What did Mia think of the first Play Dogs Run in Nyon?

The first Play Dogs Run has now been over for 3 days. It’s time for a little look back at this canine event organised by the founders of the community dog walking app, Play Dogs. Between the race, the general organisation, the entertainment and other activities, there was plenty to enjoy.

First Play Dogs Run

Play Dogs Run is a dog meet that took place on Sunday 8 October. It was an opportunity to discover a little more about the dog world and to see Mia’s reaction to so many dogs in one place.

This Play Dogs Run is the first event of its kind organised by the Play Dogs dog walking app. I urge you to find out more about the app!

Download the Play Dogs application on :

This event was a great discovery that I can’t recommend highly enough, despite a small hitch in the car park signage which wasn’t the clearest for someone unfamiliar with the area. What followed was a real pleasure. Everything was well indicated.

A short tour of the area

The arrival, as I said, was a bit epic. Without knowing the area, it was a bit complicated to find a parking space for the car. This was sorted out fairly quickly.

Once parked, it was simply a matter of heading for the Village, the place where the various stands could be found:

• Food
• Associations
• Various shops

And, of course, the registration tent, which was opposite the entrance and therefore impossible to miss.

Registration was easy, after a bit of queuing to get her bib. The registration number was all we needed to get the number, with a little vaccination check thanks to Mia’s passport.

In the village, it was possible to give the dogs something to drink as well as having them taste a variety of kibbles at the stands. Almost no need to think about the kibble ration if your four-legged friend eats for lunch like Mia. For her, I preferred to stick to her usual ration of kibble so as not to upset her digestion and thus keep her in tip-top shape.

The organisation in general

The organisation was really well done. By simply opening your eyes and following the instructions given at registration, it was very easy to find your way around. On one side of the road, the stands, on the other the activities. Simple, clear and easy to access.

The only drawback was that the facilities and changing rooms were not accessible with the dog. A minor problem for people coming alone.

Entertainment

A variety of events were on offer. Some were hands-on, while others were demonstrations, such as the police dogs. The events were all interesting and provided plenty to keep you occupied, as well as giving you ideas for various activities you can do with your dog or try out a new one.

This was an opportunity to prepare for the race ahead and to train Mia to understand what was going to happen next, thanks to the mini warm-up game available to everyone.

5 km on foot, it wears you out

And now it’s time to set off along the course. We headed for the start area to announce ourselves. Once the instructions had been given, it was time to follow the 5 km route. Depending on the fitness of the dog and handler, it was possible to stop before or choose the course above (7km). As Mia was in good shape and so was I, we stuck to the 5 km route, as we had to be on time.

The course was really nice, in the middle of the countryside and at the beginning of the forest. The obstacles were varied, allowing Mia and I to have more fun together than just running.

Here, there’s no race to be first or anything else, just to take part and have a good time. That’s how it’s been done from obstacle to obstacle. If Mia didn’t want to do one, that’s fine, maybe the next one would suit her better.

There were pools with pet bottles and balls, tractor rims to pass through, balancing on existing obstacles, working together to climb an embankment with the help of a rope, various obstacles on tractor trailers, bales of straw piled on top of each other, a passage through a spider’s web, a wet tarpaulin used as a slide and moving footbridges, bales of straw piled on top of each other, a passage through a spider’s web, a wet tarpaulin used as a slide and moving footbridges, not to mention, to finish us off, a passage under a military trailli.

The 7km course had a few extra obstacles that I didn’t get to see.

The fact that there was no pressure meant that you could really enjoy the route and the view of the lake, as well as the various plants you came across along the way. It was a really enjoyable experience that I can only recommend to everyone, if possible in a group, for even more fun.

At the end of the course, the runners took a photo and returned their race number to collect a bag full of goodies, ranging from samples for the dog to vouchers for the shops in the village.

Conclusion

It’s clear that next year Mia will once again be taking part in this dog event, as long as it’s still held in Nyon or on the Lake Geneva region. Ideally, you should take part with the group created on the Play Dogs app so that you can spend an unforgettable moment together and get the most out of the event.

If I only had one thing to say: Can’t wait for next year!