2014 World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials
Sunday, August 10, 10:30 a.m.
Entries are now open for the always zany World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials! The 12th annual running of this pawsome event will kick off with a furry procession of canine competitors at 10:15 on the show grounds. The official trials will begin at 10:30 a.m. on the waterfront. Admission to the trials is included in the price of a show ticket ($12/ticket, kids under 12 free).
WANTED: BOATYARD DOGS
The Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show organizers have some serious questions for the canine community:
Does your tail wag faster when you dream of the roar of the crowd?
Does the breeze off the bay entice you to strut your stuff?
In short, are you dog enough to compete in the World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials?
If the answers are yes, then please cast your paw into the ring for a chance to stand up, sit down, and roll over before an adoring crowd.
A few choice slots are available for prospective contenders in the trials, which are to be held Sunday morning, August 10 as part of the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show. Any well-behaved dog is eligible, but preference will be given to dogs that work in a boatyard, crew on a boat, or direct operations of any kind on the waterfront (or think they do). Special points go to dogs that love to swim!
What Happens During the Trials? The goal is for each dog to complete three events within the 8-minute time limit:
1. The Dockside Obstacle Course — Dog and handler negotiate a maze of lobster traps, piles of rope, buoys, and other funky dockside paraphernalia.
2. The “Dinghy Hop — Dog and handler scramble in and out of a very unstable dinghy that’s tethered to a float.
3. The “Freestyle” segment — Each dog (and their person) shows off his or her special talents….No holds are barred during this segment, but a tennis ball MUST be included in the performance.
Are There Any Rules?
Only Three:
Rule #1: Either dog or handler must finish the contest completely soaked.
Rule #2: Cheating is not only tolerated but encouraged.
Rule #3: To celebrate our 12th year, the freestyle event must include the number 12 ( or 12 items) in some way into the performance.
Rule #4: There are no other rules.
Any dog that’s crazy enough is encouraged to have his or her “person” submit a letter of interest, a flattering high-resolution image, and daytime contact information. Extra points will be given for humor; this is not a serious competition.
Send by June 15, 2014, to
byd@maineboats.com. Finalists will be notified by July 1. For liability reasons, no other pets will be allowed on show grounds, except the field of predetermined trials competitors on Sunday only. Please plan accordingly.
Judges will be Dale Dyer of Custom Float Services, plus two others. The trials will again be spiced up by the verbal antics of emcees Mike Joyce and Alan Sprague, who are also the co-hosts of WERU-FM’s call-in show “Boattalk” (89.9 FM and weru.org).
As always, the Boatyard Dog Trials will offer show attendees a chance to help support animal shelters and competitors will be encouraged to bring shelter donations.
We appreciate the support from our Boatyard Dog® Lead Sponsor: Custom Float Services, and from our Supporting Sponsors: Sea Bags & The Loyal Biscuit, and Bell’s Furry Friends Photography.
