Cleveland dog activities – Dogs in the CLE

Dog-Friendly Road Trip: Put-in-Bay

We are lucky to have so many fun, dog-friendly places within a short drive of Cleveland. One that I have been wanting to hit up for a while with the dogs is Put-in-Bay island. Located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay is a popular summer destination for those looking for an Island party scene, but is also a great place to take your dog for patios, fun walks and sight-seeing.

I decided to plan my trip in September, thinking it would be less crowded, and less hot. I was right on one point, it was definitely not crowded. Unfortunately though, it was also one of the hottest days this summer. The heat definitely impacted our options with the dogs since Hunter is very heat averse, but we decided to make the best of it anyways.

Here is a rundown of what we did if you are looking to plan a trip to Put-in-Bay with your dogs.

How to get there

Both Jet Express and Miller’s Ferry allow dogs to travel on their boats over to the island. Just be sure to check the schedule if you are going in the off season. We didn’t plan ahead well and got to Jet Express only to find out that it doesn’t run on weekdays after Sept. 9. Luckily, Miller’s Ferry still runs on Fridays in September and is not too far from the Jet Express, so we were able to drive over there to pick up the ferry. They do have more limited hours and don’t take cars roundtrip on certain days during the off season, so read the site carefully when planning a trip in the off-season.

On Miller’s Ferry, dogs can ride on the lower level with the cars. Although it doesn’t drop you off as centrally on the island and is a more cargo-like experience than Jet Express, it’s still an easy option for getting to the island with your dogs. If you take Miller’s Ferry, you will want to rent a golf cart since it’s a farther walk to the main area of the island from where they drop you off. There is a golf cart rental place right next to where Miller’s Ferry drops off.

What to do

Put-in-Bay has a number of parks, and even recently opened a dog park on the island. There are a lot of fun areas to walk with your dog on the Island. You can walk around the Main Street to see the shops or take more scenic walks through the parks and along the lakeside. Most of the shops on the Island are dog-friendly, although it’s always a good idea to ask before bringing in your dog.

South Bass Island State Park is a great spot for a dog hike if you go on a less hot day. We couldn’t add it to the agenda knowing our dogs would barely make it a half mile, but from my research it looks like a good option for a nice Island walk. The park offers scenic views of Lake Erie as well as beach access.

And if you can’t get much of a walk in, there are a lot of great photo opportunities around the island for your dogs!

For a little history, you can walk around the grounds of the Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial.

The new dog park, Island Paws Dog Park, on the island is located very close to where the Miller’s Ferry drops off. The park just opened this past May and provides a large space for dogs to roam and play. It didn’t look to have beach access to me, but it was hard to tell based on our visit when no other dogs or people were there.

For the more adventurous pup, you can also rent kayaks at Kayak the Bay near Oak Point to take your dog out on the water. http://kayakthebay.net/additional-information/

We didn’t rent kayaks, but we did get some cool pics on the jet skis at the ice cream place 🙂

Where to eat

We stopped at the Reel Inn to find some shade and water for the pups after arriving on the island. The patio out front isn’t too large, but was able to accommodate the four dogs we had with us since it wasn’t crowded. The service and food was very good, so I would definitely recommend making a stop there if you visit.

And of course, there’s nothing better than ice cream on a hot day!

Other recommended dog-friendly patio options are: Goat, Boardwalk, The Keys, Chicken Patio, Hooligan’s.

The storm clouds started to move in toward the end of the day, but thankfully the weather held up and it only began to pour on us as we got to the parking lot on our way home. Some of the dogs were not too pleased with us for the long walk we had to make in the rain to get to the car. (Sorry Roscoe!)

Have you been to Put-in-Bay with your dogs? What was your favorite thing you did?

New Business Spotlight: The Canine Country Club

As we all know, Cleveland is full of more bad weather days than good ones, which can make it hard for those who like to keep their dog active. Since I got a dog I have wished Cleveland had an indoor play option. Thankfully, my prayers were finally answered in July with the opening of The Canine Country Club in North Olmsted.

The Canine Country Club offers an indoor activity room for your dog to play in, as well as an indoor swimming pool. In addition to those services, the Club also offers massage (with Hunter’s favorite masseuse Diane Pekarek) and reiki services and hosts various training classes and seminars. In order to use the facilities, you have to show vet approval (they have a form on their site), so any dog entering the facility has to be up to date on shots — making it a much more appealing option than a dog park.

The Club is not to be confused with an indoor dog park as the activity room is really designed for you to play with your dog one-on-one. You can sign up with a friend though, to give your dog some play time with another buddy. You can also drop off your dog for a half hour of play time with one of the Club’s staff members. A great option if you are running errands but want to get your dog out for some fun.

You can register on their site to sign up for a half hour of swimming or to have your dog play in the activity room. Hunter and I went last week to try out the swimming and check out the facility. We signed up for the swim orientation, which all dogs must compete first. Although Hunter has been to various dog swim events over the years and loves a good kiddie pool romp, he hasn’t really done a lot of swimming. I was excited to see how he would do.

At the swim orientation, they help you determine your dog’s life jacket size and will assess their swim ability and decide what the next steps for future swim sessions are. Your dog can continue with full assisted swimming after the first lesson, or if they are very comfortable, they could move on to independent swim. The key lesson they focus on in the orientation and future assisted swim sessions will be getting the dog to use the ramp in and out. Once a dog is comfortable with that, it’s likely they’d be good with an independent swim.

Multiple dogs can also use the pool, as long as the owners all agree, and they’ve completed the swim orientation and are good independent swimmers.

It took Hunter a little while to warm up to it, but once they broke out the hot dog, he was all in. The staff was so kind and patient, really focusing on making it fun and low stress for him. It was really fun to see Hunter get comfortable enough to doggie paddle around the pool.

See a video here: https://www.facebook.com/DogsintheCLE/videos/2943320895740907/

We also checked out the activity room, which has lots of balls to play with and some agility equipment. Hunter loved having a big open space to run around and he got lots of attention from the staff, which is his favorite thing.

The Club will be hosting more events over the upcoming months, so make sure to follow them on Facebook to stay up to date. https://www.facebook.com/CanineCountryClubCLE/

You can visit them online at: https://www.caninecountryclubcle.com/

Cleveland Doga events this summer

I’ve always been curious about Doga (dog yoga). Dogs already have a natural inclination toward yoga poses, so of course, Doga should be something they would excel in. It’s typically been hard to find yoga places that offer this, but this summer, all of the sudden, there is an abundance of doga events in Cleveland.

Hunter and I attended our first doga class last month. Hosted by Milo and Me, the yoga class was led by Marcia at Pink Lotus Yoga. It was a very laid-back class focused on allowing you to spend some time with your dog while trying yoga poses. Really, it’s just nice to be able to bring your dog with you while you exercise, Hunter didn’t actually do any downward dogs — even though he could show us all a thing or two about the correct way to do one!

Look how excited Hunter is to be doing doga!

Photos courtesy of Milo & Me and Pink Lotus Yoga

Did I mention there was a Newfoundland at doga? See big dog owners, don’t be scared to take your dog out!

There are several other doga events to check out this summer, all hosted by Doga Love. The classes are more focused on bonding with your dog, not putting the dog into yoga poses, so it’s a good way to get out and spend some relaxing quality time with your dog.

Yoga with your dog at K9 Cleveland
Multiple dates

All levels doga class led by Doga Love. $10 for the session. K9 Cleveland members can pay there or others can pay the $10 to paypal.me/loveforanimals1. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1732545633514721/

Yoga with your Dog Terrestrial Brewing Company
July 28th , 9:30 am to 10:30 am

Another all levels class hosted by Doga Love. $10 for the session. Find out more here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/682608082165122/

Doga at Lakewood Park
Multiple dates

Doga Love also hosts classes at Lakewood Park, you can find out more info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/784021755348492/

Not a doga event, but you can also attend a yoga fundraiser for R.E.A.L Rottweiler Rescue on July 14. They will host an all levels yoga class outdoors at Towpath Crossfit to raise money for their organization. There will also be dog vendors and adoptable puppies. Cost is $10 and you can find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/332530927631246/

Dog-Friendly Easter Egg Hunts

You may think Easter egg hunts are only for kids, but lucky for us, this is a perfect activity for dogs too. This Easter season the Cleveland area has several fun dog Easter egg hunt events to get your dog out using his favorite sense – his sense of smell. Oh yeah, and his other favorite sense –taste, for all of the yummy treats he’ll find!

A couple words of caution: if you do have a dog that is very food aggressive, some of these events may not be the best for him. Dogs will be on the hunt for treats, so we want to keep things fun. Also, many of these events require you to register or purchase tickets in advance, so don’t delay.

Check out our calendar for other fun Easter photo events to take your dog to: http://dogsinthecle.com/dog-friendly-events/

April 6

Easter “Bone” Hunt
10am – 12pm
North Royalton Animal Hospital

This annual Easter “Bone” Hunt will also include a complimentary photo. The first hunt begins at 10:30 am, followed by another one at 11:30 am. This event is held indoors and all friendly dogs are welcome. Refreshments will be served. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/429880177555305/

Social Treat Hunt
2pm – 5pm
Terrestrial Brewing Company

Social Paws will be hosting this fun Easter event at Terrestrial Brewing Company. Dogs will search for eggs filled with treats and freebies including one “Golden Egg” with a special prize. Easter egg hunts will start after 2pm and there will also be local vendors you can also shop, as well as snacks and drinks of course. There will be two “hunting” sessions – small dogs at 2:30 and medium/large dogs at 3:30.

While it is a free event, they are requesting you pre-register your dog on Eventbrite so they know how many eggs to hide. Raffle baskets will also be sold at the event to benefit the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter and adoptable dogs will be on hand. Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/events/454602008640882/

April 13

Duke’s Easter “Egg”stravaganza Fundraiser
11:30am – 3:30pm
Duke’s K9 Dash N’ Splash

A little farther out east, Duke’s K9 Splash will be hosting a dogs-only Easter Egg Hunt. There will be eggs scattered all around for dogs to find and some of the eggs will have different prizes and treats for humans too. There will also be pictures with the Easter Bunny and raffles. A $10 donation to Never Surrender Pet Pantry per dog will get you into the event, but you must register in advance. There will be a limited number of tickets available for each time slots in order to maintain everyone’s safety. Onsite tickets will not be available unless there is room to add more dogs. Each dog with a pre-paid ticket will receive a FREE water canteen with detachable water bowl and strap.

Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/624725051318220/

Easter “Begg” Hunt
Three Dogs Bakery
12- 3pm

This Easter “Begg” Hunt hosted by the newly opened Three Dog Bakery includes a walk with your dogs through the Hingetown neighborhood to collect eggs filled with dog treats. The event starts at the Bakery where you will receive a bag for your goodies and a list of all participating businesses. At each business you’ll be given a plastic treat filled egg. Each dog needs their own ticket. You can find out more and get your tickets here: https://www.facebook.com/events/260068058279087/

April 14

Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs
11:30am – 3:00pm
B.A.R.K Akron Dog Park

For our furry friends a little south of us, don’t miss the “Eggciting” Easter Egg Hunt at Akron Dog Park. This event requires advanced online registration at https://www.akrondogpark.org/events-1/easter-egg-hunt-for-dogs-2 since a limited number of tickets will be sold. Walk-up tickets will not be sold. A $10 donation per dog (limit three dogs per human companion) is the fee. The park asks that you bring your own basket or container to collect eggs in. Visit www.akrondogpark.org/events for more info.

2nd Annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt
12pm – 3pm
Market Square at Crocker Park

This indoor/outdoor event will include multiple dog Easter egg hunts, raffle baskets, vendors, coloring table, photos with the Easter Bunny, and more, to raise funds for City Dogs Cleveland. Admission is free, but a donation to City Dogs at the door is strongly encouraged. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/412916069484131/?active_tab=about

Easter Egg Delivery

If you don’t have the most social dog but you want to have your own Easter egg hunt, Live Love Rescue can help you out. The rescue group will deliver 100, 50 or other quantities of treat-filled eggs to your home. Eggs will be delivered the night before Easter, and you have to order by April 10. You can also order candy-filled eggs if you want to get some for children, while supporting the rescue group (just don’t mix up the dog treats and kids treats if you are doing both!). Find out more information here, including what cities they’ll deliver to, here: https://liveloverescueohio.com/index.html

Oh hey, while you’re here – please stop by Twitter and give me a vote for best twitter account in CLE. I am losing bad to the NE Ohio Sewer District. Sewers or Puppies? Should be an easy choice! https://twitter.com/playcle216/status/1108807180789141504

The Winners!

The results are in! You voted on the best places in Cleveland for dog lovers, and we have the winners. Although there were a few surprises, in most cases, the places that are most involved in the dog community, with events and promotions aimed at dog lovers, ended up winning out.

The awards had a great response, so thank you to everyone who voted. I love how much the Cleveland dog community has grown and I am excited to see some local businesses that have really embraced dog lovers and gotten involved in the community receiving recognition.

So, without further ado, here are the winners:

Best Dog Park – Lakewood Dog Park

Lakewood Dog Park has always had a strong connection to the west-side dog community, so it’s not surprising to see it take the top spot. Although not technically a dog park, Edgewater Beach got a lot of votes as well, making it a close second. Read our dog park tour of Lakewood Dog Park here: http://dogsinthecle.com/cleveland-dog-park-tour-lakewood-dog-park

Photo courtesy of the Lakewood Dog Park Facebook page.

Best Patio – Luxe

Cleveland has a lot of great dog-friendly patios, so it’s not easy to just pick one. I think Luxe takes the top prize, not only because they do a dog-friendly “Bow Wow Brunch” every Sunday during the summer, but also because it’s just a really pretty patio, and it’s just nice when dogs are allowed on a patio that is one of the best in Cleveland. Visit their website here: http://luxecleveland.com

Photo courtesy of the Luxe Facebook page.

Best Hike- Rocky River Reservation

This was a tough call, as many people just put “Metroparks” or “Cuyahoga Valley National Park” as their answer. I guess I should’ve been more specific about naming trails or specific areas. Rocky River Reservation got the most votes for a specific part of the Metroparks, so it is the winner. With the Fort Hill stairs and the dog-friendly nature center, the North Olmsted part of the trail is one of Hunter, Roscoe and I’s favorite.

At the Rocky River Reservation, Berea Falls Scenic Overlook

Best Dog-Friendly Brewery – Terrestrial Brewing Co.

It was a close call between Terrestrial and Sibling Revelry Brewing in Westlake. But with its numerous dog-friendly events, dog bowl promotions and generally being known as a place to bring dogs of any size, Terrestrial took the top spot for dog-friendly brewery. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with all of the dog events they host: https://www.facebook.com/terrestrialbrewing/

Photo courtesy of the Terrestrial Brewing Facebook page.

Best Dog-Friendly Store – Milo & Me

Happy to see Milo & Me take the top spot as this new business venture is really picking up a following among dog and fashion lovers in Cleveland. Jessica, the owner, hosts a lot of fun dog-events so this is definitely a top store for CLE dog lovers to visit. Follow on Facebook to find out about events : https://www.facebook.com/shopmiloandme/

Photo courtesy of the Milo and Me Facebook page.

Best Day Care – TIE -Camp Bow Wow and Inn the Doghouse

This tie is probably more indicative of where people live than anything else. Since people tend to pick daycares close to where they live, the answers can really vary for what is the best. Camp Bow Wow has a lot of locations around the city (Strongsville and Westlake got the most votes individually), and Inn the Doghouse is located in Lakewood and just opened a location in Mentor. Check them out at www.campbowwow.com and https://innthedoghouse.com/

Photo courtesy of Camp Bow Wow Facebook page.

Best Trainer – Fortunate Fido

I was happy to see Fortunate Fido win as I have taken Hunter there for several classes and love all of the trainers there. Fortunate Fido does a lot of fun classes, including Rally, Parkour and Scent Games. Hunter got his therapy dog certification done through them and is now taking Rally. See their upcoming classes at: http://www.fortunatefido.com/classes-training-all

Photo courtesy of Fortunate Fido Facebook page.

Best Photographer – Greg Murray Photographer

An active member of the Cleveland dog community and pit bull advocate, it was no surprise to see Greg top the list. You may know him from his Peanut Butter Dogs book which gained national attention in 2017. Greg is not only a great photographer and a genuine dog lover, but just a really nice person overall. Check out his website at http://www.gmurrayphoto.com

Greg's book, Peanut Butter Dogs. — Greg’s book, Peanut Butter Dogs.

Best Local Dog Instagram – Sweet Life of Rudy

Ok, so this one was funny. I really didn’t know what to expect, but since I love IG so much so I wanted to see what accounts others love. Pretty much everyone just voted for their own dog’s account (which hey, I would’ve done the same, no judgement), so there wasn’t a big standout winner. Sweet Life of Rudy did get the most votes, followed closely by Disco the House Elf. Give them a follow! @SweetLifeofRudy and @Disco.the.House.Elf

What CLE needs – Indoor space for dogs

I kind of figured this would be the answer, but always like to hear what other people think we need Cleveland. I totally agree we need more indoor spaces to take dogs during the winter. We live in a city with winter for six months, how do we not have an indoor park or activity center for dogs? CLE Run, which I recently wrote about, is the closest we have for now. Read about them here: http://dogsinthecle.com/the-cure-for-your-dogs-winter-blues-cle-run

Cover image photo collage: Soza Fitness and Wellness (middle left), Rescue Village (middle right)

The Cure for Your Dog’s Winter Blues – CLE Run

Update- CLE Run will be closed at the end of March (2019.)

Looking to get your dog some exercise during these cold winter days? Well, Cleveland finally has a new indoor play option for your dog – CLE Run.

Located in Valley View, CLE Run is an agility training center, but also offers obedience classes and space you can reserve for indoor playtime, walks and agility practice.

Hunter and I stopped by recently to check out one of their drop-in agility classes. The cost is $20 for an hour session with an agility trainer who takes you through the basics. (Learn more about agility here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/how-to-watch-an-agility-competition-101-prepare-to-get-hooked-on-the-sport/) This drop in class is good way to expose your dog to agility, and is a fun activity to do during the cold winter months when it’s challenging to exercise your dog. And if it turns out your dog loves it, you can check out CLE Run’s other classes.

I am glad I took Hunter to try the agility out before signing up for a course, because I found that this type of large, loud facility is not really his thing. He got spooked, I think by the noises from dogs in the main room and from the industrial fans, and pretty much shut down and would not participate in any of the agility activities. The instructor assured me that a lot of dogs get overwhelmed in these large, open spaces, and it would probably just take a few visits to get him comfortable. We are going to go back and try to reserve space for playtime and walks to get him more comfortable.

I have heard from other dogs who have gone and loved it, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you have a high energy dog you want to get out to exercise. If you don’t want to try agility, you can reserve a half hour time ($10) to play in their 117″24 space where you can throw a frisbee or ball for your dog. There’s a three dog limit, but you could bring a doggie friend for playtime too. You can also reserve a time online to walk around the facility, a great idea for these -2 degree days!

Check them out at https://cle.run/

And, don’t forget to vote in our first ever Dog-Friendly Cleveland Awards. I will be closing the voting in a few days. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VWGHKWZ

2018 Halloween events for Cleveland dog lovers

October is one of the best months for dog lovers in Cleveland. There are costume contests, Halloween and fall-themed photos and yappy hour parties spread all throughout the month. For those of us who love seeing dogs dressed up in costume (and who doesn’t really?) this is going to be a fun month.

Here is a list of some of October’s can’t-miss Halloween events. Oct. 20th is going to be busy day with no less than five Halloween events that day! Pace yourself! And, don’t forget to check out the dog-friendly events calendar for everything else going on this month for dog lovers.

Oct. 13 – 2nd Annual Corg-a-ween Meetup

Held from 11 am- 2pm at Wadsworth Community Dog Park, bring your corgi (or other friendly corgi-loving dog) to enjoy some frapping and costume contests. The contests, which include Scariest Corgi Costume, Most Original Corgi Costume, Most Creative Corgi Costume, The Spooky Corgi Race, begin at 12pm. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1089478957872152/

Oct. 13 – Howl-o-Ween Fall Festival and Fundraiser

The annual event features a kid and canine friendly costume contest, as well food, games, raffles and entertainment from police dogs. The party will be held from 11 am to 3 pm at B.A.R.C. Akron Dog Park on Memorial Parkway. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/316413672267920/

Oct. 18 – Yappy Hour Halloween Party

Yappy hour at Pet-Tique is back! Dress up your dog and celebrate Halloween while supporting City Dogs Cleveland. Event will be held under the tents outside and a $10 donation is suggested at the door. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/469253593568865/

Oct. 19 – Howl-o-ween Party for Dogs

Stop by the Mentor Dog Park from 5:30 to 6:45 pm for a fun Halloween party just for dogs! There will be contests and prizes. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/561284184286873/

Oct. 20 – Spooky Pooch Parade

This is one of the most fun Halloween events in Cleveland! Come see the parade of dogs dressed up in some very creative costumes, or register your dog to walk in the parade and strut his stuff. There will also be vendors there and prizes for the best costumes. Pre-registration for the parade is $10 per dog and day-of registration is $15 per dog. Festival begins at 12:30, but the parade starts at 2pm. Find out more in this month’s issue of CLE Dog Magazine, or visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1575118199274186/

Oct. 20 – Halloween pictures at Grateful Dog Bakery

Bring your dog (with or without a costume) for a fun fall-themed picture. The cost is $12 for a 4X6 framed print. The pictures will be posted Facebook for a costume contest and winners will be selected for the funniest, cutest and most creative categories. Proceeds will benefit Friendship APL. No appointment is needed. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/254844688451696/

Oct. 20 – Dogtoberfest

K9 Cleveland will be celebrating its grand opening with a fun Halloween themed party from 4pm to 7pm at its facilities near downtown Cleveland. You can enjoy some tasty Oktoberfest themed food, while your dog can enjoy a dog-safe “beer.” Admission is free. BYOB, dog beer available for purchase. RSVPs are appreciated at https://www.facebook.com/events/307624826681525/

Oct. 20 – “Here for the Boos” Halloween party at Nano Brew

Hosted by Rescue Ohio English Bulldogs, bring your furry friend and enjoy an early Halloween party at Nano Brew in Ohio City. Raffles, photos, costumes, and more starting at 5pm. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1988085587931374/

Oct. 20 BarkHappy Cleveland: Trick & Treat Trivia & Costume Pawty

This fun Halloween party includes a costume contest as well as raffles and Trick-or-Treat Trivia. Tickets start at $10 and include a free digital photo of you and your dog from Lindsay Marie Photography, a free daycare pass from Max & Alayna’s Paws Play and other free prizes! Tickets should be purchased in advance and a portion of the proceeds will benefit a local rescue. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/321131795327787/?active_tab=about

Oct. 27 – Pumpkin Patch Pet Photos

Held from 12 to 3pm at Happy Healthy Dogs Mayfield, you can have a photo shoot for your dog in a Pumpkin patch. The cost is $5 for a digital photo and all proceeds will benefit Second Chance Animal Rescue. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2108304706090641/

2018 Cleveland Dog Swim Events

Summer’s not over yet! August and September are full of dog-friendly events to get out and have some fun with your dog. One end of summer event you definitely don’t want to miss is the chance to take your dog swimming. All over town over the next month there will be dog swim events at community pools and recreation centers.

To attend these events, dogs should be up to date on vaccines and on leash when not in the pool. And please remember to clean up after your dogs! No one wants to hang out with their dogs in a dirty pool.

Cleveland Dog Swims 2018

August 15
Dog Dayz at Manry Pool

Cost is $2 per dog and proceeds go to the Lake Humane Society. 6 to 7 pm Small Dogs (weigh under 50 pounds) only and 7 to 8pm Large Dogs (weigh over 50 pounds) only.

August 18^th
Doggie Dip Day

1pm-4pm at Mentor Civic Center Park Pool. Cost is $5 per dog.

Aug. 25
Brookpark Recreation Center

11 am to 1 pm, admission is free for residents and includes a picture with your pet.

Aug. 26
Dog Paddle & Pet-a-Palooza

11 am to 2pm at Hinckley Ledge Pool. Cost is not listed yet, but is typically $5- $10. A liability waiver should be filled out prior to admission. You can find it here: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/getmedia/95e3e3f1-4280-4209-a5f3-5c9b3a749637/2018DogPaddleWaiver.pdf.ashx

Sept. 4
Lakewood Dog Swim

5 pm o 7pm at the Foster Pool at Lakewood Park. Cost is $8 for one dog, $7 for each additional dog. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park. Fill out your waiver here: https://www.lakewoodrecreation.com/user/files/dog_swim_waiver_2017.pdf

Hunter swimming at a dog swim event last year.

Rocky River Dog Swim

For Rocky River residents, this dog swim will be held 6:30-7:30 pm at the Rocky River Rec Center outdoor pool.

Sept. 8
13th Annual Big Splash Dog Party

This dog swim benefits Love-A-Stray animal rescue and will be held from 12-5pm at the Ellen Trivanovich Aquatic Center. This event is always very popular, so to avoid the long lines you can pre-register online for $20 and avoid waiting in line. Day of the event admission is $10. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/288457821734245/?active_tab=discussion

There are also dog contests and fun activities for dogs and people.

September 9^th
Doggie Swim

For Willoughby residents from 1pm-3pm at Osborne Park Pool, 38575 Lakeshore Blvd. Cost is $3 per dog.

September 22^nd
Doggy Paddle

11am-2pm at Twinsburg Water Park, 10260 1/2 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg. Cost is $2 per dog at the door. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/300695434017971/ Bring a donation for Never Surrender Pet Pantry.

That time Hunter got a massage …

When you think of canine massage, you probably picture a dog laying on a table wearing a robe and getting his ears scratched. Or, maybe you think it’s a glorified petting session and just another way cute way to pamper your dog. You may be surprised to know that canine massage is actually a therapeutic practice that can be used to treat all sorts of issues, from stress to arthritis and injuries.

I had no idea what to expect when Hunter got invited to try out a canine massage session courtesy of Diane Pekarek, Certified Canine Massage Therapist and owner of Modern Dog Massage. Diane recently began a partnership with Holistic Lakewood, a human massage studio, to offer canine massage clinics periodically throughout the year.

I figured canine massage would be similar to a human massage and that Hunter would eat it up since he loves to be pet and get attention. In reality, the massage was very different than what you’d expect based on how a human massage goes. Which makes sense, since dogs are very different than humans.

First, there is no table for a dog to lay on. Which is good, since if you think about it, a dog would not be most comfortable laying on a table. As Diane explained, canine massage is all about making the dog feel comfortable, which can mean letting them wander around and get comfortable with their surroundings and the masseuse (as was the case with Hunter), before doing any massage. Since a dog has no idea why they are there, they can’t be forced into receiving a massage, they need to get comfortable with the situation first.

Hunter was definitely a little apprehensive. Unfortunately, I had taken him to the vet right before the visit, so he probably was still in a vet frame of mind when we arrived. Diane was very patient, explaining that many dogs are nervous on their first visit since they really don’t understand what is going on. Diane gently focused on certain areas, noting parts of his body where he was tight, and even mentioning some atrophy he has in his leg from a previous surgery he had. She is very knowledgeable about dogs and their anatomy and I could tell that she was focused on evaluating Hunter to see what his needs were and how best to make this a pleasant experience for him.

She said it can take a few sessions for the dog to get comfortable and understand what is going on, but most dogs adapt to the practice fairly quickly. Hunter spent most of the massage looking at me, which I thought was so sweet. I could tell he was nervous and wanted my assurance that this was ok.

The whole practice of massage was very eye opening to me. We talk so much about the stress relief our dogs provide to us, but do we ever think about all the stress they are taking on living in our world? A typical dog can deal with so much stress on a daily basis – from the anxiety of being left at home all day to the stress of visiting a dog park or accompanying us on our human activities – and it can take a toll on them in many different ways. I love the idea of doing something for my dog to help relieve some of the stress he may be carrying, but is not able to communicate to me.

Canine massage has many physical and emotional benefits, including relieving muscle and joint pain, improving circulation and immune functions, releasing endorphins as well as decreasing stress and deepening the human-canine bond. Although all dogs can benefit from canine massage, it is especially helpful for senior dogs or dogs with recent injuries. Diane encourages pet parents to watch the session and she provides simple massage techniques you can use at home. Each canine massage session lasts 30 minutes and is $40.

To reserve a canine massage session, call Holistic Lakewood at (216) 904-2524. They only schedule canine massages when there are no human massages scheduled, since not everyone may want to be greeted by a dog when going for a massage (crazy I know!)

You can find out more information on massage and Holistic Lakewood here: https://holisticlakewood.com/services/Canine-Massage-Clinic/

You can find out more about Diane here as well: https://www.moderndogmassage.com/ She also offers in-home massage sessions for dogs that don’t travel well and schedules appointments at her studio in Medina too.

Take Your Dog to Work Day is June 22

When take your dog to work day rolls around every June, I am super jealous of anyone who works at a company that participates. I have never worked at a dog-friendly company, or even one that would participate in Take Your Dog to Work Day, and every day when I leave for work I wish I could take my dogs.

(Photo courtesy of Embrace Pet Insurance)

There are so many perks of having a dog in the office – stress relief, mid-day exercise, morale-building – so I can understand why more and more companies are offering the ability to bring dogs to work. Local Cleveland pet insurance provider, Embrace Pet Insurance recently did a survey which found that:

50% of policyholders wished their workplace was pet-friendly
30% of policyholders have pet-friendly employers
70% of policyholders said, if interviewing for a new job, an employer with a pet-friendly workplace would be very appealing.

As more and more companies consider pet-friendly policies, Take Your Dog to Work Day is a great time for a workplace to try it out and see if it’s a good fit. Pet Sitters International, the founder of Take Your Dog to Work Day, has a free toolkit for any employers interested in planning a Take Your Dog to Work day, as well as some sample “dogs at work” policies, which can be found here: https://www.petsit.com/toolkit

To encourage more workplaces to take part in Take Your Dog to Work Day, Embrace Pet Insurance is giving away three prize packs to participating workplaces. The prize packs include a graphic tee, pet bandannas, tennis balls, pet treats and Pooch selfie smartphone attachments. Embrace will accepting entries here: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/TYDTWD-giveaway-2018 until June 12.

Check out the June issue of CLE Dog Magazine for more tips from Embrace Pet Insurance on bringing your dog to work! And check out my Dog-Friendly Office Spotlight of Embrace from a few years ago to learn more about dog-friendly office culture: http://dogsinthecle.com/dog-friendly-office-spotlight-embrace-pet-insurance/

And, if you are taking your dog to work on June 22, please tag me in any photos (@dogsinthecle on IG and Twitter). I’d love to see pups at work!