Pups Just Wanna Have Fun

Guilty!

Believe it or not, some researchers still claim that dogs don't have emotions.  If you're in agreement have a look at Denver's reaction to getting caught eating Kitty's treats.

Favorite Dog Walking Locales - Lochside Park

While my wife takes dogs on leash -- generally on neighborhood walks -- I much prefer to take groups of 5 or 6 dogs to areas where they can romp and play with one another until they're ready to nap away the rest of the afternoon.  We're very fortunate in Victoria to have a number of places where they can do this.

Click to Enlarge

One such place is Lochside Park ...located just past Mattock's Farm in Cordova Bay.  It consists of three baseball diamonds and a soccer field joined by a grassy field which also contains a playground for the kids and a tennis court.   The southernmost diamond is completely fenced with 2 gates that you can close which makes it very secure if you're concerned about your dog's recall ability.

To get there, just follow Cordova Bay Road past Mattock's Farm and turn onto Lochside Drive.  Go about 500 meters and you'll find a large parking lot.  There is no traffic past this point so it is quite safe to let your dog out of the vehicle off leash.

Please note that the ball diamonds are off limits to dogs from April to September.  The large soccer field is open year round but there is another fenced field with artificial turf that is off limits at all times.

During the winter months I like to take dogs here because it's usually very quiet, and the high winter tides make the beaches impractical to visit.

 

Playtime at Lochside!

How Does Your Cat Drink Water?

Here's something to lighten your day...

Make sure to watch it to the end...it just gets funnier and funnier.

Thetis Lake -- another favorite off leash area.

Thetis Lake Park consists of two joined lakes, Upper Thetis and Lower Thetis.
One of the nicest park close to Victoria, excellent hiking and fishing all year round. Beautiful forested trails around both lakes with views of surrounding area from the summit.

Take the Hwy 1 and exit 10 or 1A from Victoria onto the Old Island Hwy 14 turn right at the 6 Mile Pub onto 6 Mile Road follow to park.

You'll find the main parking lot to your left as you enter the park. This is fine if you only have one dog and you want to do the Lower Thetis walk.  If your dog likes to go into the water there is a nice beach here but it's generally way too crowded in the summertime.  The walk around Lower Thetis Lake should take you about an hour.  It's a bit shorter than the one around Upper Thetis, but there are more hills to go up and down.

Since I always have a pack of 5 or 6 dogs with me I like to continue on the road, past the main beach all the way to the end where you will find a smaller parking lot and a beach at Upper Thetis.

There's only room for about 15 vehicles in the small parking lot but since most folks park in the main lot that you drove past when you were coming in, there's almost always a spot here in the off-months.  In the summer months you need to get here early to get a spot.   Parking costs $2 per day during these months, but since the ticket is good for all day most people thoughtfully leave their still valid ticket behind for the next person when they leave.

Lizzie at Thetis

The trail around Upper Thetis starts and ends at the small parking lot.  It's relatively easy with lots of variety for the dogs and many spots where they can cool off or just romp and play in the water.  One reason I like to bring dogs here is because the parking lot is the end of the road so there is absolutely no danger from vehicles to worry about.

This walk generally takes about an hour, but this can sometimes stretch longer, depending on how much fun the dogs are having.  Sometimes they just don't want to get out of the water.

Cute Tricks...but can he mow the lawn?

Cats are Cool (sometimes)

"To gain the friendship of a cat is a difficult thing. The cat is philosophical, methological, quiet animal, tenacious of it's own habits, fond of order and cleanliness, and it does not lightly confer its friendship. If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend, but never your slave. He keeps his free will, though he loves, and he will not do for you what he thinks is unreasonable. But if he once gives himself to you it is with absolute confidence and affection"
- Theophile Gautier, 1850

While dogs constitute the lion's share of our business, an increasing number of Victorians are going on vacations and leaving their cats at home.

Being of an independent nature, most cats are just fine with this arrangement.  Providing, of course, that their owners have made arrangements for substitute servants to come by to change their litter and replenish their food.

This is where we come in.


We love cats...just about as much as dogs...and we consider it to be a perk of the trade to get to meet so many of them.  But the thing about cats...you just never know what you're going to get.  Some cats are affectionate and are there to greet us at the door, meowing and purring for attention the moment we walk in.

And then, there's Baxter...the gorgeous Abyssinian also known as Psycho Cat.


Happy and affectionate one minute.  Hissing and scratching the next.

It never gets dull.