WA

With dogs! Yup, dancing with your pooch along to music is not only a fun pastime, but also a sport in its own right. The point of canine musical freestyle is to showcase the dog and handler in a creative, innovative, and original dance emphasizing their teamwork, artistry, and athleticism. On Nov. 9 and 10, the World Canine Freestyle Organization will hold the 2007 WCFO North American Nationals at the Red Lion Hotel Seattle South. Seats are limited, but try to see if you can get in to watch these amazing dogs (and their equally amazing owners) interpret music and display the unique bond between people and their animals. This is a great way to spend time with a pooch . . . while working on obedience at the same time. If you're interested in getting in on the action, look for a local club to get started — there are groups across the country and around the world!

Taking a trip on a bus or streetcar in Seattle with your pooch is super easy as lap dogs ride free and large, leashed pups are welcome at your feet for a fee! Did you know that Washington State's ferry system is the largest in the nation? With boats traveling to several outlying islands (my favorites are the San Juans), this is a great adventure to take with your pets. The boat rules are fairly straightforward:

• If the ferry has outside stairwells, pooches are allowed on the car deck and on the outdoor decks above the car deck.
• If the ferry has indoor stairwells, dogs are only allowed on the deck where they boarded the ferry. So, if you drive on board, pup must remain on the car deck and, if you walk onto the boat, your dog is welcome on the outside deck where you boarded, not the other decks.
• And, best yet, pooches ride free!

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Washington continues!

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We're halfway through our week of Washington, and it seems like a super appropriate time for a snack! Mud Bay stocks over 450 unique formulas of dog and cat food... and even publishes "The Almanac" with information on new and current products. They're so dedicated to good customer service that their knowledgeable staff will not only help find the best match for your furry friend, they even offer samples and allow returns on open packages if your pets aren't totally satisfied! Starting out as a little family business on Olympia's Mud Bay Road, Mud Bay is now a big family business with 14 Puget Sound-area locations.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Washington continues!

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Welcome to Week Three of PetSugar's Out and About travel feature! There are so many amazing dog parks in the Seattle area, that it seemed appropriate to highlight one of my favorites to start off our week in Washington. Located along the shores of Lake Washington, Warren G. Magnuson Dog Park is part of Seattle's second-largest park (totaling 350 acres). This is the best spot for water babies – and the only off-leash area in Seattle where pooches have beach access (they're not allowed on beaches elsewhere within city limits). For dogs who haven't quite mastered "down" and "off," the compact gravel on the footpath makes it possible to leave here (relatively) cleaner than visits to parks with solid dirt trails. Well, until the pups discover the water that is.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Washington continues!

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