Canine Cannonball is the Lyons Outdoor Games’ equivalent of Splash Dogs, the high-flying, tail-thumping, doggie sport of dock jumping. Lyons resident Adam Schwartz dreamed up the event when he realized his Labrador retriever, Bruin, had natural hops, but no place to showcase his talent.
“He’s a freak,” says Schwartz. “I sank a buoy 25 feet out from the bank of a pond and Bruin cleared it easy. Lyons is such a dog town, I figured, why not here?”
Plans began for a canine jump competition as part of the 2008 Games. The biggest challenge was the lack of a sufficient dock (i.e. launch pad) at the Lyons Valley River Park Ponds. Schwartz says that they were intending to do something man-made, but weren’t sure what.
The Friday before the games began, everyone was still scratching their heads. Then Lyons Excavating caught wind of the project and offered their expertise. The official launch pad consists of two giant slabs of sandstone, positioned about two feet above the water line, modeled after the jump stations used by Splash Dogs.
“It was awesome,” Schwartz says. “These guys just showed up and built something perfect in one afternoon, for nothing, as a gift to the city of Lyons.”
It was game on for the 30+ dogs who attended the inaugural launch last summer. Terriers, border collies, German shepherds, pointers, Australian shepherds, and many mutts joined water-loving Labs for one of the Games’ most watched events. Dog-owners could throw any non-human object into the water: balls, toys, sticks, even rocks. The dogs did not need to retrieve the item, just make a splash. Schwartz even employed a “sweep” dog to retrieve left-behinds.
A panel of three judges hand-picked by Schwartz analyzed participants’ distance, splash, and style. “Style is key,” Schwartz says. “Bruin had a wicked butt-wiggle in his winning jump last year.”
Prizes included gear from Ruffwear, like dog backpacks and travel dog beds. But Schwartz says the real objective is fun. “Some of the funniest incidents last year were the dogs who refused to jump in,” Schwartz says.
To make sure your dog doesn’t chicken out, Schwartz suggests practicing. Even if your dog is used to jumping into the water, it’s a lot different to jump from a sandstone dock, than from a pond or riverbank. The launch pad is a permanent fixture at the Lyons Valley River Park Ponds, so come out early and practice before the canine cannonball begins.
But regardless of who jumps and who doesn’t, Schwartz promises, “Its one heck of a good time.”
Canine Cannonball: June 13, 2009 12:30 – 2:30. For more information see www.lyonsoutdoorgames.com
