News

Dock dogs new to DuPage Co. Fair

Posted July 21, 2008 11:00 pm

By Catherine Edman

Speed Retrieve measures the amount of time it takes for the dog to get from the dock to an object tethered on the opposite edge of the pool. Courtesy of DockDogs

Some dogs take to water, like, well, fish.

Those pups that dive in with the vigor of a salmon swimming upstream are the perfect candidates for a new competition at the DuPage County Fair this year. Yes, DockDogs has arrived.

This relatively new type of canine sport involves, primarily, dogs racing down a 40-foot-long dock, then making a flying leap through the air into a pool in pursuit of a favored object, said Brian Sharenow, of DockDogs.

Participants are electronically judged by the lengths of their jumps. The winner flies the farthest in pursuit of their prize.

Novices are welcome, Sharenow said.

The sport started in 2000 with a total of 25 teams, each made up of a handler and a dog. There currently are about 10,000 registered teams, he said, showing just how far the competition has come in a mere seven years.

Since then, two other events have been added: Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. In Extreme Vertical, dogs have a short distance on the dock in which to run then leap out from the dock and upward to grab a suspended bumper, which then drops into the water. The bumper is raised in increments until a winner is chosen.

Speed Retrieve measures the dog that wants the bumper and has the legs to get it the fastest. They take a flying leap off the dock into the water, swim the distance of the pool, and grab the bumper affixed to the opposite side. They trip a laser when they leave the dock and an electronic sensor when they grab the bumper, assuring an accurate gauge of their time, Sharenow said.

The events at the fair will run from July 23 to July 27. Entrants can register both in advance at www.dockdogs.com or daily at the fair. The events will take place on the far north end of the fairgrounds, near the horse barns.

Dogs must be at least six months old to enter and any breed is allowed. Handlers must be at least seven years old, and there is a junior handler class for those between seven and 14 years of age.

Sharenow said they always attract a wide variety of participants, from those who are dedicated competitors to folks who say their dogs love to run and jump off the boat pier during the summer.

DAILY

All day: Dock Dogs, Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show, Buttons the Clown, Pace Bus, Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers, Carrie McQueen stilt walker and variety artist, chain-saw carver Scott Cochrane.

Ag-Ventureland: Camel rides, pony rides, petting zoo, sheep shearing, spinning and weaving, gemologists, wood carvers, Hit 'n' Miss Engines, small engines, pedal tractors, antique tractors, Ask the Farmer, Dairy Farm on Wheels, cow milking, birthing center, Boots & Britches 1923 Dream Camper.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guest relations booth and memory barn open

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carnival open; $25 megapass provides one day of unlimited rides.

WEDNESDAY

8 a.m. Judging of 4-H and junior open class sheep

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Home economics, agriculture science and arts building closed for judging

8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 4-H food and horticulture conference judging and check-in

10 a.m. Family Jug Band, Steven Keefe

11 a.m. Flag Raising Ceremony, DuPage County Marines post colors; West Suburban Home School Band will provide music

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio

12:30 p.m. 4-H Clothing Revue for state fair

2 p.m. Grandpa Ukulele Steven Keefe

2 p.m. Judging of 4-H and Junior open class beef

4 p.m. Superstar Karate Demonstration

5 p.m. Dance Troupe from Elmhurst Park District

7 p.m. The Green Light Go's

8 p.m. Little Big Town, Grandstand act

9 p.m. Dain Bramage Band

THURSDAY

8 a.m. Judging of 4-H and junior open class swine

9 a.m. Judging of 4-H and junior open class goats

10 a.m. Family Jug Band Steven Keefe

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio

Noon Grandpa Ukulele Steven Keefe

2 p.m. Flipside band

4 p.m. Superstar Karate Demonstration

5 p.m. Without Direction band

6 to 8 p.m. Livestock auction sign-up

6 to 8 p.m. Vegetables, flower and flower arrangement exhibits brought in for Friday Show

7 p.m. Chorus of DuPage, Men's Barbershop Chorus

7:30 p.m. Jars of Clay, Grandstand

8 p.m. Steven Curtis Chapman, Grandstand

8 p.m. Judging of vegetables, flower and flower arrangement exhibits for Friday show

9 p.m. Ten and Counting band

FRIDAY

8 a.m. Judging of open class sheep

8 a.m. Judging of 4-H and junior open class dairy, followed by open class dairy

8:30 a.m. Judging of 4-H and junior open class rabbits

11 a.m. Game Show Gurus

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio

1 p.m. Game Show Gurus

2 p.m. Judging of open class beef

3 p.m. Superstar Karate demonstration

4 p.m. Monument Quartet

6 p.m. Chicago Honey Bears

7 p.m. Special guests, Joey Page and Justin Stein, Grandstand

8 p.m. Corbin Bleu, Grandstand

8:30 p.m. Dealin' Band

SATURDAY

8 a.m. Open class horse show

8 a.m. Judging of open class swine

9 a.m. Judging of open class goats

10 a.m. Monument Quartet

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio

11 a.m. Happiness Club, Grandstand

Noon Mayors and legislators Rooster crowing contest

1 p.m. Clash of the Choirs, Grandstand

1 p.m. Register for Watermelon Eating Contest

2 p.m. Talent show

3 p.m. Monument Quartet

4 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest

5 p.m. Chicago Honey Bear Dancers

5 p.m. Antique tractor parade

7 p.m. Livestock Auction

7 p.m. Chicago Honey Bear Dancers

9 p.m. Flipside band

9:30 p.m. Laser spectacular featuring the music of Pink Floyd, Grandstand

SUNDAY

8 a.m. Open class horse show

9 a.m. Church service with Monument Quartet. (Free admission until 9 a.m. with donation of canned goods.)

11 a.m. Allegro Dance Company

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio

Noon Allegro Dance Company

Noon Registration for Pedal Pull

1 p.m. Pedal Pull contest

1 p.m. Route 66 A Cappella Quartet

2 to 5 p.m. Mariachi Morelos Band

2 p.m. International Demolition Derby, Grandstand

2:30 p.m. Route 66 A Cappella Quartet

4 p.m. Awards program for 4-H and Open Class Champion Exhibitors

5 p.m. Antique tractor parade

5 to 8 p.m. Open class premiums in the open class office

6 p.m. Large livestock releases, beef, dairy, sheep, goats and swine

7 p.m. International Demolition Derby, Grandstand

7:30 p.m. Grupo Costa Alegre Band

8 p.m. Release of poultry and rabbits

8 to 9:30 p.m. Release of 4-H, Junior open class and open class exhibits

9 p.m. Release of Commercial Exhibits

In the Extreme Vertical challenge, the distance dogs leap away from the dock is electronically measured. Courtesy of DockDogs

In Extreme Vertical, dogs compete in a high jump event where they leap off a dock and grab a plastic object called a bumper, that then falls into the water. Courtesy of DockDogs

Competitors that do best in DockDogs events are motivated by retrieving objects. And water, of course. They're either trying to fetch or grab an object as part of their goal. Courtesy of DockDogs

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