West Michigan Dog Sports

09/07/2024

Don't forget this event coming up! It's going to be very fun! Definitely worth going to even if you just spectate. You may even shed a few tears, I don't think there was a dry eye last year MG

▶ Find the Premium Here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:f5fdb503-0ded-4a73-aa12-e41b3ad538bf

Enter a demonstration run to honor our retired agility partners. Re-live your glory days together in a fun run specifically for retired dogs. Share a short history of your dog’s accomplishments to be presented as your dogs runs the field. Feel free to include a photo as well to be display on the Glory Wall.

If you wish to honor a dog partner that is no longer with us, bring along a $5 or $10 donation, photo, and info sheet to be presented during the glory runs.

See the premium for all the information.

Your entry fee is a donation to West Michigan Dog Sports which helps support our mission of bringing dog sports to the community and enabling more people to experience the joy of running with their dog.

The run is happening at the MSA Sports Spot 3701 - 32nd St. SE Kentwood, MI 49512 on Saturday, September 14, 2024 - after completion of the Novice Standard runs in Ring 1

For those not entered, we encourage you come watch the senior dogs run and help celebrate all they've done.

08/31/2024

Coming soon! West MICHIGAN DOG SPORTS and SOLID GOLD DOG TRAINING offering a Fall dog sports try-it day on October 12, rain date October 13. We will be offering agility, rally obedience, scent work and shed hunt demonstrations. More details to follow…please join us!

08/31/2024

▶ Find the Premium Here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:f5fdb503-0ded-4a73-aa12-e41b3ad538bf

Enter a demonstration run to honor our retired agility partners. Re-live your glory days together in a fun run specifically for retired dogs. Share a short history of your dog’s accomplishments to be presented as your dogs runs the field. Feel free to include a photo as well to be display on the Glory Wall.

If you wish to honor a dog partner that is no longer with us, bring along a $5 or $10 donation, photo, and info sheet to be presented during the glory runs.

See the premium for all the information.

Your entry fee is a donation to West Michigan Dog Sports which helps support our mission of bringing dog sports to the community and enabling more people to experience the joy of running with their dog.

The run is happening at the MSA Sports Spot 3701 - 32nd St. SE Kentwood, MI 49512 on Saturday, September 14, 2024 - after completion of the Novice Standard runs in Ring 1

For those not entered, we encourage you come watch the senior dogs run and help celebrate all they've done.

08/28/2024

Last dog day of the season! Don't miss out

Bring out your very good boy or girl to bark at the park with us on our final DOG DAY of the season!!!

🎟➡️ https://tinyurl.com/5db2aytw (No special ticket is needed for your puppers 🐕🦮)

Dog Day presented by BISSELL Pet Foundation

08/22/2024

A great fundraiser last night for WEST MICHIGAN DOG SPORTS at the WHITECAPS ballpark! Our Board Volunteers and spouses worked the main concession stand to raise funds for our effort. Many of us will never want to make pizza, French fries or hot dogs again! Well maybe for a couple of days at least 😊 Many thanks to Pam Smith for organizing our team and making pizzas🤗, and to Jodee, Tom, Jim and Tonja for the fries and hot dog brigade! Great night, and fun too!

08/20/2024

Lend a helping paw?

We'd love to know what sort of fundraising events you want to see. What fundraisers have you participated in with other non profits? Are there specific fundraisers you'd like to see us do or you think would be a good fit?

In the past we've hosted auctions, held try it days, sold merch, and more, but we want to make sure we're bringing you what you actually want to see!

(Also, if you're also in a non profit and you'd be willing to lend us some expertise on running fundraising events, let us know! We'd love to connect! )

08/17/2024

08/16/2024

Don't forget about this fun event!

HSWM has been invited to attend Wag ‘n’ Wade’s seventh annual event! 💦🐕

This event is hosted by the City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation to celebrate the season closing of their public pool at Richmond Park- and they’re letting the dogs run wild! We'll be there with merch for sale, a giveaway, and an information booth on what we provide here at our shelter! Come on out for a day in the sun and let your best friend get a splash in the pool!

Small dogs (less than 35 pounds): swim from noon to 1pm
Large dogs session 1 (more than 35 pounds): swim from 1:15 to 2:15pm
Large dogs session 2 (more than 35 pounds): swim from 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Older dogs (age 8 and older): swim from 3:45 to 4:45pm

Learn more at:
https://tinyurl.com/WagNWade

08/09/2024

Lend us a helping paw?

West Michigan Dog Sports has the opportunity to staff the concession stand at the upcoming West Michigan Whitecaps game on August 21st.

Gordon Food Service donates a set amount based on the # of volunteers + a share of the tips to our organization. This is a great fundraising opportunity that is only available to 501c3 organizations, but we need help to make it happen. In return, you'll receive a free meal voucher plus free entry to the game. Plus you'll be supporting our mission!

Volunteers must be 18+ (if you have 16-17 year olds, please ask) and there is a "uniform" requirement of khaki, black, or grey pants, capris or shorts (no jeans). You must wear a plain t-shirt and a plain hat (or one supporting WMDS). If you don't have a hat, a hairnet will be provided.

Arrival time is an hour and a half before game time and a typical shift is 4-5 hours.

If you have any questions just let us know and if you are interested, please reach out with a message and we can get back to you!

07/30/2024

07/29/2024

West Michigan Dog Sports is a 501c3 non-profit organization with the primary purpose of promoting dog training, including dog sports, for all dogs and their owners. We are in the process of raising funds in order to provide West Michigan with a safe training facility which has the space and equipment necessary for a variety of training programs, dog sports and various community activities.

Please consider donating (You can do so right here on Facebook!) to help support our mission.

07/27/2024

Blink and you might miss these dogs! Starting tomorrow you can watch along on ESPN

Don't miss a single jump, tunnel, or weave!

📺: ESPN | July 28 | 12pm ET

More info: https://bit.ly/3yf1CjB

07/14/2024

Dont miss this trial! It's going to be a fun one 😉

WMDS aims to create an indoor, year round facility for dog lovers to train and compete in dog sports including agility, obedience, and more.

07/14/2024

Want to cool off at least virtually? Check out the AKC Diving Dogs Challenge TODAY, July 14 2024! On ESPN 2 at 4pm.
Here is the link for viewing:

https://lnews.akc.org/u/nrd.php?p=gJm2qZefcY_2924_1046995_1_2&ems_l=1382884&i=1&d=NjI0NDE0NjY%3D%7CZ0ptMnFaZWZjWQ%3D%3D%7COWQyN2FiMDllMDdhNjA3MjE%3D%7CMjAyNDA3MTItYWtjdHYtdHVuZS1pbi1kaXZpbmctZG9ncy1lc3BuMi1zZW5kMg%3D%3D%7CVHVuZStJbg%3D%3D%7C&_esuh=_11_928322d9e2ac8464d79a714ee5cf93a126be0de4f6370bd272ccc90a7229e1ba

07/02/2024

From Bad Dog Agility podcasts, shared to our followers to hopefully help some friends and their dogs this 4th of July:
Does your dog get anxious during Fourth of July fireworks? We’ve got you covered! In our latest podcast episode, we share personal experiences and tips for helping dogs stay calm and secure during the fireworks, discussing both successful and unsuccessful strategies.
You Will Learn
✅ Strategies to create a comfortable and secure environment for your dog during fireworks.
✅ How to prepare in advance with physical activity.
✅ Tips on using background noise or music to drown out firework sounds.
✅ Insights on anti-anxiety medications and natural supplements.

Listen now and make this Fourth of July as tolerable as possible!

In this episode (25:03) In this episode, we share our personal experiences and tips for helping dogs who get anxious during Fourth of July fireworks, discussing both successful and unsuccessful strategies. You Will Learn Strategies to create a comfortable and secure environment for your dog during f...

06/18/2024

Today we honor the incredible dedication of veterinary professionals everywhere. From front desk staff, to veterinary assistants, the vets themselves, and everyone in between. Dog sports couldn't exist with your behind the scenes support keeping our dogs fit and healthy to compete.

06/18/2024

It's DOG DAY!!! Bring your pup out to LMCU Ballpark and enjoy the game with your best friend! Are you planning on going?

Some things to note
- You will not need an extra ticket for your pup.
-The Whitecaps are asking that all dogs are up to date on their shots.

Whitecapsbaseball.com - for tickets
https://www.facebook.com/share/8Kpou1rHHmNMN3ZX/ - the Whitecaps event page

06/15/2024

Watch the AKC Disc Dog Challenge Today!
You can watch all the action from the AKC Disc Dog Challenge on ESPN2 on Saturday, June 15 at 12pm ET by tuning in to ESPN2 on cable televisioin or by signing in on any device. The broadcast will be hosted by sportscaster and commentator Carolyn Manno, with analysis by Jason Rigler, and sideline reporting by Kelly O’Donnell.

06/12/2024

West Michigan Dog Sports is on the hunt! We’re looking for a barn or building in the West Michigan area that could host year-round dog training and sports activities.

Here’s some of what we are looking for:
- Affordable rental costs
- Fully covered indoor space with solid walls
- Approximate area 60x80 ft floor space minimum
- Free of support posts or a larger space with minimal posts, some flexibility here
- Has some storage area as well
- Would allow for sand flooring or turf
- Heated if possible, but we have ways to temporarily heat as needed

Help us sniff out some good options by asking around with your friends, relatives, acquaintances, vets, realtors… well, you get the idea! Let us know if you have any ideas, all ideas are welcome.
Want to help our search, but don’t have any leads? Help us boost this post by sharing a photo or video of your own dog sniffing out a great find!

06/11/2024

As many of you know, our team has been hard at work trying to fulfill our goal of bringing an indoor dog training space to West Michigan. If you have seen our projected timeline over on our website,(https://westmichigandogsports.com/our-journey/) you’ll know we had a targeted opening date for this spring.

We’ve been in talks and negotiating to rent a barn style building in the West Michigan area for around 6 months now. We had big plans for the space and were ready to hit the ground running as soon as the lease was signed. Unfortunately, lease negotiations fell through at the last minute. Our plans have always included making this space available for training classes, individual practice, supporting the youth training group, and providing dog related community events. We were not able to reach an agreement with the building’s owner which would have allowed for the full scope of what we had hoped to provide. Everyone here at West Michigan Dog Sports is understandably heartbroken. We’ve dedicated hundreds of hours of volunteer time to making this dream a reality and having it fall apart so close to the finish line is not at all what any of us wanted to be announcing today, but we were not willing to compromise on our goals.

So the search goes on!

We want to thank those who have continued to support us through fundraising, volunteering, and cheering us on every step of the way. We wouldn’t have been able to even start the negotiation process if it wasn’t for our supporters. Even though it didn’t go the way we had hoped, by working through this process we are substantially better prepared for our next opportunity. Your donations have enabled us to realize we can buy sand flooring, purchase some new equipment, and cover rent for a starter facility. We even had plans in motion for an online scheduling system. We’re ready to get started, we just need an appropriate space.

Please stay tuned and, as always, thank you so much for your support. We really can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate it.

06/01/2024

When the person running your social media has shelties, you can't miss international sheltie day!

Today celebrates all things barking. I mean, sheltie. The sheltie breed standard describes them as, "Intensely loyal, affectionate, and responsive to his owner." These athletic little herding dogs are a popular choice for dog sports due to their speed, intelligence, and biddable nature.

Make our day and show us your shelties!

05/27/2024

What did you do with your dogs this weekend? Any successes to share?

Here's one of our board member's dogs, Annie, who passed her fetch test not too long ago!

05/22/2024

Also check out the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel specialty this weekend! They will have a basket raffle!

05/22/2024

Have you heard about the West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster in Kalamazoo?

This multi-day event will bring over 1,500 dogs to the area for multiple days of conformation shows as well as obedience, rally, and dock diving trials. You can see unusual breeds, watch highly trained dogs, and meet other dog lovers. There will also be vendors with dog related goods available. Anyone can come and watch, but only dogs who are entered are allowed to attend so plan on leaving your pup at home.

Edited to add: There will also be dock diving outside! You can watch dogs run and jump huge distances into a pool of water. (The longest dock diving jump was 36ft 6 inches by a whippet named Sounders)

There's a $5 parking fee for the expo center, but spectating is free! There will also be a food vendor in the Main Expo Center as well as outside.

** Some tips for first time spectators:

- Bring your own chair. Seating generally isn't provided, most people bring folding camp chairs.
- NEVER touch a dog without permission and respect the handler's wishes if the answer is "no." The best time to approach is after they are done competing.
- Don't distract the dogs. Silence your cell phone, keep food away from the ring, and avoid loud noises or quick movements. (Except for dock diving, cheering is generally encouraged there)
- Don't be afraid to talk to people and ask questions, but it's best to wait to speak to the handlers until they are done showing. They may not have the time or energy to chat.
- You can walk through the dog show grooming areas, but be respectful. Stick to the walkways unless invited into someone's space, don't touch or otherwise bother the dogs even if they are sitting out, and move aside for dogs and rolling crates.
- Stay out of the rings even if nothing is currently happening in one.
- There are schedules available with the time and ring number for each breed. You can also purchase a catalog for $10. This will include more information about each dog. There isn't an announcer like you may see on TV so this can help you follow along better.
- Children are allowed, but make sure they are comfortable watching calmly and won't try to touch the dogs.

You can find more info about the event on the page: https://www.facebook.com/Westmchiganappleblossom

The cluster is brought to you by the Battle Creek Kennel Club, the Holland Michigan Kennel Club, the Grand Rapids Kennel Club, the Kalamazoo Kennel Club, and the Greater Muskegon Kennel Club. It's sponsored by Discover Kalamazoo