'MO - May 2008 - (Page 10)

community authentically? That varies, just like with people, but I’d say dogs like to sniff, chew, chase, hunt, herd, fetch, and walk or run with the pack. Cats like to stalk, pounce, scratch, climb and some cats, that hung out with the wrong crowd as a kitten, like to get high. Since most cats don’t go out much with their humans, their recreation needs are ﬁlled around the house with scratching towers, feather chasers and, ahem, catnip. Dogs have the beneﬁt of going out for adventures, and if you don’t take your dog out with you, I recommend doing so. The new smells alone make outings with your dog a fulﬁlling experience and for the city dogs, an outing into nature can be as therapeutic for your dog as it is for you. There are also more organized ways to stimulate your dog’s body and mind. Agility is a great activity that provides exercise and challenges the mind and is a great match for almost any dog regardless of breed. There is also a long list of breed-speciﬁc events like lure-coursing for sight hounds like greyhounds and whippets, Earthdog for dachshunds and terriers and places like “Ewe-topia” in Roy, WA where you can take your dog to try their paw at sheep herding. I took my German shepherd mix to Ewe-topia and within ten minutes I had an utterly exhausted dog! A fun indoor game to play with your dog is “Find-It”. To teach this game you start by just putting a treat on the ﬂoor and when your dog eats it say, “Good Find-It!” Repeat this several times and then move to a different spot. Once your dog starts to get hang of it, put the treat behind something while your dog watches you and then say “Find-It”. When your dog eats the treat praise, “Good Find-It!” Finally, place some treats around the room while your dog is closed in another room. Once the treats are placed, bring your dog in and tell him to “Find-It!” By now he should know to start snifﬁng and looking and you can give him some hints at ﬁrst until he really gets the picture. This game is a good way to cure boredom on a rainy day and burn some mental energy. If your dog is not food motivated, you can use his favorite toy or ball as the hidden object. It is a fun exercise for dogs to search for things with their noses. Regardless of what your recreation with your pet looks like, he or she will appreciate doing something new and fun and connecting with you in a way the leaves you both refreshed. Quality time is quality time and everyone needs it in some way, shape or form to feel balanced and connected. Break up the monotony of the day-to-day routine by trying something new and you will have a happier and therefore better-behaved pet! Julie is a graduate of the university of Vermont with a b.s. in animal science. Find her on the Web at www.sensitivedog.com. Pet ProJect Beyond Fetch by Julie Forbes According to Dictionary.com, “recreation” is: “Refreshment of one’s mind or body after work through activity that amuses or stimulates; play”. What qualiﬁes as recreation for our pets? Do our pets even need recreation? Unfortunately, many pets live their daily lives without enough work to warrant the need for refreshment. If anything, actually having work to do would probably be the most refreshing thing for our household animals since they generally don’t have to work for survival. In any case, recreation is being engaged in an activity that one authentically enjoys and is a form of natural expression. It is the connection to one’s authentic self in the context of having fun that makes recreation truly “refreshing”. What do our pets like to do naturally and 10 celebrating seattle’s gay community http://dictionary.com http://www.sensitivedog.com http://www.sensitivedog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - May 2008

'MO - May 2008 Contents Letter From the Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project 'mo-BIZ: SeattleMeds Pharmacy 'mo-Money: The Federal Reserve 'mo Magazine Interview with Will & Grace Star Leslie Jordan Form & Function: Better Legs By Summer Healthy Alternatives Vancouver: Heading North in Rail Time Book Review: Where Are You Now? By Mary Higgins Clark Seattle International Film Festival Preview Capitol Hill Guide SceneOut: People@Places 'mo-Single Q&A

'MO - May 2008

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