Who Let the Dogs In???

Lynda Yielding, from the Muskoka Agility Dogs dropped by this week. Lynda and Dan offer agility classes May through October, and they've got quite a following. The sport becomes more popular every year. And we are all for that -- agility dogs are usually well socialized, well trained. So are their handlers. It's a sport, and both dogs and people work hard to be good.

Come November, the weather starts to be an issue, and being outdoors with the dogs for this sport becomes harder. But there's a core of students who don't want to stop running with the dogs, so to speak.

Up we went to the indoor arena. It's a huge space, safe, secure, bright... and the horses are not in there 24/7... Might it suit them? They've been in other facilities, and found them dusty, the footing too deep or too hard, too 'decorated' with manure... Well, now, let me tell you this... I cannot stand dust, so the arena is maintained in a fashion that eliminates that issue. Along with that, and because it is also a safety issue in the winter, all manure is removed immediately. You really must -- a horse landing on a frozen 'horse puck' might as well land on a stone. Since the only reason one would build an indoor riding arena is to provide optimum footing for the horses, it's an on-going mystery to me why so many have inadequate footing: too deep and you put strain on those treasured tendons and ligaments. Too hard and you pound joints and feet... We've worked hard and done our homework. The folks who erected the arena -- who do almost nothing other than put up indoor riding arenas -- commented that it's some of the best footing they've ever seen. For horses.

Still, you really have to ask the dogs. They have the same issues with footing that is too soft, or too hard. And the handlers have to be able to get around as well. So in they went, with jumps and tunnels and weave poles. Cathy and Hogan ran end to end. Janet and Bandit checked out some of the fill from the horse jumps that can serve as benches and tables. Lynda gathered the troops to explain the rules of behaviour. Bandit was all ears...

It looks like we'll be able to welcome the Muskoka Agility Dogs here during the winter months! We're sure some of our guests would enjoy the chance to go up to the arena and watch them train. It's far enough away that it is quiet, and won't disturb our guests, it's big enough that the dogs can rip and run... it sounds like a lot of fun.

Sadly, we can't permit dogs in our cottages -- we have found over the years that having too many dogs leads to too many problems at the resort, but we have excellent kennels, such as Happy Tails, close by that look after our guests' dogs. There are also too many limitations on what you can do and where you can go with dogs now -- particularly in an area of so much wildlife. Since dogs aren't welcome on public beaches, or on most of the trails in the Park (because of wildlife), can't go to attractions and hate being left stuck in the car or a dog-crate in a strange place, they are very often happiest left at home with a dog-sitter or in a qualified kennel where they can be kept entertained.

That said, we love dogs, so perhaps by having some agility action here (the Muskoka Agility Dogs slogan is "Get Over It") we can have the best of all worlds. We'll keep you posted!