How far can YOUR dog jump?
That is the question.
At the World of Pets in Timonium, Maryland (State Fairgrounds) this weekend, you can cheer on your favorite dog in the ‘long jump,’ the ‘ high jump,’ and the fastest – into water, off a dock! Really! All day Saturday and Sunday.
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Dog Dock Diving
A huge indoor swimming lane for dogs filled with very cold water and approached on a at-least 40-50 dock. For the event I saw Friday night, dogs and their handler could be on the ‘dock’ for no more than one minute and within that time, had to launch themselves off the dock and into the water. The purpose of this minute is to ‘rev up’ the dog to perform his or her best.
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Each dog in the ‘farthest’ class (wave) gets two attempts. The Aussie I saw had already jumped 13 feet, 8 inches. A 4-year-old Australian Shepherd who had only started jumping (or diving) a year ago, jumped 13 feet 6 inches on his second try. He still has to learn to cease pausing at the end of the dock after his running start: then he will be a real winner! The winner jumped 20 feet 4 inches.
In this event, the handler can toss a bumper into the water and the dog runs, jumps and swims towards the bumper or the bumper can be thrown a split second before the dog jumps.. Dogs compete for ribbons, trophies and money but they still love it even when they don’t win!
No, not for dinner!
A first-timer at the World of Pets is Alan Fink, a local artist who now paints dogs on a palette. A professional artist who has his own art school, Fink uses real artist’s palettes and works from a photo. Palettes are super easy to hang on a nail, too. The artist told me dogs are more photogenic than cats, perhaps because it is so difficult to get cats to sit still! (see photos tomorrow but in the meantime, check out his website at Pet on a Palette).
A is for Antler
Returning to the expo is Acadia Antlers with their Maine moose naturally-shed antlers, a product that lasts and lasts but doesn’t stain and has no odor. At the expo you can buy samplers at $5 apiece for your dog to try as well as starter kits (moose dust, a moose ball and a sampler antler). And the website even has “Got Moose?” t-shirts.
Saturday and Sunday
The World of Pets continues the rest of the weekend, Saturday from 10 to 7 and Sunday from 10 to 6. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 5-12 and parking is free!
I had an expensive Nachos Grande for $12 but it could easily have been shared by two. And I couldn’t decide among limeade, lemonade, orangeade. . . . I guess I’ll just have to go back for more food!
