COMMUNITY DOG SOCIALISING IN CARNAMAH

Its so important for dogs to spend time with other dogs and we love to see them run-a-mock on the CA Footy Oval a few times each week.

Drinking tubs & trays are supplied as well as toys for the dogs to play with at the oval. On the hotter evenings we set up a sprinkler or small plastic pools full of water for the dogs to frolic in. The kids are welcome to run through the sprinklers and splash in the pools too.

All are welcome: locals, visitors, contractors, blow-ins… just pop in and give a dog a pat!

For more information contact Herby (Shiona Herbert) via blueswalkies@gmail.com or, contact Shiona directly via facebook messenger.

“I’m not sure how my dog will go interacting with other dogs!”

It's so PAWesome to welcome new doggos (and their owners) to our CA Doggy Play sessions. We understand however that it can be a bit daunting taking your precious fur baby to engage in a new experience… WITH OTHER DOGS!

From running these sessions for a while now, we're seeing a typical pattern with new dogs:

1st session: they are happy but overwhelmed and show a lot of submissive body language and/or defensive barking. It can be a bit anxiety provoking for the owner, but the first step is always the hardest.

2nd session: they're more comfortable with the energy of dogs around them but are still a bit wary and hesitant.

3rd session: the new doggo shows more confidence in their dog interactions and we start to see their true personality come out.

4th session onwards: they are initiating play with other dogs; confident to grab a toy, and are ecstatic to run with the pack!

It's beautiful to see their confidence and social engagement grow over time! 😍🐾💙😍🐾💙

Massive CHEERS to all those who make the time to bring their dogs to Doggy Play sessions (whatever your location). Our dogs are so much healthier for it! 🐾🌞🐾🌞🐾🌞🐾

DOGGY CATCH UP’s in THREE SPRINGS

If you’re closer to Three Springs, be sure to join their doggy play sessions held on weekends.

Three Springs cater to the needs of smaller dogs playing with smaller dogs and big dogs running-a-mock together, so that play styles are tailored to dog size. (Although we know plenty of small dogs that love to rough and tumble with the big beasts.)

Check their play schedule via their facebook page Three Springs Pooches. Woof!

MIDWEST WA DOGGY PLAY SESSIONS - how it ALL started

It all started with this basic flyer pinned to community notice boards and uploaded to facebook.

CA DOGGY PLAY 2023 Reflection

Meeting up on a regular basis at the local footy oval between 5pm-6pm for our furry friends to run & sniff has been a wonderful social experience for dogs and humans alike. We kicked the idea off in August and it went from 3 dogs & 4 people turning up on the very first session, to some nights where there were 12 people and 8 dogs attending. It’s been fantastic!

Locals and out-of-towners rocked up.
Visitors staying at the caravan park with their dogs rocked up.
Tradies & contractors staying in Carnamah who brought their dogs with them rocked up.
People without dogs rocked up!

Those who attended exchanged phone numbers for extra dog catch-ups and made arrangements for informal Doggy Day Care sessions. Local kids and teenagers came along to enjoy the safe, fun, social environment of happy dogs. We created a Sunday Session doggy play schedule to meet the needs of those who just couldn’t make it on week-day-evenings. Even a romance blossomed between two attendees of CA doggy play sessions. (Awwww.)

The Carnamah Lions Club generously donated dog toys and locals gave up their old, plastic, sand-pit pools to create Doggo Water World for our fur babies on those ruddy hot days when its still 38 degrees at 5pm! (Dogs still want to run around even on scorching days.)

From August to December, we saw 60 different people attend a CA Doggy Play and we met A LOT of dogs, so we’re really looking forward to cranking up these sessions again in 2024!

CA Doggy Play session when we set up *Doggo Water World* for the beasties to jump and splash around in. THEY HAD A BALL!

DOGGY PLAY SESSIONS IN COOROW… ON THEIR WAY

We’ve been putting diplomatic pressure on the Shire of Coorow to establish an official dog exercise area as we sometimes get people travelling all the way from Coorow to attend the CA Doggy Play sessions. We don’t mind the extra furry play-mates that turn up, but we believe it would be beneficial for Coorow to have its own dog park so that money can go to dog treats rather than petrol costs. We’ve heard on the grapevine that its on the cards. Fingers crossed it will be built in 2025!

If you’re in Coorow, ask a local where they exercise their dogs. The more we talk about it, the more likely a dog park will come to fruition!

Thanks for your support. xx

Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com

2024 CA DOGGY PLAY