TRAVERSE CITY -- Mike Rutledge jogs 20 miles a week with his dog Onyx, watches the animal's diet and, when the weather is good, takes the black Labrador retriever to the Open Space boat launch to test her progress.
"She was just naturally fearless about jumping off the docks without stopping at the end. When I really saw what she could do for her size, I was amazed," said Rutledge, of Traverse City. "She can jump about 20 feet and ... she looks real good in the air."
"It's one of those secret dreams to have a dog food company recognize her and get a sponsorship or something," he said.
Onyx, 6, is among about 75 high-flying dogs that will test their skills in the Open Space through this weekend at the Ultimate Air Dogs dock jumping competition.
Dog from across the Midwest and Canada, as well as many local competitors, will jump in a variety of contests that measure height or distance as the animals launch from a turf-covered dock into a long, soft-sided pool.
The dogs are divided into different categories based on their abilities and, after recording the best of two jumps in a series of rounds or "splashes," earn titles through the United Kennel Club and the pride of being the top dog, said Lynn Postma, an event organizer.
"It's all kinds of dogs, that's what is fun about it. We have terriers from six pounds to the golden (retrievers) and Labs that weigh over 100" pounds, she said. "It's meant to be something fun for you and your dog to do together."
But it wasn't just dogs and owners enjoying themselves during the opening splash Thursday.
Hundreds of spectators filled the bleachers and kids crammed around a pool to peer over with toothy grins as the animals soared off the dock after tennis balls or other toys.
"They went a long way ... maybe 26 feet," said a wide-eyed Austin Smolinski, 8, as he watched the spectacle with his brother Alex, 7.
The free event serves as an entertaining break between the festival's different children's events, Traverse City resident Shawn Petras said while his son, Keegan, 5, played commentator from Shawn's shoulders.
"He's fuzzy," Keegan said as another dog splashed into the pool. "Oh, he didn't catch the toy."
National Cherry Festival
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