The grass roots movement of DockDogs is thriving in central New York. Charlie and Dolores Bochenek will host a national DockDogs event at their home, 1279 Powers Road east of Union Springs, July 3 to 5. Dolores said the public is welcome to watch their second annual Fire on the Dock Fest at the regulation pool and dock right in their backyard.

“We are just hosting the event and trying to get sponsors,” she said. In March she sent more than 100 letters to businesses here. She received $500, less than a quarter of what it cost to put on the event.

Businesses often host events, but DockDogs asked the Bocheneks to host because they had the pool and dock. They are expecting 40 to 75 dogs and their owners over the weekend from all over the country and Canada. With 200 preregistered spots, many dogs in multiple events, with 40 in a wave.

The Bocheneks connected with DockDogs when their female Chesapeake Bay retriever, Chessie, jumped out of their boat and took to the water.

Their veterinarian said Chessie was a natural for the sport, so they decided to enter her in a DockDogs event at the BassPro Shops in the Fingerlakes Mall four years ago.

Since then, they acquired Cruiser, a male Chesapeake Bay, and continued to enter both dogs in Speed Retrieve and Big Air events. Their team, “Fire on the Dock,” travels across the United States and Canada to events in a camper that they swapped their boat for.

At this event, the winning teams in Big Air (long jump), Extreme Vertical (high jump) and Speed Retrieve (run, jump, swim combo) will receive an invitation to participate at this year's STIHL Dogs & Logs World Championship in Still Water, Minn, in late July.

Anyone with a dog and toy can compete. A big part of this sport's appeal is accessibility. It's a great family event for the first timer or veteran competitor. Handlers are at least 7 years old to compete, and dogs are at least 6 months old of any breed.

“It's all about the dogs,” Dolores said. Everybody takes charge of their own dogs, brought in crates and controlled on four-foot leashes.

Kathleen Barran

253-5311 ext. 238

kathleen.barran@lee.net

If you go.

What: Fire on the Dock Fest, Three days of DockDogs events: Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, July 3, through

Sunday, July 5.

Where: 1279 Powers Road, Cayuga

Cost: Free to spectators. Handlers pay $25 per wave and must register by 10 a.m. daily.