Pets
Paws for Play
Have Fun with Your Dog This Summer
By Dr. Anna van Heeckeren
Are you and your dog connecting through play? It might be of benefit for you and your dog, for body and mind.
Each dog has a unique personality, play preference and health status. Consider the health and interests of both you and your dog to help you find an activity that you’ll both enjoy.
Play Styles
Some play may take physical work. There may be running, jumping, squatting or even dancing involved. Some dogs are perfectly happy being a couch potato. Others need extra play in their lives to keep them happy at home. Activities include agility, herding sheep (check out Lake Farmpark in Kirtland), freestyle musical dance and dock jumping. Go to Wikipedia.com to find a much longer list of dog sports.
Before starting any kind of play, make sure you and your dog are fit. Ask your doctor if you’re healthy enough for the physical stress associated with the planned play. Make sure your dog is current on all recommended vaccinations, is on year-round parasite control and doesn’t have any physical ailments that could make play painful.
You may want to consider using a professional dog trainer. The veterinary team led by Dr. Elizabeth Feltes at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls strongly recommends finding a trainer who has certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (ccpdt.org). Be aware that many dog trainers do not have this certification because it’s not required by law. They will tell you they don’t need it or may try to discredit the certification.
To find a dog trainer, consider reading “How to Choose a Trainer,” available through the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB.org). One dog trainer in the Cleveland area is veterinarian Dr. Carolyn Lincoln, who owns Play to Behave. She’s trained and has shown her own dogs in agility.
Check out BringFido.com to find dog-friendly things to do in Northeast Ohio. Many communities have dog walk events, dog parks and dog parades.
Dr. Anna M. van Heekeren, MS, DVM is founder, president and CEO of One Health Organization in Gates Mills. She can be reached at 216-920-3051 or I[email protected].
