Welcome to Bay Woof, April 2025

All in for the Sporting Life!

Bay Woof’s annual Dog Sports issue is a lot like our favorite old letter jacket: colorful, cozy, and full of dog hair. But unlike that well-loved jacket, it’s also full of great coaching tips.

Sara Scott lets you in on your dog’s secret weapon in athletic competitions and in life (hint: it’s in the nose). Dr. Julie Smith of Sage Compassion for Animals explains the best ways to keep your dog off the injury bench. Sandy Rogers’ updated article, which originally ran in 2017, tells you how to get started in agility sports using everyday items all around you. And Heather Johnson recaps the joys of flyball, a fast-paced sport you and your pup may want to try.

Elsewhere in the issue, Ren Volpe’s Good Dog column outlines important steps to “detox” a reactive dog, Nose for News recounts record-setting weiner dogs, and Mr. Smarty Pants offers an array of post-game factoids. As always, Red and Howling brings the love and Shelter Zone has the happy endings to push us over the finish line.

Finally, we’d be remiss not to give a special shout out to Animal Commissioner Jane Tobin, who steps down this month with a heartfelt farewell column in Commission Tails. Thank you, Jane, for your many years of service to Bay Area animals and your longtime support of Bay Woof. Whatever your future holds, you’ll always be a first place winner to us.

When all is said and done, dogs are naturals at fun and games. Whether it’s a friendly backyard chase or a formal competition, they don’t care who wins. They’re just all in for the sporting life–and so are we!

Thanks for being on our team,
M Rocket
Publisher, Bay Woof

cover: © Bay Woof 2025; AdobeStock