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Jumping dogs entertain State Fair crowds
Posted: 08.19.2010 at 12:16 PM
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SEDALIA, MO. -- High flying pooches are entertaining some crowds for the first time at the Missouri State Fair this year.
Dogs doing fancy Frisbee tricks and jumping more than 25 feet into a pool of water make up this one-of-a-kind dog show.
Jump! The Ultimate Dog Show has dog trainers and dogs working as a team to perform some amazing tricks.
Some dogs even dance.
Nitro, the disco dancing dog, has a white paw instead of a white glove and can do Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk.
Once the dance party is over, the crowd prepares for the main attraction.
Dock Diving is the newest canine athletic sport. The dogs run down a 40-foot ramp and jump as far as they can into a swimming pool. The average jump during the Dock Diving competition is more than 25 feet.
When the 14 dogs are not in the limelight, they are getting star treament from trainers Jeff Wright and Christina Curtis.
“They all get a little break time," Wright said. "Everybody gets plenty of water. We have an air-conditioned tent for the dogs. They are probably pampered than most of us. We rotate the dogs out and give everybody a break. We give the audience a refreshing look at some different dogs that offer a variety of tricks.”
Eleven of the 14 dogs in the show are rescue dogs. If it wasn’t for Jeff and Christina, those dogs probably would have seen their last days.
Captain Jack was adopted and brought back to his shelter four times because of his hyperactivity. Christina finally adopted him and channeled his energy by teaching Captain Jack some Frisbee tricks. Two years later, the rescue dog won the 2007 World Championship Frisbee Competition.
“I think the funnest thing is seeing the rescue dogs excel," Curtis said. "They go from a bad situation to having fun and doing what they love and just being wonderful pets.”
Jeff and Christina reminded the crowd to spay and neuter their pets. They said if you want a dog, go down to your local shelter and save a life. Who knows, you could end up with a dog that can jump more than 25 feet.
Jump! Ultimate dog show has appeared several times on the Late Show with David Letterman.
The show happens three times daily at the Missouri State Fair between now and Sunday.