National Doodle Romp 2016 in Walla Walla?

[Adina P]

I've wanted to do this for a loooong time.  I think perhaps next year might finally be the time to try it out. 

My town, Walla Walla, Washington is way on the other side of the country from many of you.  But it's a quaint town with culture and a bazillion excellent wineries. 

So I was thinking...it might be fun to host the first annual Doodle Kisses National Doodle Romp here.  Super convenient for me, but would any of you travel for it?  After next year we can move it around to different locations.

How many of you would drive over with your doodle(s)?

How many of you would fly over doodle-less?

How many of you are thinking "No way, crazy lady!"?

If enough people are interested...I can get started planning.  I would most likely aim for May when the local wineries host their Spring Release or June when they do some other thing or another.  BUT that means it would be crowded and hotels booked long in advance.

We have the option of a dog park in College Place (the neighboring town) and there is a nice park next to it.  So we could meet at that park and then those that want to let their dogs off leash could meander over there.  The park has benches so we conceivably have a picnic or get catering. 

What sounds best to others?  Would you prefer a more out of the way park without an official dog park?  A hike/walk?  Take over downtown and visit wineries? 

2/19: UPDATE:  I was going with the tentative date of June 9/10 with the option to stay the whole weekend for those who want to, but no official plans for the weekend.  That seems to conflict with one member who REALLY wants to make it.  So now I'm looking at June 23/24.  The previous week is Spring Release weekend for local wineries and while that doesn't actually conflict with us, it might be really crowded.  Please argue with me over this if you need to.  I don't mind. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think this sounds like a great idea, but we have other trips planned this year and I don't think we could come. 

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

We would LOVE to come and would come but we will be in Italy celebrating my 60th birthday!!!!!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

As much fun as I think this will be, unfortunately, I just looked up the flight info from Jacksonville, Fl. Its an $850.00 flight for me and of course I would have no choice but to come without Doodles. I would love to do it anyway just to meet everyone but that is just a bit too steep for me at this point. I already have other vacation irons in the fire for this year :(

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Someone mentioned snakes in some romp areas (not necessarily in Walla Walla.  However,  I thought I would throw this out anyway. What about offering anti-snake training, for example.  There are dog trainers who specialize in that sort of training.   Might be able to get a group rate.  Perhaps other types of training could also be offered at a group rate.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You just lost me ... I'm not going anywhere that I need snake training to go, lol!

[Sheri and Ruby Lou]

I live in Pendleton, Im so in!!!

[Lee Carstens]

Adina, Can you go to the city hall and parks dept and ask if we might be able to reserve the dog park for an afternoon? If you tell them that we are going to have a National Doodle Romp on that day. Sounds like a great way to get the word out is with the local TV stations and the ones in the Tri-Cities. If you would like I can contact some of my friends in WW to see if they would be willing to have it in their backyards. Also don't know if you have a Craigslist in WW but posting a request for dog lovers to host something like this in their backyard might be possible too. I also agree that there is no need for you to go thru the entertainment route...this is the first one and it may catch on and it can build...no need to kill yourself and I agree that having everyone pitch in $$ to help defray the cost is only common sense. Does Whitman College have any fenced in area that would work. I know that the wineries around the area are a great attraction, do any of them have a large grass area for picnics and are dog friendly! Love the parade idea, you could run that past city hall too, but I would assume that city will tell you that you have to have a permits and won't shut the streets down, but if we stay on the sidewalk it could be fun. I think you can make this as low key as some simple planning and let the dogs do the rest... I also like the idea of alternating west coast/ east coast every couple years would be great. 

[Adina P]

I'm not sure I can reserve the dog park.  I tried several years ago and they didn't have an option for that because it would require someone to be there and turn away dog owners.  I could rent a covered area with tables for a picnic that is nearby and we could possibly have a food truck there for a meal, but the dog park is not reservable from what I can tell.  I don't think Whitman College has a fenced area.  There are a few schools who are either mostly fenced or far away from roads that would let me do it but I'd need an insurance policy.  Lee do you know anything about getting those million dollar insurance policies for events?  DK is not an organization that needs something like that on any regular basis.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't know how big the park is but the one we use in Southern California - we just go and group ourselves together to chat.  The dogs mostly stay nearby and we get other park dogs visiting.  Not a problem at all.  In Las Vegas, they have done the same thing, but their park is in sections and they just 'take over' a section. GBK could tell you how she has done it.  As far as insurance, it is every man for himself because it is a public park and not a scheduled event.

[Lee Carstens]

I found this on the internet....may want to search some of these site....Most say that under $300 is a good deal. Special event insurance is what you want and there are plenty of online purveyors that specialize in weddings, bar mitzvahs, and the like. I'm putting on an event tonight that required liability insurance that I applied and paid for online through R.V. Nuccio I got quotes from a a few providers and they seemed the most reasonable. We've used EventInsure in the past, too, but they seemed more expensive. As for customizing liability amounts, RV Nuccio had a choice between $500,000/$1,000,000 or $1,000,000/$2,000,000. Most seemed to offer only a few options in this regard and in the end most of the cost of our policy was the admin fee. In our case, the total premium was $58 (I assume that's based on the event type and level of coverage) but the fee was $125 and i think that's a flat fee so I don't think changing the amount of coverage would have really mattered all that much.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

This sounds like a lot of fun but because of other trips planned, I don't think I can come.

[Brigitte Ardea]

I would definitely come. We are from Seattle. My preferences - June 9th is my birthday, so that would be perfect for me  :  )

I would also prefer a weekend where it's not so crowded with wine enthusiasts. I love wine tastings, so definitely count me in, but I wonder if they allow dogs (outside). That would be important, because why meet all these doodles if we have to crate them or keep them in the car. If hotels are booked, camping works for me. Perhaps you can suggest camp grounds in the area? Or, are there doodle owners who might want to do an unofficial airbnb? Hikes are always good, your area is lovely for that...