Today was a BEAUTIFUL sunny Sunday in Seattle! Not the first day of Spring, but the first day it really felt like the flowers would begin to bloom. While I’ve enjoyed playing on the snow-packed mountains with the pups, I’m thrilled for the abundance of warm weather, fur-friendly activities. Below is the beginning of our 2010 Spring/Summer must-do list. Lots to do, but I’m sure I’m missing a ton of hidden, creative and downright fun ideas, and that’s where you come in. Big and small, all ideas are welcome and appreciated.

Dogland Approved Activities

• Hop the ferry and float your way to the San Juan Islands for a relaxing weekend with your dog(s)
• Step into action and walk for a cause. We had a great time participating in last year’s Walk for the Animals and can’t wait for round two. September 26, 2010 (we’ll post more on this later)
• Escape the bustling city and head south to the Oregon Coast where you and your pooch can pop a tent and unwind to the sounds of the sea
• Grab your pup, then grab a brew at Norm’s Eatery & Ale House
• If you only have an hour or two, visit your local dog park (Magnuson’s our favorite), stroll around the neighborhood and let your dog socialize and smell the activity around them, or get a heart pumping exercise in with a hike through one of the thousands of Washington trails

Above all else, don’t forget to keep your dogs cool in the heat.

Happy adventures!

Santa was good to us this year, bringing us snowshoes and warm weather gear. To show our appreciation, we made the trek to Stevens Pass, hitched the huskies up to long leads and hiked our way through the snow and up to some of the best views I’ve seen in a long time. Even Jenna (the foster husky who recently found her perfect forever home) made the trip.

I can definitely say I am now a true fan of snowshoeing. LOVE IT! Even when Kaiya dragged me down a good size hill on my back screaming and laughing all to be clothes-lined by Jeff and Ruckus at the bottom. At least they stop us from going off the side. But more than me, our dogs loved snowshoeing. For them (and us) it means lots of exercise, cold weather and piles of snow to play in.

Next up… Snoqualmie!

What to take for your pups:

• Long lead, preferably attached to a harness: Our “kids” are too young still and their prey drive is on overload, so unlike Jenna, they aren’t quite ready to go off leash; I’m looking forward to the day they’re ready for this.
• Snacks: To avoid the dreadful bloat, make sure you don’t feed your pooch a big meal right before they exercise. However, like you they’ll likely want a couple of treats if you take a break mid-hike. Then, following the hike they’ll be ready to chow down.
• Water: Our dogs were more interested in eating the snow than drinking the water we brought, but still a good idea to have on hand since they’re working up a sweat like you. And don’t forget the water bowl.
• Proper attire: I know, who says this for dogs, but it’s true. If you dog has a short coat and you plan on being outside for a good amount of time, pack them a warm waterproof dog jacket. You also never know when a storm may roll in and better to be prepared than watch your furry loved one shivering.

I’d love to share a cute and funny picture of Ruckus and Kaiya donning this year’s Halloween costumes, but unfortunately they’re having no part of the dress-up game so many dog owners partake in… and understandably so. I mean who doesn’t love to see a Dachshund dressed as a hotdog, Ferdie dressed as a bee, or Champ dressed as our favorite Disney character. I know I do! However, I made a pact with my huskies when they were very young that we’d stop at the occasional scarf, and even then I know I’m pushing my limits.

So while I don’t have any treats of my own to offer, I do have a few photos graciously provided from friends, the internet and fellow Dogland bloggers.If you’re looking to strut your dogs diggs in front of your fellow Seattleites, check out the 5k Pumpkin Push at Seward Park on October 24. Dogs are welcome!

However it’s not Halloween if you don’t have some tricks to accompany your treats. Here are a few tricks to make sure you and your pooch have a scary safe time!

• Chocolate is hazardous to dogs, so be sure to keep your loot far from Fido’s reach. Unfortunately if they find the bowl they’re likely to eat every last piece, foil, wrappers and all. If this occurs make sure you call you veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1 (888) 426-4435.
• Keep pets safely inside, rather than out in the yard. The noise and commotion from trick-or-treaters might spook your pet, and there is always the risk that pranksters may release your pet from the yard. If you happen to be a cat lover as well (like me), Halloween can be a dangerous time for them. Make sure the ID tags are on and up to date.
• Lit pumpkins and wagging tails do not go hand in hand. Keep pumpkins out of reach to prevent burns and fires (not to mention smashed pumpkins). If consumed in large quantities, pumpkins can cause stomach issues and intestinal blockage.
• Putting your pooch in a costume can be fun and funny, just make sure it fits comfortably and your furry friend isn’t restricted from moving or breathing in any way. Also check to make sure there are no loose parts that could get caught and strangle him. It’s a good idea to never leave your dog unsupervised while he or she has their costume on.

University Village was all the buzz, or should I say bark, this morning as hundreds of puppies from all corners of Seattle came out to support the Seattle Humane Society for the “Walk for the Animals” fundraiser. Ferdie, Winnie, Kaiya and Ruckus were all there (with owners in tow) to strut their stuff for the 5k walk around Sand Point neighborhood.

Some of the finer points:

• Well organized, easy to register, great t-shirts for the humans and fun scarves for the dogs.
• A little bit of a bottle neck for the first few blocks as we wound our way around the shops and up to the trail with a couple of stops to allow for cars to pass, but nothing too devastating and it allowed for us to gab with each other.
• Friendly vendors with great samples like the 100% freeze dried wild Alaskan salmon bites from Wild Side Salmon (good for dogs and cats).
• Fun to see dogs of all breeds and ages coming together and getting along.
• The Humane Society had dogs on site for adoption. For those who couldn’t attend and are interested,

 

All-in-all a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Helping a notable charity by donating and raising funds that contributed in a small way to the approximately $100k raised towards saving the lives of animals, took a nice walk on a brisk morning with the pups, and watched our fluffy kids enjoy the company with a few hundred of their closest friends. Not too bad, huh!

A few links to kick off your weekend – some light reading and a chance for your dog to earn his or her 15 minutes!

Ever wonder what the world is like from your dog’s point of view (smell!)?  The New York Times reviews Alexandra Horowitz’s “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know”

CityDog Magazine’s Cover Dog Model Search continues on Sunday at the Fremont Oktoberfest.  Can’t make it?  The search continues on 9/27 at FidoFEST at U Village.  More details and a registration form are here.