PARK AND REC'S TOP DOG PHOTO CONTEST: Dog owners entered 93 pet photos last year, and the public cast more than 58,000 votes. The winner was Cocoa Latte, an American Eskimo breed female.
For more info go to the Top Dog Photo Contest information page
Leapin' Lassies! You're invited to the canine social event of the year. Bark in the Park has things for your dog to see, smell, and DO! Contests & competitions abound for the active or more relaxed pooch.
CONTESTS are FREE and open to everyone. Registration is on site at the event. Registration is required prior to the start of the contest at the registration booth.
10:45am WAXN Pooch Parade
11:15am Best Trick Contest
12:00pm Best Dressed Dog Contest
1:00pm Largest Dog Contest
1:45pm Smallest Dog Contest
2:30pm Pet/Owner Look-a-like Contest
3:00pm Best Bark Contest
COMPETITIONS are FREE and open to everyone. Registration is on site at the event.
12:45pm Throw & Catch
2:00pm Long Shot
3:15pm Free Style
What is Throw & Catch?
The dogs and the action are fast in this race against the clock, with one disc, one dog, and one minute, the most points will win! More points are awarded for longer completions. Watch for catapulting canines; extra points are also awarded for mid-air catches. There are a lot of points on the line with each catch, and a good round of Throw and Catch can make a dog's day!
What is Long Shot?
GO BIG OR GO HOME! The sport of canine frisbee at its most basic. Who can throw the furthest? What dog can put on the afterburners and make that incredible long-distance catch? The Long Shot event is a long distance catching event. The dogs that make the big catches will go home with the prizes, but everyone will go home happy!
What is Freestyle?
Freestyle is art and action, mania and music, dog and dance. It is a freeform performance that leaves crowds cheering. With routines choreographed to the beat of great music, freestyle is like nothing you have ever seen!
REGISTRATION
Competitor Eligibility at Events
Bark in the Park events are open to all competitors, regardless of their ability, race, sex, ethnicity, nationality, club or group affiliation. All events are free and open to the public. Registration will take place at Bark in the Park registration booth on a first come first serve basis. Registration prior to the day of the event will not be available.
Handlers must be at least 12 years of age and Canine participants must be at least 1 year of age.
Competitor's responsibility for Canines at events:
Competitors are responsible for the welfare and safety of their dogs at all times and are required to read and sign the Bark in the Park registration form which contains a liability waiver at signup. All canine competitors must have a current rabies inoculation and license at the time of registration. Parvo, bordatella, and corona virus vaccinations are also recommended, as is a preventative flea and tick medication. All dogs must be leashed while not participating in a competition. At the discretion of Bark in the Park staff, any dog that is perceived to be a medical or physical threat to other canine competitors will not be allowed to compete and may be asked to leave the premises. Female dogs in heat are not allowed to compete and may not be brought to the competition site.
GENERAL RULES
Join us for some rowdy fun! These events will get you and your furry friend up and running. There are a few things to know before you go.
Canine Welfare
Abusive treatment of canine competitors, or any actions that may be perceived by staff or spectators as such, will not be permitted. Electronic training aids of any kind, active or inactive, are not permitted during competition. While the health and welfare of canine competitors is the responsibility of their owners/trainers, any Bark in the Park staff may be called on to ultimately determine whether a canine is fit to compete. Many dogs will continue to play even if they are badly injured, so competitors are encouraged to be aware of the physical condition of their dog at all times.
Bark in the Park staff reserve the right to deduct points from the competitor's score, or in extreme cases disqualify a competitor altogether if they believe that the canine half of the team is being endangered unnecessarily. Examples of tricks or moves meriting point deductions could include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Collision with the thrower's body, including leaps over the thrower's body, resulting in trips and/or tumbles.
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Direct impact of the disc to the canine's face or any other part of the body in a fashion that may be harmful to the canine
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Frequent repetition or excessive height during any trick or move that leads to reckless lack of control, collapses, crashes, tumbles, etc. by the canine half of the team
The human half of the disc dog team should incorporate into a Freestyle routine only tricks and moves that have been properly trained and prepared for, resulting in the display of control and safe transitions throughout the routine.
Nature Breaks and Other Disruptions
If a nature break occurs on the playing field during competition, time will continue and any clean-up necessary must be done by the human half of the team upon completion of the round. As a courtesy to others, competitors should avoid allowing their dog to take a nature break on the playing field at any time as this can cause an unnecessary distraction for other canines participating in the competition. To this end, canine competitors should be kept away from the playing field before the competition begins and should be taken for a nature walk before they are scheduled to take the field during the competition.
If an unleashed dog runs onto the field during competition, time will be suspended and the competitor will be given the choice to 1) continue with the rest of the round, 2) start the round over, 3) move to the end of the order and start the round over after their dog has rested. Time will be suspended for other unforeseen distractions or obstructions at the discretion of Bark in the Park staff, and the same three choices will be given.
In the event that there is a music malfunction during a freestyle round, the competitor has the option to continue the round or signal to the officials to stop the clock. If the clock is stopped, the music malfunction will be treated like any other obstruction, and the competitor will be given the same three choices as outlined above.
Treats
As a courtesy to other competitors, treats or food of any kind is not allowed on the playing field during competition. Food that is inadvertently dropped on the playing field may cause an unnecessary distraction for other canines in the competition.
Sportsmanship
Abusive language, boisterous challenges of Bark in the Park staff, confrontations with other competitors, or any other unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification from competition. In extreme cases, the Bark in the Park staff reserve the right to suspend an offending competitor from the competitions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I play more than one dog at a competition? Can someone else in my family play my dog?
The answers to both of these questions are yes. There is a limit of four dogs per handler at each event, and a limit of two handlers per dog at each event. Bark in the Park asks that competitors be very mindful of the safety of their dogs, so watch for exhaustion if one dog is being used by two people. Bark in the Park would like to encourage families to participate as well, so the possibility that two family members may want to use one dog gives rise to this allowance. All dog/thrower teams are ranked separately, so the points that a thrower earns with one dog have no bearing on a his or her ranking with a second dog. Likewise, points earned by a dog with one thrower have nothing to do with points earned by that dog with a second thrower.
Why does time continue if my dog takes a nature break? I can't control that!
Actually, we believe you can. Owners control the feeding schedule of their dogs and can take the responsibility to take their dogs for a walk prior to competition. When any dog eliminates on the playing field, it has the potential to create an unnecessary distraction for other canine competitors who come after them in the order. Allowing the clock to run during nature breaks is a way to make competitors aware of this event that could potentially affect the outcome of the competition. Please clean up after you pets!
VENDORS & SPONSORS: If you are interested in becoming a vendor or sponsor for this event please check out our application & rules.
VOLUNTEERS: Park and Recreation seeks volunteers to help with Bark in the Park. To volunteer contact Lori Saylor at 704 336-5478 or Lori.Saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.
For additional information: Contact John McClelland or at 704-643-5725
This annual event is a favorite of dog owners. View photos from the 2007 event (3mb file, may take some time to download)
