Traveling to Idaho for my First Visit

I've never been to Idaho before. I never even drove through Idaho when I came to Washington from New Mexico! So I have no idea what it's like there. I hear they have potatoes, lots of them. I don't like potatoes and I am not sure they are good for dogs anyway. 

Here's Cristina and Jace. They are getting married on Friday.
I won't see the ceremony or have dinner at the reception.
I am a DOG!

So why, during a hot summer week, am I going to Idaho? Well, my Country Cousins are having a wedding. Cristina and Jace are getting married. It's at a big lake named Coeur d'Alene. And that's in Idaho. They are nice to us dogs... except they didn't invite us to the wedding or the reception. 

That's humans for you.... so inconsiderate of our feelings. Oh well.

It's a huge lake. I hope to go wading

But I do get to go and stay in a motel. So I'm packing. So far I have the La Quinta Hotel brochure (they always take dogs and don't charge extra), a map of the local dog parks, my food, my travel bed (uncomfortable as it is), my harness and leash and my bowls. Oh yes, I'm going to select just one special toy to take so I feel at home there.

Which toy should I take?

So what are my hopes for Idaho? I want to go to a beach and dip my paws in the lake. I love to wade. I don't know if I can swim but I'm not risking it. It might be too hot for a hike so I'll just sniff around one of the local dog parks.

And, when my owner is at the wedding, I'm going to watch MOVIES! I might start with "Hotel for Dogs." That sounds appropriate. And, I'll get some dog biscuits to snack on. 

Hopefully I will have fun in Idaho and I'll report back in a couple of days.

Love, Travelin' Cinnamon

Wordless Wednesday: What's This on the Discovery Trail?

While staying on the Long Beach Peninsula of WA, I saw many
unusual and weird things... here's one of them!

Is my coat shinier? Cinnamon tries a dog supplement #SomaPet

I didn't know what to think when I received the sample jar of SomaPet in the mail. It wasn't a treat. It wasn't a toy. But it intrigued me. The label said it was some sort of supplement. My owner takes supplements to keep healthy so why shouldn't I?

Here I am trying to figure out what my newest product was.
This is the little sample jar. You'll get a much bigger jar when you order SomaPet.

So trying SomaPet seemed to be a good thing to do. I checked out the company because if I am going to take a supplement, it better be a good one!

I found out that SomaLife, the parent company of SomaPet, has been around since 1998. Back then,  SomaLife,  an internationally renowned nutraceutical company, was formed. They began creating some of the finest quality products for people to improve brain health, athletic performance, and more. 

So what was this stuff in the jar and would it help me be healthier? I read more... SomaPet is a specific combination of amino acids for pets. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and constitute an essential part of an animal’s diet.

Sometimes our food doesn't provide everything we need. SomaPet is a proprietary combination of organic, pure free-form crystalline amino acids that encourage the production of additional healing, repair, and growth factors that jumpstart your pet’s natural processes of cell repair and regeneration.

It is an all-natural, vegan, whole food supplement specifically designed to deliver optimal nutritional support to your pet. It is helpful in providing a healthier skin and coat, a reduction in body fat, and renewed vigor and vitality. 

Well, I, Cinnamon, was having a problem with flaky skin, a not so shiny coat and I laid around a lot. Maybe it was that I am a hound but maybe I could use a little something to improve my diet.

So I decided it would be good to try. But how would it taste? SomaPet is in a powder form and can be easily mixed with a dog’s usual meal. We just sprinkled it on my food. It was just a small amount. I didn't really taste it.  

I got one teeny scoop per day on my evening meal. The folks at SomaPet say your pet should take one scoop per day if the pet weighs up to 50 pounds and 2 scoops per day if over 50 pounds. I think I am just about 48 pounds now because I lost some weight!

So how do I look?

I've been taking the supplement for about four weeks now. I feel good, I still like my food and, you know what? My coat seems much shinier and my skin isn't flaky any more.

Oh yes, SomaPet is for CATS too!

Only time will tell if I am getting more spring in my step. But for now, I'm pretty happy with SomaPet!

Love, Shiny Cinnamon

Where You Can Learn More About SomaPet
Where You Can Get SomaPet

This post is sponsored by SomaPet and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I, Cinnamon, am being compensated for helping spread the word about SomaPet, but Coonhound Tales only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. SomaPet is not responsible for the content of this article.

 

Cinnamon Goes Hawaiian

Here I am all decked out in my lei and resting on Monica's blanket!

Well, in keeping with the story about the dogs from Maui, I decided to make an appearance at the Ho'ike and Hawaiian Festival in Vancouver's Esther Short Park. I joined some friends, old and new, with a Meet-up group. They don't allow dogs in Meet-up groups but I think Monica might let me in as an "auxiliary member."

Brian is a new friend of mine.
He has two dogs of his
own but they didn't come to the festival so
he was nice to me!.

I was a little confused when I got my lei on and headed toward the park. I pulled in the direction of the Farmer's Market but was told we weren't going there today. I was disappointed.

We nosed around the park and I noticed lots of children, food booths and dancers. Things were looking interesting. So then we went to Starbuck's across the street where we were to meet our group. I got petted by Brian and Monica. But a lady at the next table got really scared of me and moved to another table. Wow! I am friendly to all people. I didn't understand that but she got really nervous.

At that point I just stood there and was very quiet. I didn't want to scare anyone. After all, I'm not a coyote or anything!

After about a half hour of standing and talking we finally went to the festival. I was hoping the food booths would give out samples but they didn't. We had fun looking around. I got hot in the sun so got some water.

Then Monica spread out some blankets that she brought. She was VERY nice to me and let me lie on one of the blankets. I took a little snooze. All the food smells were very enticing but I didn't get any. I think I'd like Hawaiian food, really!

Here's my friend Monica telling me to pose for the camera.
I wanted some Hawaiian Food... not more pictures!

We sat in the shade and talked. After that we decided to go home. I was happy to be home in the shade where I could stretch out and rest. 

I had fun at the Hawaiian Festival but would have had MUCH MORE FUN with one of those delicious Hawaiian food plates! Maybe next time Huh, guys?

Aloha, Cinnamon

Homeless Pets Fly from Maui to Portland and Arrive in Vancouver, WA to Seek Homes

Hi it's me, Cinnamon. I just found out something amazing. In Maui, where many people go for high end vacations, there is a shortage of homes for pets. What would you do if you were a dog, on an island, and all the caring homes were taken. Would you just live out your days in a shelter? I hope not! I am a shelter dog that had to live in a shelter for a couple of months before being adopted. I was lucky. Some Maui dogs and cats are not.

So I found out there is HELP for these animals. It is called Wings of Aloha and it's a program of the Maui Humane Society. Since there may be a better chance for the homeless pets to find homes here in the Pacific Northwest, they have developed a plan to FLY the pets HERE! Imagine, one day you are in the warm humid tropics and the next day you arrive at PDX and see mountains and tall Douglas Fir trees. What a change!

Kelo came from Maui to Vancouver. I wonder if I will see her at the dog park?

But it's all for the good. Recently five pets arrived in Portland and went to my home town of Vancouver. They were received by Tender Care Animal Rescue who will be seeking homes for them.

I hope Maui George finds a home soon!

The way the pets get here is amazing. Wings of Aloha partners with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Both have direct routes here. If a person from this area is vacationing in Maui and is returning on a non-stop flight they can help out. All they do is let the dog or cat (I prefer dogs, of course) ride on their ticket. The vacationer just contacts the Maui Humane Society and they take care of everything. There is no cost for the vacationer and they really don't have to do anything.

The pet rides in the special pet section of the luggage compartment and once, they land, the receiving agency here just picks up the happy pet and, of course, takes them outside for a bit and then off to their shelter or foster homes.

I think I need to tell Giselle that she can't wear that pink lei here in the Northwest!
Go get some Columbia Sportswear, Giselle... you'll need it!

My owner is going to be writing about all the details, but in the meanwhile if you are flying Maui to PDX you can get more information here.Wings of Aloha sends animals to other places too via these direct flights so before you vacation in Maui check out your flight to see if you can help a homeless animal like I used to be. 

Aloha... Love, Cinnamon

An open letter to the coyotes in the woods behind my house

Every night. Yipping, howling and obnoxious sounds break the silence of the night. Every night, I wake up my owner to investigate. The result? Not enough sleep for Cinnamon. So here goes....

Dear Coyotes:

I'm tired of being awakened at 2 a.m., 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Your hours are not compatible with my sleeping hours which are 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.  I just don't like you guys. You are noisy. You smell. And you are too close to my backyard fence. Too close!

I'm on to you. I know where you live. Today I went by the entrance to the woods. It has a chain across it but the "do not trespass" sign is on the ground. I CAN GET YOU! I know where your den is and I know you sleep during the day.

If you don't stop bothering me, I'm going to OUT YOU TO THE AUTHORITIES. I'll give you three days to get out of town.

I'm putting you on notice. WE DON'T LIKE YOUR KIND HERE!  Only civilized suburban dogs who sleep at night are welcome. GO AWAY! VAYA!

Signed, Cinnamon the sleepy coonhound

Wordless Wednesday: Checking out the Driftwood on the Long Beach Peninsula

I liked walking along the Discovery Trail. I discovered driftwood and grass!

Cinnamon Volksmarches the Columbia River

I'm so behind. I'm so behind. I have so much to tell you. In the past week I have been on two volksmarches on the Columbia River ... two very different walks.

Here I am trying to get in to see the Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center in Cathlamet

The first one was in Cathlamet, on the way to Long Beach, WA. We stopped there for a driving break and to stretch our legs. What we found was a historic town right on the river. I loved it! We walked the town and got to go to the marina. We also got to see their museum, a logging engine and a fish buying vessel. That got us in touch with the history of the area. It was all about logging and fishing.

I'll just nose around here waiting to ride on the tugboat, ok?

We nosed around the public pier and I was hoping to be offered a ride on a tugboat. Hadn't they heard about my relatives, Uncle Tom and Cousin Geoff? Surely they would let the relative of tug boat captains on their boat. But I didn't hear them call out my name. I continued up the street sniffing at old buildings and wondering how the feral cats existed there.

I didn't get to ride on the tugboat. Maybe there was no one aboard anyway.

At the end of out walk we saw the Pioneer Church. I think that's all well and fine but I've never heard of a  pioneer dog. I don't think they brought any dogs with them. What lack of foresight!

Then after we got home, we decided to go to a walk hosted by the Longview Border Crossers in Columbia City, Oregon. Now The Longview club is a Washington walking club but somehow they made it across the bridge to Oregon to set up this great little walk. Columbia City is also historic.

We enjoyed the flowers and the nearby dog park in Columbia City

We ran into our walking friends who all greeted me and petted me, of course. I was a little sad that the Border Crossers didn't bring any dog treats with them. Oh well!

Here's my friends from the Columbia River Volksport Club

We walked through some areas with older homes and then a woods. The homes overlooking the Columbia River were pretty impressive but I always prefer a house where I can be in touch with the river. I like sniffing the river life and wading in the water so I need to live right down on the river!

I decided I'd like this big house right on the river. It looks like a boat!
My owner could have half and I'd have the other half!

I always smell new smells and see new things on volksmarches. I'm only a 5K dog right now because I get overheated easily (or maybe I'm just lazy). If you want to see all the walks I have done, just click on the Volksmarch Log tab on my blog. You'll be impressed!

Love, Cinnamon, the walking dog

Maddie the Coonhound: Packing for a road trip with Mercedes Benz

I love road trips. Every road trip should have a dog along, right?

Photo: Maddie the Coonhound/ Mercedes Benz

We coonies are trendy when it comes to packing for a sporting vacay!

Ilwaco: Walking the Docks and Dreaming of Fish

It's been a year since I went fishing for salmon and crab in beautiful Haida Gwaii, Canada. I was really missing hanging out on the docks and sniffing for fish. So during my trip to the Long Beach Peninsula when we decided to go to Ilwaco, I got really excited. They have FISHING BOATS in Ilwaco and that means.. FISH! Ilwaco has a real fishing port and even though they are busy fishing and processing fish, there are great things there for visitors and their dogs to do.

It's mostly about fishing in Ilwaco, WA and I want to go too!

We drove up to the Port of Ilwaco and found a convenient parking lot right across from the docks. There were lots of places to explore... fishing charter businesses, restaurants, art galleries and even a book shop. I loved walking and sniffing and exploring.

I really don't need a fish finder. I can SMELL them!

Each time we came to a gangway down to the docks, I pulled to go down there. I wanted to get on a boat AND GO FISHING. The sea air blew in my face and made my ears flap! So after trying to get my owner to walk down two gangways, she finally gave in and took me down to the fishing boats. There were huge boats and smaller ones. Many were from out of state... even the South Pacific.

Here I am asking nicely to go down on the docks. I love the smell of fishing boats. Please?

We walked to the end of the dock and turned around. Once we returned to the walkway, I enjoyed the grass, the Condor Sculpture and the fish shops. I gave the condor sculpture the once over just to make sure it wasn't real! This life-size replica of a real California Condor has a nine-foot wingspan. Why was it there? Well, reportedly, Lewis & Clark, the explorers, saw that type of bird on their trip to the area.

Here's that SCARY condor!

The next thing that really interested me was the parade of fishermen returning from their charter fishing trips. They had tons of salmon in bags. Once they got up to the walkway, they took the fish out, hung them up and had their pictures taken with their catch. I have to say, the salmon I caught in Haida Gwaii was bigger than most of their fish for sure!

Here's the salmon catch from one of the charter boats.
SIGN ME UP!

I really wanted to sniff the fish but my owner wouldn't let me. We took a picture and walked on.

By then, I was getting tired. I had run on the beach for an hour in the morning so I was ready for a nap in the car. I gladly hopped up on my seat, had a drink of water, and stretched out. You see, it is overcast and misty many days on the coast so I wasn't in danger of overheating in the car. I went to sleep quickly.

It was only later that I found out that my owner had met a friend for lunch at Ole Bob's Seafood right across from the parking lot where I was sleeping. As you might guess, they didn't bring me any seafood after their DELICIOUS LUNCH! But what's new. Such is the life of a dog.

I know she had lunch there. I saw her come out!

That was our last stop on our wonderful trip to THE BEACH. I was sad to leave but am already planning my return. There is so much to do and see on the dog friendly Long Beach Peninsula of Washington.

Wordless Wednesday: The Beach is for Sleeping

All that fresh sea air, exercise and my fun room at the Adrift Hotel on the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington gave me reasons to sleep!

Don't you just love the decor?

Oyster Hunting on the Long Beach Peninsula

What a morning! I decided to go oyster hunting. I heard that the Willapa Bay oysters were really good. I decided that since I am a hunting dog, the best way to get some would be hunting.

Now, where to go? I looked on the map and saw a town named OYSTERVILLE! It was clear at the end of the Peninsula on Willapa Bay. That sounded like a great place for oyster hunting. So we packed the car with water, cameras and ME, of course, and headed out.

It took awhile to get there, I thought. But maybe that was because I was excited. Soon, we saw the Oysterville sign and turned off. It is a historic town founded in 1884. In fact, it is so historic, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Here it is... the place to go oyster hunting!

Before I could get some hunting in, we did a little walking tour of town. I read all the signs about Oysterville history and looked at the homes, school and church. It was like going back in time.

There are a lot of historic homes and buildings in Oysterville

I kept pulling toward the bay. I was ready for the OYSTER HUNT! Finally we went down a grassy street onto paths leading to the bay. My feet got wet in the squishy vegetation. I looked for oysters everywhere and didn't see a one. Since I am not a swimmer, I gave up and returned to a drier path.

On the hunt... Here, oyster, oyster!

I was getting upset. How could I go to Oysterville and not come home with any Oysters? We went down a long street toward some grey buildings right on the bay. I thought these people would know where to find oysters. We got to the buildings and saw a big sign, Oysterville Sea Farms. Next to the sign were mounds of oyster shells. THIS WAS THE PLACE!

I poked my head in the door and was invited in by a nice lady. I looked up on the counter and thought at least I could buy some oysters from them. After all, they were professional oyster hunters.

They showed me the fresh caught oysters in the refrigerator case but I didn't get any. I was feeling a little disheartened when the nice lady offered me A TREAT! Now things were really looking up. TREATS! If I couldn't have an oyster, at least I could get a treat from the oyster lady!

Here's those fresh oysters. This is what I was hunting but just didn't look in the right places, I guess.

We went out back on their deck overlooking the Willapa Bay. It was beautiful. I didn't see any oysters but I could smell them! The lady gave me a HUGE dog biscuit. I was so excited I made the usual fool of myself sitting up and jumping around. I LOVE TREATS!

They are REALLY nice at Oysterville Sea farms. I loved their deck. What a view!

I crunched on the dog biscuit and then we sat and admired the bay and the beautiful day. Their Willabay Specialty Foods shop was full of interesting foods that were made right there. It's a great place for humans to go shopping! They even have a special wine to go with oysters (for those who are successful in their hunt, anyway).

The drive back seemed much shorter that the drive out there. I rested most of the way.

Right now, I need to take a nap. I'm back at my room in the Adrift Hotel and I'm ready for a long rest after my big Oysterville adventure.

Love, Cinnamon, on the Long Beach Peninsula

Coolin' Off and Having Adventures at THE BEACH!

I don't know what to tell you first... about all the fun I had getting here to the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington or about being here. But right now I have to say I am enjoying the cool misty weather, the sound of the surf and the dog friendly Adrift Hotel & Spa right on the beach! Although I haven't had my spa treatment yet, I have nosed around the beach and town and really like it here.

What a nice room for me at the Adrift Hotel. I wonder where my owner's room is?

When we got here and checked in I GOT TREATS! So it was right then and there that I knew they liked dogs. Then we had a look at our room. I really liked it and especially liked the sliding glass window that let the sea air in. You see, it's really hot back in my home in Vancouver, WA... really hot! I am so glad to be AT THE BEACH!

So then we went exploring. I walked through the sand and hopped up on the board walk. That was fun. The sea air was blowing my ears!

It was then I spied some HUGE BONES in the sand. Turned out it was a skeleton of a Grey Whale. I'd never seen anything like that.

Here's the whale bones. I considered taking one back to the room to snack on.
But figured I'd better not!

After that we went down on the beach and I got sensory overload. Wow... there were crab shells, seaweed and little see-through sail things that I found out were related to jellyfish. Those funny little things had washed up on the beach. I LOVE THE BEACH AND THE SMELLS. It's a great place to explore and do a little wave avoiding.

So then we checked out the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail.  It's paved and runs all the way to Ilwaco. I'm hoping to check out more of the trail today. There are lots of places for a dog to walk here and lots of sand.

Later in the day we were back on the beach and ran into some horses and riders. They were in the same place we were when the huge elk appeared. THEY WERE HUGE!

Here's the horses on the beach. I like horses but there is a dog that goes with them that
really doesn't like ME!

I went to bed late because my owner was having fun dining at The Depot Restaurant. She enjoyed the seafood a whole lot (I stayed outside in the car and slept) BUT I DIDN'T GET ANY! I did get a little walk in Seaview and really liked it.

But now, since I got my owner up to take me for a walk at 6 am, I'm going to have a little morning nap in my nice room at the Adrift Hotel.

Love, Cinnamon

Full Moon and the Woods are Full of Coyotes

Here I am at 4 a.m. wide awake. I wanted OUT!

I woke up with a start. I looked at the clock. It was 4 a.m. If you know me, you know I usually don't get up until, say, around 9 a.m.! But things were really weird last night.

The full moon shone on the trees in the woods and was lighting up the den where I sleep. I heard the terrifying sounds of coyotes on the prowl. THEY WERE IN THE WOODS RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE.

I jumped up and howled! I ran downstairs to the sliding glass door to the yard and went bonkers! My owner came running and wouldn't let me out. The hair on my back was standing on end. Nothing could quiet me. It was as bad as knowing a pack of werewolves were out there. I had to get out. I just had to!

But my owner would have no part of letting me out. She knew if I went out, I would awaken the whole neighborhood. By then it was 4:15 a.m. I paced, I growled, I howled inside the house.

To calm me down, my owner took me out in front on the leash. She walked me up and down the street. I was still hyper-alert but that helped. The coyotes weren't in front. Finally I calmed down a bit. She shut the windows in the den so I couldn't smell or hear them.

After several trips down stairs begging to go out (and the my immediate forced return to my upstairs bed) I finally gave up.

By 5 a.m. I went back to sleep. WHAT A NIGHT!

It's too Hot! The Good News and the Bad News about the Weather

Clear

88.8 °F

Feels Like 92 °F

Tomorrow is forecast to be Warmer than today.

Well, that's the bad news. It's HOT TODAY! I'm so hot, you could fry an egg on my back! Arrghhhh!

I want to go to the BEACH!
(Does this rug make my tummy look fat?)

Good News: The good news is that we are GOING TO THE BEACH for Monday and Tuesday nights. I am so excited. We're headed for Long Beach, WA and the Adrift Hotel and Spa. They like dogs there. I'm going to check it all out and write about what I see and experience.

More Bad News: The bad news is that we can't go today, or even tomorrow. I have to endure the heat and be patient. Arrghhhh!

Love, Hot Cinnamon