Calling all pet owners and pooch lovers: The valley’s first top Dog Toy Swap will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 11, at the Hailey Public Library.

People are invited to swap out their pooch’s gently used toys for new ones to enrich their dog’s life or trade toys dogs never liked for ones that strike their fancy.

Dog trainer Tamara Rowe of Rosy Rover Training will be on hand to answer questions. Each participant will also be given a handout describing how to care for and clean dog toys and how to know when it’s time to toss a toy.

“Tamara had heard of other libraries doing something similar and one day she approached us,” said Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs and engagement manager. “We jumped at the chance. The idea behind the Swap is to bring one, take one.”

Rowe is a certified dog trainer professional with the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior. Pryor wrote the book Don’t Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training and is considered to be the catalyst for the positive reinforcement training movement.

“I seem to inherit lots of dog stuff and ran a sort of exchange out of the back of my truck. But I wanted to invite more of the community to reuse and have access to 'new' enrichment items for their dogs,” said Rowe. “It might sound silly, but all dogs need new stimulating things to do to enrich their lives. This helps prevent boredom, which often translates into problem behaviors like digging, chewing inappropriate things and non-stop barking.”

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