BLOOMSBURG — With exhibits ranging from cattle shows to a pig weighing more than 1,000 pounds, the Bloomsburg Fair offers a wide selection of choices for animal lovers. Livestock consistently appears to form the biggest selection of animals, but this year, the fair has extended its hand to dog lovers, as well.
The “dock diving” event, where dogs jump off a dock into water and retrieve a toy, attracted the casual participant Sunday along with trainers, who travel up and down the East Coast competing with their prized companions.
“We had gone to an event three years ago and instantly became hooked,” Joan Gunby, of Trappe, Md., said. “It only took the one event.”
Now Gunby and her husband travel the East Coast competing with their two dogs, Rain and Georgie, one of which is a champion dock dog.
Dock jumping often is shown late at night on ESPN. The dogs compete by jumping off a dock, or structure that resembles a dock, and retrieving a chase, or toy. The dogs are judged on the height of jump and distance.
For serious competitors, like Gunby, the fair offers her dogs a chance to get ready for the national competition, which begins in two weeks in Ohio.
Matt Rabb, of McEwensville, like many others, was interested in the amateur side of the event and decided to give his golden retriever, Duke, a chance to compete Sunday.
“I’ve been coming here my entire life,” he said. “I saw an ad in a fair flier about four months ago and decided to give it a try.”
Rabb’s, and Duke’s, willingness to give the sport a try paid off in full as Duke took top honors among the show’s amateurs.
“It’s harder than it looks on TV,” Rabb said. “It’s a pretty neat event. There are great people involved who love animals.”
Competing dogs must be older than six months, but other than that, any breed, any size and any owner can take a shot at the event.
“The dogs love it,” Gunby said. “It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done with my dog.”
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Dogs go off deep end at the Bloomsburg Fair
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