Owners and their dogs will sometimes dress up at Nanaimo Disc Dog events, making it more fun for everyone. (Rachel C. Photography)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Paws-itive fun

Area-club helping make training fun for dogs and owners

Jun 8, 2019 | 6:30 AM

NANAIMO — Training a dog can be hard, but a growing club in Nanaimo wants to make it as fun and active as possible.

The Nanaimo Disc Dog Club started roughly three years ago with only a few members. Upwards of 30 people from all over the West Coast now come to play and train with their dogs in beautiful Cedar parks and fields.

“The last event we had people from Alberta and Washington,” co-founder Christina Gilley told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Events are a mix of fun and play, focused on positive reinforcement for the dogs and having a good time. By turning training into a sport, Gilley said it builds motivation and drive in the dogs to behave.

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Owners and their dogs will also sometimes dress up and make a day of it.

“When I get out there and the dog does something cool with the kids watching, all ‘ooh that’s so cool,’ I think that’s so fun,” Gilley said.

The dogs taking part range from nine pounds to 120 lbs. and play is safe for any type of dog.

“Some dogs, like a big mastiff, you won’t want him jumping off your back to catch a frisbee,” Gilley said. “So he might do better at games where you have to catch a disc in four corners as many times as possible.”

The club isn’t official, with Gilley referring to it more as a group of dog enthusiasts enjoying time with their pets. Any costs are used to cover expenses for field rentals.

You can find more information here.

With files from Jessica Lepp.

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