Sticks, and balls — Juno at the Peach Orchard Dog Park

Juno is a well known dog blogger. She has been absent from these pages for a bit. But she’s back, with more energy, and opinion, than ever.

The illustration above says it all. Should I, must I, incorporate AI analysis to improve my experience of chasing balls at the famed Peach Orchard Dog Park, not only for my own benefit but for Papaw and Mapaw who throw the ball?

None of us saw this AI thing coming; we all thought throwing and retrieving the ball was as ancient as time itself. Just throw the damn thing. But no, AI has crawled, furtively and visibly, into everyone’s daily routine, even at the dog park. An AI search for “how to throw a ball for a dog at the dog park” will generate something like the following text [edited for length only]:

 To throw a ball for your dog at the dog park effectively and safely, consider the following guidelines that balance fun with your dog’s health and socialization needs.

Preparation

    Warm-Up: Before engaging in any vigorous activity, take your dog for a short walk to warm up their muscles and joints. This helps prevent injuries during playtime.

    Choose the Right Ball: Avoid using tennis balls, as their abrasive material can damage your dog’s teeth over time. Opt for rubber balls designed for dogs.

Throwing Techniques
    Controlled Throws: Instead of launching the ball as far as possible, throw it a moderate distance. This reduces the risk of injury from high-speed chases and allows your dog to have a more controlled run.

Playtime Management
    Limit Fetch Sessions: Instead of continuous throwing, limit fetch sessions to a few throws followed by breaks where your dog can sniff around and explore. This prevents overstimulation and allows them to relax.

Social Considerations
    Be Mindful of Other Dogs: When playing fetch at a dog park, be aware of other dogs that may want to join in or compete for the ball. If your dog tends to guard toys or gets overly excited around others, it may be best to leave the ball at home or choose quieter times for play.

Conclusion
Playing fetch can be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog when done thoughtfully. By warming up, using appropriate toys, managing playtime effectively, and being considerate of other park-goers, you can ensure that your time at the dog park is enjoyable and safe for everyone involved.

The ideas above are quite good I must say. One area in which it does not excel however is statistical analysis. For this, I must turn to sports, and to baseball in particular. Papaw has just celebrated an important anniversary. He has been a Toronto Blue Jays fan for one year, and what a year. From the very bottom of the AL-east the Jays have had what some call the worst season in MLB History. That said, and despite daily losses, Papaw loves the statistics. He appreciates the desire to improve as a team. With others, he scratches his head as to how this might happen. So what does baseball have in common with dog park sports? There is a direct correlation between hitting results, batter performance, team strategy, and wins.

Take Arron Judge for instance; this New York Yankees superstar has a current season average of 323 with 56 home runs with 139 runs batted in. He is a gifted athlete, along with another superstar, the Blue Jays Vladimir Guererro Jr. “Vlady” comes in with an average of 324 with 30 seasonal homers and 102 RBIs.

I

hope we can take some of this MLB success and apply it at the dog park. Distance is only part of the picture I agree, but I do love a long, flat-out run. The photo above shows some recent throw trajectories. The data indicate a steady increase in distance and greater accuracy.

Truth be told, every ball toss is a winner. Papaw also tests me daily with catching drills. As with baseball, there is offence and there is defence. Now on the threshold of my 5th birthday I am still enjoying the game, actually every game anyone plays with me. I hope you find as much joy with your own four-pawed friends.

Bark, Juno