Valley K9's make a splash at Pembark in Pembroke, Ont.
The dog days of summer have arrived in Pembroke.
PemBARK, a two-day dog dock jumping competition and festival, is being held in Riverside Park this weekend. Hosted by the city of Pembroke and Brockville-based business Canine Watersports Canada, the festival features local pet vendors and a main attraction of dogs jumping into a 45-foot long pool.
"The dogs, we take them up and try to jump them as far as we can, and it's all about fun," Canine Watersports Canada owner Mark Larocque said. "If the dog likes water and has toy drive then it's perfect for the sport."
Dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages can compete in four categories consisting of variations and combinations of furthest jump, fastest swim, and best catch.
"If they like to play fetch and they like the water or are taught to like the water, they can play," says dog trainer Mary Spurrell.
Spurrell owns Avalon Ranch, a dog training business that specifically teaches the sport of canine dock jumping.
"It's a sport that's not too hard on their joints," says Spurrell, who collaborates with Canine Watersports Canada. "So they get to run a little bit on a flat surface, and when they jump and land it's in water."
Dogs of all experience are invited to jump from the dock into the water during the two day event.
"We've seen it all," says Larocque. "Right from Great Danes to Jack Russells. Actually we had a wiener dog jumping off here today."
Blair Holierhoek had his one-year-old yellow lab Duke take home a ribbon in the long jump category Saturday.
"He's been doing this since he was six months old, and actually six months is the youngest they can go on a dock."
This summer, Duke and his family from Lansdowne, Ont. will compete in eight competitions. It is a sport that Holierhoek says he stumbled into.
"You know, honestly jumping just my chocolate lab at the family cottage years ago," he says "And we drove by one of these festivals and we saw the pool, and that was 15 years ago."
While not every pooch can take home a ribbon, some just come out to work on their doggy paddles.
"Whether they jump two feet or 30 feet it just makes people smile," says Larocque.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Sheldon Keefe
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
'We can and we must do better': First ever Air Accessibility Summit hits Ottawa
Federal ministers, airline executives and members of the disability community are gathering in Ottawa today for the first ever Air Accessibility Summit.