This is so sad, but I think it's important that any dog owner reads this story. We are so so sorry for Sammy's family - what a beautiful dog and what a tragic loss.
via sammysbigheart
Giving thanks
Happy Thanksgiving from ballwalkpark! ballwalkpark has so much to be thankful for this year! Bailey and I are grateful for the truly amazing friends we have made over the past year, that we are fortunate to have as our clients as well. We are thankful for the tremendous amount of support ballwalkpark has received from everyone, support which has voted us Best Dog Walker of King 5's Best of Western Washington this year!
I am thankful that every day I get to smile and laugh and spend my day with such wonderful dogs. I am thankful that instead of dreading the office on Sunday night, I am excited to see my dogs I've missed over the weekend. Most of all, I am thankful that I am able to give Bailey the reality of the urban dog's dream come true, and that we are able to provide that for other pups as well!
I hope that you have a wonderful thanksgiving, and pups, I hope you get thrown a scrap or two under the table ;)
Cooper catching snowflakes!
ballwalkpark has a snow day at Magnuson park! Cooper had his first encounter with snow while on his park trip today. As you can see in the video below, he kept trying to catch the snowflakes! Treats falling from the sky?! What could be better!? Check out pictures from our adventure at the ballwalkpark facebook page
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU0Txw0c-kk]
Magnuson Mud Bath
Dogs will be dogs. And some dogs just like to get dirty. My lab, Bailey, will find a tennis ball anywhere in a 1/2 mile radius. Chip will find a mud puddle anywhere in the park -and get as muddy as possible. He will actually try to immerse himself into the puddle further.... To get the most benefit of the mud bath treatment, I assume. If you saw the kiddie pool incident this summer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kr5UC8B2Tg), think kiddie pool in the mud. I truly do try to avoid these kind of activities, but when he high-tails is to the mud puddle and does this, I have to at least catch a picture before I drag him out of it and blast him with a hose.
Why I love my fellow Magnuson Dog Walkers
Today could have been a tragedy. Well, not really a tragedy, but a major inconvenience for several people ("Michael, can you please drop everything you're doing and bring me a spare key?"). As I was going to load up the dogs in the car after another muddy day at the dog park, I realized I had lost my car key. I remembered putting it in my coat pocket, as I always do, and as I had always feared, it fell out while I was grabbing treats, poop bags, whatever.... As soon as I realized the key was missing I started trying to re-trace my footsteps over the past hour and a half of swampy muddy mess which is the current state of the dog park.... I ran into two dog walkers, I let them know I was looking, they said they'd keep their eye out. Ran into another dog walker or two, asked for their help as well. Then the next three dog walkers I talked to said they already knew and were already looking. Within a matter of minutes the word had spread and everyone was helping me find my key. It seems like a small thing, but it meant so much to me to know that I had that much support from my fellow dog walkers on something as trivial as me being stupid enough to lose my car key.
After about half and hour of wandering around the park with my eyes peeled for a tiny silver key among the expansive mud fields, I was talking to another dog walker, explaining the situation, and as I was in the middle of saying "I'm pretty sure it's a lost cause", she bent over and picked up my key.... It was sitting right next to us, in a random part of the park, covered in gravel trying to hide from me. Needless to say, I was pretty excited.
I know often times we are so busy with our day and whatever we are focused on that we hardly take a second to actually look when someone asks us to keep our eyes out.... I am so thankful that Veda really looked! Or maybe I am just thankful for her good luck presence....
So yay, I found my key, but the moral of the story is that I am very thankful for the community of dog walkers I have come to know at Magnuson. I have been asked many times why I prefer Magnuson over Marymoore, and today is the perfect example - I just feel safer knowing there is a community of people who all look out for each other. As nice as it is to be out in an open field with nobody but your dogs, sometimes we all need an extra hand or another set of eyes and I'm happy to be a part of that.
And yes, I am going to buy a large neon pink buoy that you put a boat key on so this won't ever happen again....
The ladies morning ritual
Anyone that knows me knows that Bailey, my 6yr old yellow lab, is the love of my life. She was the inspiration for my dog walking business, ballwalkpark, and the one thing that makes me smile every single day. When my boyfriend, Michael, and I got a French Bulldog puppy a few months ago everyone asked "how does Bailey feel about it", "Does Bailey like the puppy?". For some reason I felt like I was cheating on Bailey and felt so guilty for bringing this puppy into our lives, but it didn't take long until I realized this was just not true.... Bailey and Bambi are best friends - the second Bambi wakes up she looks around for Bailey, almost with panic, and then just starts jumping on her and wrestling, etc.... Having a puppy around has definitely made Bailey act more puppy-ish as well. She's always been so ball-focused she hasn't been much of a wrestle/playing kind of dog... playdates never amounted to much with her. Bambi is the first dog that Bailey really plays with.... I am comforted every day knowing that not only do I love this little puppy we got, but also Bailey does too :) Now, for all of you that ask how they get a long - here is a little peak into their morning routine.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH4zYeQ3OsM]
Frenchie Frolic!
Yesterday was the monthly Seattle-Central French Bulldog Meetup at Magnuson Off-Leash Park. While most Seattle Dog Walkers try avoid the dog park on the weekends, this is the one weekend event of the month I can't possibly miss! If you have ever witnessed a French Bulldog in action, you can understand the joy of seeing 15 snorting tanks running, frolicking and sniffing butts.... Watching this particular breed of dog is definitely something that makes me smile!
This was only Bambi's second Frenchie Frolic. The first time we went was this summer, she was about 6 months old, and the whole meetup scene was a little overwhelming for Bambi, Michael, and myself. Not to mention it was near 90 degrees outside, so we didn't last long. This second meetup, on Saturday, I was prepared to watch some Frenchie Frolic fun!
Bambi is a very very social little dog. When she enters the park with my pack she runs, chases and pounces on every single dog. She is convinced she can make any dog be her friend - and so far she is right. I was expecting nothing less when we entered the small dog area on Saturday for the meetup- there were several Frenchies there she had played with before. Surprisingly, Bam got really awkward.... seemed to display some of her mom's social awkwardness.... she wandered over to the water bowl, said hello to some humans, and kind of just stood around in the middle of the chaos.... Not quite what I had expected. I, on the other hand, was having a blast watching all the little flat faced munchkins running around and tumbling over each other like the little tanks that they are. I got some great pictures which you can see on my facebook page.
After a little bit of time Bambi warmed up to her Frenchie friends and participated in a game of fetch, let by a Boston Terrier, which kind of seemed like a unfair match in my opinion - you have one little super athletic dog versus 8 stubby little tanks. But, it was hilarious to watch and all the pups seemed to be enjoying themselves. I heard one of the owners calling their dog "Nugget" - unfortunately I wasn't able to match the owner to the dog, but if I had, I would have definitely complemented them on the name.
For me, the best part of the event was just listening to the chorus of grunts and snorts... That sound never gets old and always gets a smile out of me.... When it was time to go, Bambi was sad to leave all her buddies, but we will definitely be there for the next meetup!
Got a smelly dog?
Next time you are threatening your dog with a bath or find yourself resistant to give him the cuddles and love he deserves due to the offensive smell, check out the collar first! I find most of the time that my car/house/life is smelly extra "doggy" it is because one of my pups is wearing a dirty collar! Yes, they do need baths too, especially in Seattle winters, but that is not always the problem. I have tried many times and many ways to wash and clean these collars and leashes to rid of the smell, but nothing seems to fully take away the problem. The solution? Dublin Dog Collars "all-style-no-stink" - they are made of a material that rinses clean in seconds and doesn't harbor bacteria. They are only about $20 and will outlast any traditional nylon collar. I consider it a Seattle dog essential, right up there with the Chuck-it!
Btw - it is a constant battle for me to be a clean freak and a dog walker/lover at the same time, so check back for more tips on having 8 dogs around yet trying to keep my house and car dog hair/muddy paw-free! If you have any tips, please do share! (Clean freaks love that kind of stuff!)
Mr. Fletcher strikes again
Mr. Fletcher, for those who don't know, is a dog to be known. He is a "Royal Frenchel" - A King Charles Cavalier/French Bulldog mix. He is most commonly known as having a ball stuffed in his mouth or screaming like crazy while out running the rest of the big dogs to get the ball.
Mr. Fletcher is a very sensitive little man. He will hold a grudge on someone for something as simple as laughing at him while he poops. Seriously. So imagine how he feels about riding in the back of the car when he once was the king of the passenger seat! Well Mr. Fletch, you grew up, and you no longer fit on my lap, sorry buddy.
Today Mr. Fletcher had his revenge. I put all the very muddy dogs in the car, walked around and opened my door, only to find Mr. Fletcher back on his throne. He took matters into his own muddy paws and squirmed his way back into the front seat. Mud was everywhere!!! My first reaction was to get mad, but then I looked at his guilty little face and I just started laughing. How can you not laugh at that face?! And yes, Mr. Fletcher got to ride home on the front seat - I figure he deserved it :)
He just lifted his leg....
Yes, that's right, one of my dogs lifted his leg and peed on a poor innocent man at the park! I was talking to this man (he is a park regular) and by the time I noticed what the dog was doing I couldn't move/get the words out fast enough to stop him! This dog is one of my best behaved and oldest clients - I have no idea what got into him! So, besides the fact this poor man had to walk around with pee on his leg, and it was an extremely awkward experience for all, it was pretty damn funny!
The dogs will always make me laugh
When ballwalkpark was still in the planning phases, and I was still stuck behind a desk in an office with no windows or human interaction, I was exploding with excitement at the thought of spending my days outside walking dogs and playing fetch at the off-leash parks. Becoming a dogwalker sounded too good to be true. I was ready to put everything I had into making starting a dog walking business a reality. Friends, family and co-workers were all very supportive and provided encouragement on a daily basis - but the one thing I heard over and over was, "you know, it's still going to be a job, it's not ALL going to be fun". My response to that was, yes, dog walking is a job and it won't ALL be fun - I will be picking up poop, covered in mud, chasing down misbehaving dogs and spending hours in a car while suffocating on dog farts, BUT I will laugh, and smile and be happy! Over a year later, I can honestly say that even on my very worst day at the dog park, at least one of my dogs did something that made me laugh out loud to myself. Many, many days would pass in that solitary confinement of an office where I wouldn't as much as crack a smile. This blog is intended for me to share all of the things the dogs did throughout the day that made me laugh... I have been posting pictures on my Facebook page facebook.com/ballwalkpark.seattle for months but was never able to tell the full story behind the pictures of our dogwalking adventures, so I felt that the moment that had me laughing hysterically in the car for 20 minutes can't be fully appreciated by fellow dog lovers.
Here is one of my favorite photos to get things started:
This is Cooper, an 8 month old Vizsla, and Bambi, my 9 month old French Bulldog. Cooper gets a little too excited in the car so he rides in the front with me with his seatbelt harness on. When Bambi comes along she rides in the front with her buddy Cooper - he always has his arm around her. The second she gets in the car they cuddle right up. In this pic I caught a great moment with Cooper yawning, but looks like he is going to eat Bambi's pretty little face!
We're off to get our paws muddy at the park!
Until next time!
