farragutpress

Stories of rescue-turned-champ, youth success highlight Dog Daze regional competition in Farragut

August 16, 2023 by Staff Reports

Dog Daze 7 in Farragut, the southeastern regional dog-jumping contest annually held in Village Green shopping center parking lot, had special moments of success in terms of youth and “rescue.”  

“Thirteen different breeds, plus nine varieties of mixed dogs, came together to compete over the weekend,” event spokesperson Emily Fox said.

In addition to local and state competitors, “Teams traveled from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to join Tennessee’s finest for a fun-filled event,” said Fox, as 18 competitors were recognized, with the top three awarded in six categories Sunday.

“The youngest dog, a 10-month old golden retriever named Sir Paddy, competed with the youngest team handler of the event, 15 year-old Brady Ehret,” she added. “Sir Paddy and Brady were able to make it into the Big Air Finals, and took first place in the Amateur division.”

Fox also said “one very heartwarming story unfolded over the course of the competition.

“A sweet, high-energy little pitbull terrier was discovered earlier this year literally bouncing off the walls in a shelter in North Dakota.

“Lucky for her, the right person found her, recognized her potential and helped start the process to get her to a better place,” she added. “That place ended up being with Rebecca Grove, thanks to one of Dock Dogs’ own administrators, who knew the Grove family would be a perfect fit for this naturally athletic dog.

Named Lily the Kid, this rescue dog “went from being in the shelter system for almost two years to finding her forever home in Cumming, Georgia, last month, and getting to compete in her first-ever Dock Dogs Event in Farragut,” Fox said. “And what an event she had.

“Her very first official jump was an impressive 24-feet-7 right off the dock,” she added. “Then she soared to 6-feet high in Extreme Vertical, knocking bumper after bumper down starting at 4-foot-8.

“Her big-air skills secured a chance to compete in the Pro Big Air Finals, where she took first place with a 25-foot-1 leap.”

“I estimated the crowd just over 7,000, which was on track with our record-breaking year last year until the Saturday afternoon storm,” said Steve Krempasky, Farragut Business Alliance executive director who coordinated the event with Smoky Mountain Dock Dogs.

“We had over 60 vendors.”

including children’s activities and a variety of food trucks,” he added. “A special thanks to all of our sponsors, especially the Town of Farragut which has supported this event in many ways through these seven years.”

Among the participants were 48 local and areas dogs taking part in the annual “Pooch Plunge” Friday evening to kick off Dog Daze 7, where their owners allow these dogs to try out the process of getting a running start, in some cases, before soaring into the pool.

“Dock Dogs was honored to be a part of another great year of the Dog Daze at Village Green event,” — said.