Summer Makes Me Act Like a Kid in a Candy Store

My “candy store” is about to open. Summer is my time of the year; I spend 40 weeks planning for 12. I get so excited about summer, like a kid in a candy store. I get to see people come to the park, enjoy it's great natural beauty and provide them with some great entertainment.

Tuesday not only marked the first day of summer on the calendar but the sun actually came out to make an appearance (it's about time). While many people were out enjoying the sun the staff at the park and I put up the stage and the tent for our summer events. This process takes us a day and a half to make sure it is all up and ready to go for our first event. One of the reporters from Patch actually caught us in action getting the tent set-up and snapped a picture, which is on their Facebook page.

This weekend is really the kick-off for the summer event season. Over 20 vendors have signed up to participate in Bark in the Park this Saturday; I just hope the sun makes a similar appearance on Saturday. There are a variety of things happening at the event; a Bark for Life 6k, multiple demonstrations, an off-leash area and an owner / dog look alike contest.

On Monday night the course for the 6k Bark for Life fun run/walk was marked. It has been determined there are two great shortcuts if people don’t want to do the full 6k, there will be a 3k and a 4k route. All of the proceeds from the fun run will be going directly to Relay for Life.

Has your rover been micro chipped?  If not you really need to come down to the park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday so rover can be chipped for only $30.00. Dogs come up missing for a variety of reasons throughout the summer especially around the 4th of July.  Only $30.00 to have rover chipped sounds like a sound investment to me to get him home.

Seattle Fly Dogs http://seattleflydogs.com/ will be present; both demonstrating their sport and allowing others to try the sport and see if their dog would like the exercise.  Does your dog like to play with a ball, if so this could be the sport for you and your dog?  Dogs start at one end of the course proceed to the other end going over three hurdles along the way, then jumping onto the front of a box to release the tennis ball, then back to the start over the three hurdles.  When the first dog makes it back to the start the second dog takes off, it is a team sport with a couple of dogs on each team.  Seattle Fly Dogs are a non-competitive group just out to have fun with the sport.  So come out and cheer on the dogs.

Another great group coming out is the Newfoundland Club of Seattle.  They are going to do both carting and water demonstrations.  Some Newfoundlands are actually trained to rescue people in the water. Being a former lifeguard and lifeguard trainer, I am looking forward to watching their water demonstration, I however will not be the one they rescue.

Also available will be an off leash area where you can bring your dog to socialize with other dogs. This will also give some owners a chance to socialize as well. Dogs are just like children -- they need play dates as well. When was the last time you set your dog up with a play date? Bring the kids, both two and four legged, to the park and have some fun.

So Summer has arrived and my “candy store” will open this Saturday.  Over the next 75 days, there are over 30 events at the parks.  I hope to see everyone at a park at least once this summer. Which event are you looking forward to the most?