Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – The New York Sportsman Expo, held at the State Fairgrounds Jan. 23-25, featured a unique event that drew a lot of attention – the dog track-and-field competition, Dock Dogs.
Dock Dogs, which travels nationwide, was created to establish a nationally-recognized competitive sport with rules and standards similar to track and field.
Since 2006, Dock Dogs has been coming to fairgrounds, bringing top competitors from across the country to showcase their skills with their canine partners.
“If your pup likes water and loves toys, bring them on out, we can get them in the pool,” Wrangler with Dock Dogs CJ Austin said.
The competitions feature three disciplines: Big Air, the long jump of canine aquatics; Extreme Vertical, the high jump; and Speed Retrieve, a timed event combining running, jumping, swimming, and retrieving.
Big Air drew large crowds and cheers from Central New York spectators. At its core, Dock Dogs emphasizes fun and community.
“I’ve been competing since 2008, when I was 11 years old, and we went to one event and have been hooked ever since,” Lizzy Felton, a Dock Dogs competitor, said. “I’ve had four dogs competing now, and we come every year for the fair.”
The events allow owners to compete alongside their dogs, creating lasting memories. Sometimes, the best memories happen outside the sport itself.
Ted Sylvio, who works for Ethos Pet Brands, enjoys participating in canine aquatics in his free time. While Sylvio can’t physically compete, his partner Blaze, a 4-year-old American Labrador Retriever, is by his side at every event. The two have been together since Blaze was a pup.
“I love it,” Sylvio said. “My job gives me the chance to spend time with him and bring him to events like this.”
The duo has traveled to competitions nationwide. Last year, they went to New Hampshire for a Big Air event, where Blaze set a career-best jump of more than 18 feet. While Blaze didn’t break his record this weekend, Sylvio said some of the best memories come from being on the road together.
“He’s the best dog in the car,” Sylvio said. “From taking naps in the back seat to sticking his head out the window, he loves going on rides with dad.”
When not competing, Sylvio and Blaze spend time at what may be their favorite activity of all: waterfowl training.
“I’ve had Blaze since he was 8 weeks, raised him since a pup,” Sylvio said. “We waterfowl train him primarily, so he’s been in training from the day you get him at 8 weeks to retrieve, fetch, swim, and jump.”
Video Transcript:
Reporter Evan Harrington: Splish, splash, and dogs having a blast at this year’s Sportsman Expo.
Wrangler C.J. Austin: If your pup likes water, loves toys, bring them on out. We can get them in the pool.
Reporter Harrington: Dock Dogs brought the canine aquatics back to the New York State Fairgrounds with its big air event, its first and most popular competition.
Reporter Harrington: Dock Dogs brings in the best competition all throughout the world, allowing dogs and their owners to compete with one another at the highest level. This allows the owner to create a long-lasting lifetime of memories with their best friend. But sometimes the best memories are created outside of the sport.
Ted Sylvio Dock Dogs Competitor: I love it. And it’s so great that my job affords me the chance to be hanging out with them and I get to bring him to awesome events like this.
Reporter Harrington: Meet Blaze. This 4-year-old American Labrador Retriever is Ted’s right-hand man.
Sylvio: I’ve had Blaze since he was 8 weeks. Uh, raised him since a pup. We waterfowl train him primarily. So he’s been, you know, in training since the day you get him at 8 weeks to retrieve and fetch and swim and jump.
Reporter Harrington: From competing to hunting, these two do it all together.
Sylvio: He’s the best dog in the car. He loves it. You know, from a little nap in the back seat to his head out the window, he loves, loves taking rides with dad.
Reporter Harrington: Blaze truly is a man’s best friend.
Reporter Harrington: In Syracuse, Evan Harrington, NCC News.