Take your dog swimming and stay for Bark in the Park

Maybe Francesca would do this!
(Photo credit: City of Vancouver)

The third annual Pooch Plunge at Marshall Community Center Pool in Vancouver, Washington will partner with Clark DogPaw for a full day of hound friendly activities including doggie swims and a canine carnival this Sunday, Sept. 6.

Dogs can enjoy one of five one-hour swims. Each swim has 50 dogs and pre-registration will be available for 25 of those spots for each swim. Stop by the Marshall Center to pre-register and sign a waiver for your dog.

All dogs are $10 each, whether pre-registering or cash at the door the day of the swim. Lifeguards will be on duty and staff will be in the pool to help and ramps to get the dogs in and out of the water. Owners are not allowed in the pool. The Marshall Center balcony will be open for those that come just to watch. Dogs will not be permitted in any other parts of the building beyond the pool.

Bark in the Park will be ongoing throughout the day. Activities include: K9 Police demonstrations, the fourth annual K9 Fashion Show, Fly Ball demonstrations, music, agility course demos, food vendors, and more.

I, Cinnamon, won’t be there but I just thought I’d let everyone know!

Around Water with Your Dog? Consider a Dog Life Jacket (Review)

This is a long story. It's a story about how I came to be the owner of a beautiful yellow and black float coat, or life jacket. People life jackets don't work for us dogs but we do need to be protected.

Here I am in the cabin of the fishing boat holding on for dear life!

A couple of years ago I was invited to go salmon fishing in Haida Gwaii, Canada. I quickly became a fan of ocean smells and beach combing. So I figured fishing from a boat would be right up my alley. I hopped aboard the boat and got settled on a cushion in the cabin. And then the journey started. We went out of the harbor and it got choppy. I was nervous. I had no life jacket and I wanted to GET OFF THE ROCKING BOAT! I held on for dear life.

We went through the narrows and found a fairly quiet place to fish. I relaxed and wanted to go out on the fantail and help. But no.... I was told to stay in the cabin because I had no life jacket. So I did. After eight long hours of fishing we headed in to pick up crab pots. That was exciting but I wasn't allowed too near them.

Here are those snappy crabs.

We reached the harbor with all the great fish and crab smells and I finally got to get off the boat and trot up the dock. DRY LAND! I would have kissed the grass if I didn't need to go potty so badly!

So that was my first adventure on a boat without a life jacket. Now that I live in the Pacific Northwest, I'm around water a lot. We go to the ocean. we walk out on docks, we wade in the Columbia River. All without a life jacket.

This got my owner thinking.
(That can be dangerous)

My owner started thinking I might need a life jacket when she was visiting Gig Harbor. She saw a dog life jacket in a marine supply store there. Since I wanted to go on a sailboat some day and spend more time on the docks, I looked around the Internet for a spiffy float coat. AND I FOUND ONE!

I found a great website called The Dog Outdoors. I must have spent an hour looking at everything. They had dog packs, travel gear, harnesses, collars and a special dog bike leash. They had everything for the active dog, which is ME!

I like to think I could go on all sorts of adventures if I had the right gear. I read the page about dog flotation devices and found one I thought would suit me. I clicked on EzyDog jackets and read EVERYTHING. They had a sizing chart and even videos that showed how to put the life jacket on and how some dogs were swimming in theirs. I have never been swimming and am not sure I want to. I mainly want the jacket for safety (just in case).

Here's the video I watched:

I learned a lot but what I really liked was how the yellow and black jacket would compliment my beautiful black and tan coat. I'd be the envy of all dogs at the yacht club, right?

So we sent for the jacket. It arrived pretty quickly and I was so excited to get it. I tore open the package and there it was. My beautiful yellow life jacket!

I can't wait to try it on!

I tried it on and it seemed really big. In fact, I could hardly walk around with it on.

So my owner got ahold of the nice people at The Dog Outdoors and they said we could exchange it for a size medium.

Turns out my measurements were ok for a medium or a large. That's why I ended up with a jacket too large. They have a size chart. Look at it more carefully than I did.

As soon as they got the return, they sent out my new jacket. I tried it on and it fit great! I could walk around. And, I kind of fantasized that I could swim in it (Maybe).

I have to say my experience with The Dog Outdoors was a very good one. They are a small company, founded by a young couple in Texas. They have their own dogs. They also invented a special leash for those who want to bike ride with their dogs. Sometimes I just look through the website enjoying the videos and the travel and outdoor gear. I'm looking forward to hiking a lot this summer and, if I am lucky, I'll get a ride on a sailboat.

Here I am with a well-fitting jacket all ready for a summer of
sailing, exploring the beach and hanging out at the yacht club!

I highly recommend The Dog Outdoors. My experience was a good one and so far I like the quality of the product. Check them out!

Note: As is common in the pet blogging industry, the writer was provided with this product for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, Cinnamon believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.

Happy Dogs at the Beach (Music Video)

I just had to share this. I love the beach. I wish I lived closer to the water. These lucky dogs (and a dratted cat) get to play and swim. It's such a happy video I had to share it!
Love, Cinnamon

Should Cinnamon Go to the Pooch Plunge?

Here I am wading in the creek. Does this count as swimming?

As a dog blogger, I get some interesting press releases coming across my desk. This one really caught my eye because it was different. Imagine, a day at the pool for dogs! Now I love wading in the Columbia River and fording creeks, but would I jump in the pool? Probably not. If they have wading, I'd do that. I might go watch and take pictures for my blog... we'll see. It looks like the doggie social event of the season!

Here's the Press Release:

Dive into the Labor Day Pooch Plunge at the Marshall Center pool in Vancouver, WA

Bring your four-legged friend to the Marshall Community Center pool for the inaugural Pooch Plunge from 1-4 p.m. on Labor Day (Sept. 2).

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation will drain and clean the pool that week, but before they do please join us for an afternoon of dog paddling and contests. This special event is sponsored by Canine Utopia, 2309 Main St., Vancouver, which will provide great toys, prize baskets, goodie bags and more.

Lifeguards will be provided to help keep your best friend safe. All dogs must be current on shots, dog and people friendly, and be willing to swim (no tossing your dog in). Human companions are not allowed in the pool during this event.

Admission to the Pooch Plunge is $5 per dog. The community center will be closed for maintenance on this date, so participants will need to enter through the rear pool patio doors. The Marshall Community Center is located at 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., near the Clark College campus.

For more information, please call the Marshall Community Center at (360) 487-7100.