Performance Dogs of Ohio gives dogs a new “leash” on life
By: Talia Milewich
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ZANESVILLE, OHIO (WOUB) — Weaving between legs and chasing frisbees is where you’ll find Pepper, one of the puppies showing off their new talents alongside skilled performance dogs.
Though Pepper is making her way toward being an athletic star, just months ago she was in an entirely different situation. “She got rescued from a puppy mill. They were living in the most horrendous conditions,” Ryan said.
He got a call from the rescue center that Pepper, an energetic corgi mix, would make for a great performance dog and she has been “fantastic ever since.”
The group’s performance at the Ohio University Zanesville campus included plenty of tricks, a meet and greet and learning pet etiquette.
The dogs come from humble beginnings as many are rescues or locally bred, and they all are pets first with their star status coming in second.
“The truth is, our dogs are no different than your dog,” Ryan said. “They live with us, travel with us, take up too much room on our beds, bark at everything, and yes, they even drink out of our own toilets.”
Before becoming the performing stars they are, the dogs are first trained on basic obedience. “We make it worth their while by providing plenty of treats and toys as rewards,” Ryan said.
The dogs are then brought into the world of sports where they are taught anything from catching frisbees to completing obstacle courses.
Kaylyne Tillet came to the event because of her adoration of all animals and pets. “I love seeing animals doing these tricks and all these cool things,” Tillet said. She couldn’t pick a favorite of the dogs.
“I like all of them,” she said.
Tillet sat beside Milo Cordell as they watched in awe of the dogs and their tricks. “I love dogs,” Cordell said.
A large part of the show is the audience itself. Many attended to learn more about dogs and their skills. “Seeing the kids smiling, the parents having a good time,” Ryan said. “So by far the audience is what makes the shows.”