The Ultimate 'Air Dogs' Show - Kalamazoo, Michigan - June 19th, 2011

This past Sunday on June 19th, I attended the United Kennel Club's (UKC) 18th Annual Dog Show, which also had a featured event of the 'Ultimate Air Dogs Competition'.  Dogs would run down a dock and jump off into a swimming pool, and were scored and measured for distance. 

This apparently is a very popular event, and some of the dogs really loved to perform for a crowd.  I stood there for a good hour in the sun filming this exciting event.  It was very cool to see the crowd cheering on the dogs.

I went to this event with my little brother from Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS).  He had a great time watching the dogs, and it probably was the most exciting part of the entire event.

Listening to the announcer and judge, it appears this is a competition that is growing and traveling all over the country.  He said that anyone who wanted to enter their dog in the competition was welcome, and he offered instruction to owners on how to get the dogs started on jumping. 

The qualifying distance to make the finals was 24 feet 8 inches, and I saw only a few dogs make that distance when I watched.  Each dog is given two attempts, and most of the dogs jumped well under 10 feet.  However there were a few that you would of thought had wings on their feet as they just flew!

I never thought a dog show would be so much fun.  It is definitely an event that I will remember, and go again.  Seeing the Ultimate Air Dogs made me want to jump off a dock myself and join them.  I do not own a dog, but I have considered getting one. 

This was an exciting local event to go to and it required no admission fee.  We had to pay $4 for parking and that was it.  If you happen to hear of an event like this in your area, I highly recommend going, and taking the kids.  It is a lot of fun. 

I sat down and edited a video of the footage I shot yesterday, and I hope you will take time to watch it.  It is just a little over 2 minutes, but you will be amazed!  Those dogs can fly, and a lot of them really have some hang time!