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.

When fellow Dogland blogger Kristen told me she planned to board Ferdie during an upcoming trip to Chicago, I quickly volunteered to dogsit for him instead. You may think I was acting purely out of the generosity of my heart, trying to save my good friend money and her dog the stress of staying at a boarding facility. You would be wrong. My intentions were selfish, plain and simple.

 As you may recall from previous posts, my dog is crazy. No, she’s more than crazy. She’s quite possibly one of the top five worst dogs in the world. Marley had nothing on Winnie. In fact, just last night, Winnie stole a brick of brie from our kitchen table, bold enough to do it while I was standing right next to it. To recover the brick of cheese, we had to chase her out of our house, up the deck stairs, corner her and have one person hold her collar while the other pried her mouth open. When that failed, we threw a glass of water in her face, breaking her jaw-clenching concentration and retrieving the brick of cheese from the back of her throat shortly before we can only assume she would have choked on it trying to swallow it whole. It should be noted that this is one example in a list of countless counter- and table-surfing incidents. Despite this and a long list of other misbehaviors, we love and adore her. She’s lucky we’re shallow and she’s so darn cute. But I digress…

 My intentions were selfish, plain and simple. I have a crazy dog with boundless energy, and here was an opportunity to bring a magical creature into my home that would take much of the burden off myself and Alex in entertaining and exhausting our crazy dog.

 Three days later, I can report that the dogsitting experience has been fun, enlightening and on the whole, a success. Both Ferdie and Winnie are sweet, affectionate, playful dogs. They love each other and are fun to be around. And, hallelujah, they wear each other out. Sure, we’ve had our bumps. It turns out that Winnie is a selfish brat about toys and food and that when Ferdie hits a wall of tolerating this selfishness, he can spaz out and attack her. We’ve had to break up a handful of spats turned nasty, but for the most part these dogs love being together.

 It’s been interesting to test my theory about having two dogs, which until this weekend has always been: It’s pretty much the same amount of work, right? Wrong. While there are definite energy-busting benefits to us non-canines, there are other management issues to consider. The play turned sour, the toy/food protectiveness, jealousy over affection, meeting different dietary needs, walking two dogs pulling intently on two leashes and mopping up double sets of muddy paw prints, among other things. Nonetheless, this weekend has taught us that Winnie would love a canine-sibling, and that one day we’d love to give her one.

 One day.

Angela just posted here about the joys of (and preparations for!) camping with your dog.  What if you want to head to one of Seattlites’ favorite escapes, the San Juan Islands?  Dogs are allowed to travel by ferry, but a few tips before heading out.

• Driving onto the ferry is probably your best option with a dog, although they need to stay on the car deck (and so should you – frequent car horns and ferry noises can cause anxiety for a pup who’s been left alone in the car for an hour and a half).
• If you need to walk on, dogs are allowed onto the ferry deck, but not in the passenger decks.  Be prepared to stay on the car deck for the full trip.
• Each ferry has a small, (very) informal area for passengers with dogs, usually at the front of the boat.  There are a few chairs, but be prepared to sit amongst equipment and with any other dogs that might be making the trip.
• Buying tickets: there is no extra fee to walk on with your dog, but getting your “human ticket” can be a pain, since you can’t bring Fido into the waiting room at Anacortes.  I recommend driving through to purchase your ticket in the vehicle line and then cutting off to the parking lot.

Several San Juan and Orcas hotels and camping sites are dog-friendly – be sure to check before you head out.  If you make it to Eastsound on Orcas Island, there is a great dog park in town to tire out your canine companion.  Muddy beaches abound on all islands, so be sure to bring an old towel!

If you and your city dog are looking for budget-friendly ways to escape urban life on the weekends, look no further than your local state park campgrounds.

The Pacific Northwest is a camper’s dream: mild temperatures, plenty of coastal and inland options, well-maintained campgrounds, hikes through lush forests…I could go on and on. For dogs, a few days spent outside with their people surrounded by 10,000 new smells and endless exercise options is an absolute fantasy.

A few tips for camping with your dog:

• Do your homework before you book. Most campgrounds allow friendly, leashed dogs at campsites but not all do. Pay particular attention to national parks and forests. Even if your dog is allowed on the campground, it may not be allowed to join you on planned hikes throughout the wilderness.
• Take care of any flea and tick protection needs before you leave. ‘Nough said.
• Bring a stake and tie-out cord. Nearly every campground that allows dogs requires them to be on a leash, but does not necessarily restrict them to a six-foot leash. Bring a longer tie-out cord so Fido has more leeway to explore.
• Pick-up after your dog. Same rules that apply in the city apply in nature.
• If your dog is a barker, be prepared to manage it. No one appreciates waking up at 5 a.m. to barking from a nearby campsite. If your dog tends to startle easily and has difficulty calming down, have a way to manage it. We bring Winnie’s crate along with us, and when she barks she goes in her crate in the car to calm down. Works every time.
• Pack a bag for your pup. So much of camping involves sitting around a fire cooking, drinking and chatting. This is a young dog’s idea of BORING. Be sure to bring toys and treats from home to keep your dog entertained when the group wants to be mellow.

So far, we’ve taken Winnie to Beverly Beach State Park in Newport, OR as well as Riffe Lake Campground in Mossyrock, WA. Both are great for dogs, though Beverley Beach was Winnie’s favorite because of the nearby easy water access and large sandy beaches. If your dog loves water, this is the campground for you.

 Where else do folks like to camp with their dogs?