Grayslake man, dog attempt to break record

A Grayslake man who already has several Guinness World Records took his best friend to the Lake County Fair Friday to get one of his own.

Alex Rothacker, a dog trainer who owns TOPS Kennel, had his 2-year-old standard poodle, Sailor, walk backward on top of a large ball for the full length of the Lake County Fairgrounds' Expo Center building in Grayslake. The event was part of the Lake County Fair, which runs through Sunday.

The dog covered the 300 feet in one minute and 49 seconds in front of dozens of amazed people. Sailor then stood on the ball and calmly waited while Rothacker answered a few questions from the audience. Sailor then walked on the ball back to the other end on the building.

Rothacker said the dog was going to be euthanized at 6 months old because he had bitten several people.

"I deal with a lot of aggressive dog behavior and now he loves people," he said.

Rothacker said he will submit documentation of the walk to the Guinness World Records, and he and Sailor will travel to New York in September to attempt another world record - Sailor will try to walk up 18 stairs on his hind feet in 12 seconds.