Dogs in Seattle (Redmond: relocating to, station, dog parks)

[sdbio]

Hi,

I am thinking of relocating to Seattle with a yellow lab. I love taking her to the park and going on hikes. Are there a lot of off leash parks in Seattle and nearby towns? I heard that the ground stays too moist and is just too muddy to really take a dog out in the winter. Is that true?

Thanks!

[toughguy]

Nope. I see tons of people out at the dog park in Marymoor park (Redmond) at all times of the year. If the dog is rambuncious and likes to jump in the water, it will probably get a little muddy, but isn't that the whole point of owning a dog?

[jwb123]

If you don't want to do a full bath, then yes the fall and winter are too muddy for the parks. If you don't mind the clean up, then it's fine.

If the question is, will the park be muddy in the winter... the answer is definitely YES. (and in the fall, and much of the spring too).

[toughguy]

Hahaha completely untrue. I take my Siberian husky (luxurious white coat) to the dog park regardless of the season. His paws will get muddy, but thats why you take a towel so you can wipe them off before he jumps in the car. Is there mud? yes....but unless your dog is rolling around like a pig, you won't have to do a "full bath". Most of the parks have sawdust and/or gravel trails you can stay on that takes the mud out of the equation entirely.

[jwb123]

Our white boxer always had to get a full bath after the dog park, so no, not completely untrue. Maybe it's untrue for YOU - but that doesn't make it untrue for everyone. He would bound around, in and out of the water and sand and get all filthy. I am not complaining, just stating a fact. Obviously it didn't bother us too much because we did it a lot.

That's why there is that mobile dog washing station that you often see at Marymoor, and Magnusen and why that drop in dog washing place in Redmond is so busy and advertises at Marymoor - because people need it and use it.

[SaltyDawg]

Take my dog to Greenlake daily and don't have to do more than towel off his paws and maybe his belly if it's been raining.

Haven't pulled a towel out in over a week. It's not sopping wet mud - it's just dried out, cold dirt. Could be different in a shady area, but full-bath is not a regularity for me.

Depends more on the type of dog you have than the weather, methinks. My pooch doesn't roll around in the mud, just runs & chases squirrels.

[jwb123]

Guess you guys just don't mind filth

[sdbio]

thanks for the feedback.

[pwright1]

There are dog parks and off leash areas all around the city
and many of the newer ones don't even use dirt. People go to
dog parks and off leash areas 365 days a year around here.
Here is one in the heart of the city.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Guess you guys just don't mind filth

I think you were the one that bundled your kids up like they were going on an Alaskan fishing expedition when the temperature dipped below 60....so it doesn't suprise me that you would need to give your dog a bath after a walk in the park