Dogs have their day in Echo Bay (18 photos)

NEWS RELEASE

CANINE FUN DAY

************************* First annual Canine Fun Day a success!

Saturday, October 22, 2011, started off cool and a bit frosty, but that didn’t stop 40-plus diehard dog lovers from attending the first annual Canine Fun Day and CKC Canine Good Neighbour Test in Echo Bay.

A warm bonfire and a big pot of coffee were going for those who needed to warm fingers and toes.

Brenda Aelick tested 13 successful canine Good Neighbours in breeds ranging from Great Danes to golden retrievers and all will be receiving a certificate from the Canadian Kennel Club.

One dog of note who received his CGN was Boulder a Norwegian elkhound owned by Donna Weeks of Sault St Marie.

This title makes Boulder a Canadian Grand Champion.

We were also lucky to have Dan Tulloch from St. Joseph Island run the introduction to herding, with five dogs of four different breeds showing different working style.

Beth Fleming’s young border collie Willie won the prize for #1 herding dog of the day.

Stephanie Blaney had 12 dogs try out the agility course Brenda set up, and it looks like most will continue to play at this fun dog sport.

Stephanie chose Arlo the bull mastiff as the #1 agility dog of the day.

The hot lunch of beans and wieners and chilli was a huge hit with the humans, but the dogs also had a bit of a lunch as approximately 20 bobbed for wieners.

This was as much entertaining to the humans as it was tasty to the dogs.

After lunch the fun continued with disc toss, a test for the humans, with eight competing to see who could toss the most Frisbees through the agility tire.

As they found out it’s harder than it looks!

Then the egg race gave humans and dog teams a chance to show speed and obedience as they raced in teams to see who was the fastest while carrying an egg on a Frisbee.

The day ended with a costume contest for the canines, with a hot dog, an alligator, a devil and an angel competing = ... the little devil won the prize.

A special thanks to Lori for all the help and for taking photos and Nancy for getting up so much earlier than normal to help with registration!

Without the help my dear friends this would not have been possible.

Thank you.

With such a great turnout and lots of positive feedback it looks like the second annual Canine Fun Day and CGN test is a go for 2012 ... we are planning for bigger and better!

Stay tuned.

- Brenda Aelick, Highrail Australian Shepherds

*************************