Dock Dogs! A Weekend by the Sea

This weekend, the assignment for my all-time favorite paper out there - Downeast Dog News - was to hang by the ocean in Rockland, Maine, while dogs of all shape and size dive (or don't) into an above-ground pool provided by the internationally known Dock Dogs. The Rockland Chamber of Commerce and several area merchants organized the event they called Rock Dogs in less than six weeks, according to event coordinator Mary Bumiller. Walking into the gated area in Buoy Park on Friday morning, however, it was hard to tell just how much they'd been lacking in lead time. Though vendors were few - Loyal Biscuit, Tim Horton's, and the Humane Society of Knox County were up front, with a couple of other vendors selling food at the back of the park - turnout for the event was good, things seemed to flow smoothly, and everyone was having a great time.

Including me. I checked in at the front gate and received a weekend pass for my trouble, then promptly headed for the pool. Dogs in every direction, kids laughing, sun shining. A soaking wet golden retriever sat on my foot for the better part of one of Saturday's games, I fell madly in love with a brindle bullmastiff with the sweetest smile this side of heaven, and got to chat up Bob DeWire, the events manager who was alternately mocked and revered by the jesting emcee under the Dock Dogs tent.

Competitors came from as far away as Virginia, in the case of world competitor Dan Stallings and his amazing Weimeraners, all rescues from Mid-Atlantic Weimeraner Rescue. Steve Sozio and Twister, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, drove up from Baltimore and were also working on getting to the world championships in Oregon this fall. Pics, you say? Why, yes, it turns out I do have some pics: And just in case you thought every pup who entered just flew into the pool, no questions asked, here's evidence to the contrary: And, finally, a video tidbit featuring Holly Merrow and her sweet yellow lab Bear, who was sooo not going in that water: