Fair to feature dogs

Tomorrow the Dutchess County Fair opens its gates.

For the ninth year in a row, the canine tent will be a featured attraction.

See my story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal.

All week the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office canine units will be giving demonstrations. The picture above is from the recent Christmas in August school-supply giveaway where the deputies showed how a K-9 officer apprehends someone.

It's always fascinating to watch the officers work.

Also on tap this year at the fair will be a demonstration of border collies herding sheep and a Dock Dogs competition.

I will be on Bob Miller's Morning Mix show Wednesday talking about the canine tent and later that day I'll be going out to the fair to do a live story on the activities.

Hope to see you there.

Festival of dogs

Photo: Sarah Bradshaw/Poughkeepsie Journal

This Saturday over in the magical land of the Town of North East will be an event for dogs and their owners called the Festival of Dogs.

It is being sponsored by the Harlem Valley Chamber and will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ledgewood Kennel.

Admission is free to watch all the events dock jumping, agility course demonstrations, flyball and disc throwing.

Fees are required to participate in the events, however, ranging from $5 for disc throwing to $20 for dock jumping competition. Non-competing dock jumping costs $10 for two jumps.

Dog show classes, for $5 each, include best costume and outstanding ability or feature. Participation forms for all events can be downloaded from this link.

All dogs must be leashed and should be well-behaved. A current rabies certificate is mandatory.

Ledgewood Kennel is located here. Use the map to create your own directions.

Run, jump, splash

Does your dog like to jump into the water?

Show Fido’s prowess Saturday at the Dock Diving Fun Jump! at Ledgewood Kennel in the Town of North East.

A practice wave begins at 9 a.m., followed by competition waves at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Registration is one hour before the start of the wave. The fee is $10. Finals will begin after the third wave.

All leashed dogs are welcome, and there will be prizes and raffles.

For information, e-mail Hudsonvalleydockdogs@gmail.com.

Dogs get all wet during competition

If the smell of wet dog gets to you, stay away from Ledgewood Kennels this weekend.

The 2007 Kiki Classic will be held Friday through Sunday at the kennels' outdoor jumping pool in the Town of North East.

During the competition, a dog's handler will toss an object into the water and the dog will (usually) get a running start and leap in after it. The dogs are judged on distance jumped.

There are competitions throughout each day. You can find the schedule here.

The picture above — taken last year by Journal photographer Darryl Bautista — is of Holley, a 4-year-old chocolate lab, with Rande Murphy of Elma, N.Y.

Ledgewood Kennels is located at 639 Smithfield Road in the Town of North East. If you can get to Route 22 north of Amenia, you are almost there.

The competition is a lot of fun. The dogs really seem to enjoy it, and so do the owners. Unfortunately, I could never get Kate to participate in any activity where she had to get wet.

Just don't get too close to the dogs soon after they climb out of the pool.