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DOG TRIALS: THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER WERE ON FULL DISPLAY AT GRASS CREEK PARK ON THE WEEKEND.

August 10, 2009

THE 22ND ANNUAL KINGSTON SHEEP DOG TRIALS ATTRACTED BIG CROWDS TO SEE MORE THAN JUST DOGSCORRALLING SHEEP.

AS NEWSWATCH'S MAX WARK REPORTS, SOME NEW INTERACTIVE EVENTS GOT CROWDS CHEERING THE ANTICS OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

PKG

T'S CALLED THE BIG AIR COMPETITION.

AND SOME OF THESE DOGS CAN FLY LIKE BIRDS.

((BYTE))

THE GOAL IS SIMPLE -- HAVE YOUR DOG JUMP AS FAR AS THEIR FOUR LEGS WILL TAKE THEM.

MORE THAN 30 DOGS TOOK PART IN THIS INAUGURAL EVENT AT THE SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

SOME OF THEM NEAR PROFESSIONAL STATUS -- COMPETING ON WEEKLY BASIS.

SOME OF THEM AMATEUR -- JUST LOOKING TO ENJOY THE WATER.

AND SOME... WELL, SOME ARE MORE RELUCTANT TO JUMP THAN OTHERS.

((BYTE))

NO MATTER THE EXPERTISE LEVEL, ONCE YOU AND YOUR DOG GET INTO BIG AIR JUMPING... ODDS ARE YOU'LL BE HOOKED.

VODDEN:

"IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

THE DOGS LOVE IT.

FRIENDLY PEOPLE.

I'VE GONE PLACES WITH HIM I'D NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE GONE."

THAT INCLUDES THE PODIUM.

WITH JUMPS THAT EXCEED 23 FEET, LEAPING LENNY RANKS AT THE TOP OF HIS CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG AIR COMPETITION IN CANADA.

VODDEN:

"IT'S MOSTLY JUST PRACTICE WITH HIM.

HE GETS A LITTLE BETTER EVERY TIME."

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY MOST PEOPLE INITIALLY GET INTO THE SPORT.

FORMED IN ONLY JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, 1000 ISLAND DOCKDOGS TEACHES HANDLERS HOW TO GET THE MOST OF THEIR DOG.

THE WORK IS PAYING OFF FOR LITTLE BROOKIE.

THE LITTLE JACK RUSSELL HAS ONLY BEEN AT IT FOR TWO WEEKS.

RUMM:

"SHE GOT HER NOVICE TITLE AND NOW SHE'S ALREADY JUMPED HERSELF INTO THE JUNIOR DIVISION.

I'M JUST HOPING SHE'LL HAVE THAT EXTRA SPECIAL TALENT AND EVEN GO ON TO SENIOR."

((BYTE))

ANOTHER EVENT TAKING PLACE AT THIS YEAR'S SHEEP DOG TRAILS IS THE KINGSTON POLICE K-9 UNIT DEMONSTRATION.

((BYTE))

FROM DRUG BUSTS AND MAN-HUNTS, THE DOGS ... AND THEIR HANDLERS... ARE HIGHLY TRAINED.

DOAK:

"I USUALLY REFER TO IT MORE OF A LIFESTYLE THAN WORK.

AS A DOG PROGRESSES THROUGH THEIR CAREER, IT'S EVERY WEEK YOU HAVE TO TRAIN.

SO IT'S A LIFESTYLE."

VODDEN:

"THEY HAVE TO LOVE THEIR TOY AND THEY'LL DO ANYTHING TO GET THEIR TOY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALLY GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE DOG AND THEIR HANDLER.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER."

A PHILOSOPHY BOTH POLICE AND DOG JUMPER CAN RELATE TO ... IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MAN'S BEST F

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