Ketchum to Host Event Featuring Dog Dock Jumping and Diving

KETCHUM, IDAHO – Ready for some dog-gone fun?

The City of Ketchum is teaming up with DockDogs to host a two-day event downtown that showcases the amazing and entertaining athletic prowess of dogs of any shape or size. Competitive events include dogs chasing an object down a 40-foot dock and leaping as far as they can into a pool of water. Other events include a vertical jump contest and speed retrieval.

The action will unfold July 6-7 on a blocked off section of Washington Ave. between the Limelight Hotel and Forest Service Park. The event is free for spectators and food, beverages, merchandise and music will also be part of the fun. Canine-related vendors should contact the city for information and guidelines for participation.

“This is all about getting the community and dog lovers to come downtown, have some fun and witness firsthand some of the amazing things dogs can do,” said Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “This is also about broadening our mix of entertainment options for families and getting our dog-loving residents engaged in a fun, new way.”

DockDogs is an independent governing and sanctioning organization for the growing sport of canine dock jumping and other canine performance sports. The organization sponsors events in cities across the country and the growing popularity of the sport has given rise to clubs worldwide.

Everything gets underway Friday at 4 p.m. with registration and practice rounds. The extreme vertical challenge competition, which is essentially a high jump contest, begins at 5 p.m.

Competition resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with the first round of the dock jumping. The speed retrieve contest starts at 2:30 p.m., followed by the finals of the dock jumping event. Competitions are open to everyone. Teams are comprised of one dog and a single handler. Dogs must be at least 6 months or older to compete, with any size or breed welcome. There will also be classes for training youth handlers between the ages of 7-14.

Competitors can register online at www.dockdogs.com. Registration is open until a week before the competition. Handlers can also register at the event Friday night before competition begins and on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m.