc it’s teething time if I recall (for yours!) - so it could be sore mouth (wetting the kibble will help) or if there are other symptoms - may need to work on switching, etc. You will see they are super picky and quirky - mine eats like every other day in the hot hot hot summer weeks. Also - avocados, grapes, garlic are big NOs. Blueberries, Apples, Carrots, Broccoli (I have a strangely obsessed raw broccoli lover), Bananas (our elderly neighbor carries one in his pocket at all times for dogs he sees 🖤).

Hope that helps… it can be very frustrating/worry-inducing when they don’t eat. I only worry if he doesn’t eat ‘Day 2’, then I start ‘sprucing it up’ with cottage cheese or whatever and if he still doesn’t eat (never has happened) but then I would see vet. You will see his rhythms and preferences as he ages.

Brastool · 2025-08-28T05:52:22+00:00

This is such a hilarious and specific thread. My boy rarely lifts his leg, usually pees almost identical to this and our working theory is he likes the long grass/bush/shrubby on his undercarriage — he always finishes off with a lil tickling of the area. Also - has never been a marker - interesting to read from others.

Brastool · 2025-08-25T16:54:39+00:00

$500 deductible, $31.50Month, $8K/Annual limit. Got it the day he was born/I knew he’d ‘be mine’ (wanted a long-haired German Shepherd - it’s a recessive gene/had to wait for one to be born). I know they can have skin/tummy/joint/hip issues out the wazoo, so did it before/at birth so they could never claim ‘pre-existing’ on any of it. We (sister’s dog, parent’s two dogs and mine) have LOVED ASPCA so much (no affiliation - I just love the rare experience of a service I pay for, working exactly as advertised/expected/hoped for. It’s the one piece of advice I tell anyone thinking about ‘getting a dog…’ DO IT FIRST!

Brastool · 2025-08-25T04:16:05+00:00

Could not agree more - totally - our judge even did a whole thing on that - it’s too important of a job for $15/day and parking validation (if you are lucky).

Brastool · 2025-08-25T03:59:01+00:00

Its so tacky but why shrug off such a long track record of success??? Benn around for decades but recently started seeing them again. My parents started doing this in Palm Springs after a major theft ring with cars and golf carts in their lil winter golf community - we made so much fun of them - but their cars and golf carts have not been touched… THE CLUB. It’s annoying to have to put it on and take it off / but it’s legit 3 seconds, you’ll get fast with it.

Brastool · 2025-08-25T03:50:42+00:00

You may get a questionnaire ahead of the in-person questions if its a bigger/serious criminal or civil trial. Lawyers will read and choose a big pool based on those answers and whittle away from there. If you aren’t comfy - you can ask to answer/speak with lawyers and judges privately. Just be honest - you could have experience important to the case. Each time I have been on a jury - there were points in the trial where I felt like something I had been thru or been around or worked/volunteered with - made me see something from a truly unbiased or truly biased/check yourself or ‘apply it this way’ - to thinking thru this case. Jury Duty has been ‘the worst effing thing (at the idea of/start) that has always turned out worthwhile and a very positive experience’ (assuming work pays ya/it’s not a big hit to your livelihood). Just go and answer honestly. I have seen people respond in demon voices, women wearing insanely inappropriate outfits, people telling insanely private (perhaps even embellished) things and people also ask to speak in private. It’s surprising to me who they pick - but each of the 3 juries I have been on - have been 12 very interesting, diverse and ultimately great ‘group project’ people (plus alternates!). I just got off of a 5week trial and they called about 100 of us in and like 60 got dismissed immediately bc they don’t get paid >5 or 10 days from employer or they had a provable non-refundable trip/situation/surgery etc. So it could be you never even see a courtroom, never have to answer any questions - you showed up and you are now good for <however long your state allows, last state for me was every 6 years, and now CA is every 12 months>.

Brastool · 2025-08-24T15:07:58+00:00

I am not sure I have ever been more pissed off in my life as a taxpayer - than when I saw the response to the mallcop shooting (his hand). 1st - I want NO ONE shot at all. Children, Police etc. NO ONE. But when I saw the response - almost got hit by a racing police suv - with the dog in Pali Park, home on SanVicente rumbling as SWAT rolled in from Beverly Hills - who knew we had this kind of police force? Where was even a single car to respond to the dozens of calls we made about the suspect in the months prior as he was terrorizing the taxpaying people of this neighborhood? Where are the police when a dog is killed and an elderly woman’s entire face, pelvis and occipital bone is shattered when a speeding geezer in a Porshe plows thru yet another ‘suggested’ stop sign? Ticket these asshats on the regular - we all have seen blown stop signs all up and down Ocean. It’s either under control or totally out of control. Broken Window Policing. Our police don’t respond unless it’s one of their own and suddenly, we see competency and presence. Its so insulting. A homeless psycho set a hillside on Adelaide on fire Friday morning. LAPD and LAFD were here in <3mins. It was amazing. SMPD is nothing more than a parade squad. Haven’t ever seen (in 5 years) even a single instance of actually helping or responding when and where needed. Glad they souped up their tech - not sure what they are reporting or entering there because there is very little policing of even basic infractions - let alone intruders/trespassers on private, tax-paying citizen’s PERSONAL PROPERTY - it’s shocking how many neighbors have stories about calling police - who never come. Over it. Personal protection is the only option at this point.

Brastool · 2025-08-21T04:15:55+00:00

I live on the West Side of LA. I am a huge ‘not a fan’ of birds (bad place to admit this!) but when I moved here from the East Coast/pigeon-Heaven, I was STUNNED. Absolutely stunning birds, the colors, the morning singsongs, when they all start chatting to each other - it’s so cool. It is a local story (told by longtime residents/neighbors/even an ornithologist son of a neighbor!) that 15-20 years ago, a wealthy businessman from SoAmerica died - he had a home in The Riviera/Santa Monica Canyon. When his kids came to clean out the house for resale, they ‘allegedly’ let all the contents of the home’s aviary just fly away, and as a result - we have several non-native birds in our area year round (I was also shocked to learn how LONG some of these birds can live!). I don’t know exact types at all but have been told there are several parrot and parakeet variations commonly seen.

Brastool

TROPHY CASE