Can anyone here recommend a relatively quick-growing shade tree suitable for Northeast Washington? One that doesn't have any nasty habits, like dropping unpleasant seeds for my idiot dogs to eat? We're thinking about replacing the trees in the front yard that drool fruit that attracts wasps.

Do you mean a tree that tolerates shade, or a tree to make shade? I wrote the below response thinking the first.

How tall or big?
Can't say I have many suggestion, my favorites (for shade tolerant) would be Magnolia Macrophylla for something odd with very large leaves, Japanese maple, or Pawpaw fruit tree. Though these are just my favorites, so probably not the best ones for you.

So... How near to Spokane?

You are in the mtns?

Or down on the flat?

Lot of different micro climate there...

We need some idea.

Hmm....

https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/c...
The ecology of the Colville is highly diverse with forests ranging from ponderosa pine and Douglas fir on drier sites to western red cedar, western hemlock, western white pine and a excellent variety of deciduous species on wetter sites. The Forest also has a significant acreage of lodgepole pine and the famously beautiful western larch.

Hard to go wrong with trees native to the area...

To be clear, we're looking for a tree that provides shade. It would be in full sun. We are just outside of Chewelah, WA, at an altitude of about 3000 ft.

woofie said: To be clear, we're looking for a tree that provides shade. It would be in full sun. We are just outside of Chewelah, WA, at an altitude of about 3000 ft.

Approximately how large a tree?

Something about the size of the apple tree that's currently out there. I'll see if I can get a picture to give you an idea. We just want something to provide a bit of a shady spot for the dogs.
Edited to add pic of existing tree. We want to remove the apple tree and plant the new tree a few feet over to the right. Something about the same size or maybe just a bit larger is what we'd like.

Sounds like a Western Redbud might do the trick for you.

Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

That Western Redbud is very interesting. It's quite pretty. But do those seedpods make a mess? My dog is an idiot who eats anything and everything.

A couple of links to check out for local advice:
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/urbanfo...
https://extension.wsu.edu/loca...
https://my.spokanecity.org/urb...

I would contact the state forestry people to see if they might have a program for selling or giving away trees to state residents. Even if they don't offer free or cheap saplings, they may be a good source for recommendations. Likewise your county extension agent.

I see that you aren't far from Spokane, and here's a pdf link to a list of recommended street trees for city residents: https://static.spokanecity.org...

I think a Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) or Douglas’ Maple (Acer glabrum var. douglasii) might be a good, non-toxic-to-dogs choice. I think both are pretty variable in form, but from what I'm reading, Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) is not vine-like when grown in full sun. Douglas Maple can be a multi-stemmed shrub 6-12' tall or a tree up to 30' tall. I'm not sure if the difference is simply due to pruning, or if there are clones or varieties that are more tree-like and others that are shrubby. A tree nursery or someone at one of the above links can probably provide expert advice.

If it's not inconvenient, a trip to the Finch Arboretum in Spokane might be helpful?

Good luck!

Thanks, Virginia, those look like some good resources.

So, my husband was looking at the trees our neighbor planted when we first moved here, 20 years ago, and he was quite taken by what the neighbor called a "Honey Maple." Now, I can't find any reference to a Maple called a Honey Maple. Do you suppose it might be a Sugar Maple? I haven't seen the actual tree, (it's not in a place I can easily get to) but the pictures I've seen look very nice. Anyone have any thoughts? Disadvantages?

How many years do you wish to wait for the tree to reach said same size.

Trees take time unless you spend the dollars to get a large tree.
Sugar Maples are slow growing; fast growing Maples , often , get bigger than wanted.