2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals

Mark your calendar!  Set that DVR!  The 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals will be televised on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 4:00 ET on NBC.

Watch dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes from around the world compete in Olympic style events like hurdle racing, Frisbee catching.  Be sure to watch for Vhoebe, a Belgian Malinois from San Diego, California.  Vhoebe breaks a world record with a dock-diving leap of 31 feet, 8 inches!

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Diving Record Smashed

With a big jump, Vee-Bee, a Belgian Malinois dog soared right into the record books at the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge on Saturday, October 1 at Gray Summit, Missouri.  The jump was 31 feet and 8 inches. 

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Speed & Catch

Check out the newest athletic dog competition created by Purina, to display incredible speed and catching ability.  Demonstrated at the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge held September 30 and October 1 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO.  Shown in this video are Karolina and Java demonstrating Speed & Catch.

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Flying Disc Runner Up

More results from the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge national finals held October 1, 2011 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Missouri.

This video features Freestyle Flying Disc second place winners Shunsuke Shaun Hirai and Shack at they compete this past Saturday.

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Flying Disc Winner

Finally, I have some results from the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge to share with you.  Check out this video footage of Kosuke Hirai and Jake, the winners of the Freestyle Flying Disc competition on October 1, 2011 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Missouri.

Incredible Dog Challenge 2011: Surf Dog Ricochet Wins Second Place

Surf dog Ricochet came in second place in the large dog heat of the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge surf contest on June 10 in California.


Ricochet is the only known dog in the world who surfs with disabled surfers and special needs kids for therapeutic purposes.  This Golden Retriever has raised almost $90,000 in the past 18 months which, along with a sponsoring Rose Foundation grant, goes towards physical therapy for spinal cord injured, Patrick Ivison.  Ricochet's SURFice dog initiatives are part of Puppy Prodigies, a non profit organization that focuses on early puppy develpment and service dog training for people with disabilities.  


Watch Ricochet compete:

Border Collie and Large Dog Agility at Purina Incredible Dog Challenge

Okay, if you read Talking Dogs blog, you already know that we're crazy about Border Collies and the Incredible Dog Challenge.  Here's a great competition video.  Watch Arie, a Border Collie, in her winning run at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in large dog agility.

Greyhound Competing 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Atlanta

I am hooked on the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge.  I never seem to be able to pick my favorite event;  it seems to be whichever one I'm watching at the moment.  Yesterday the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge kicked off in Atlanta, GA.  I couldn't be there, but I did manage to find this video gem.

This is Riley, a four year old Greyhound dog competing yesterday (April 2, 2011) in Atlanta.  This is the Weave Pole Challenge:  30 weave poles down, turn around in a tunnel, and 30 weave poles back.  Riley was a very good sport about having to do 180 weave poles in about 10 minutes.  They usually don't do that many in a week.  Riley won this brace.

2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Kicks Off Today in Atlanta GA

Photo: Bark Network

The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge kicks off today with some all-American baseball in Atlanta, Georgia.

Friday, April 1, 9 AM - Open Qualifier Registration

Saturday, April 2 - 11:30 AM to 4 PM - Purina Incredible Dog Challenge

Centennial Olympic Park

265 Park Avenue West NW,  Atlanta, GA

Follow the action on Twitter throughout the weekend with #incredibledogs

Some of the most talented dogs from around the country will make their way to famed Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta to participate in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge.  This premier canine sporting event features dogs competing in a variety of Olympic style events including dog diving, freestyle flying disc, head-to-head weave poles, Jack Russell hurdle racing and agility.

Dogs will celebrate the start of the 2011 baseball season with an inaugural baseball game against local tee ball players this morning.

Local dogs have the opportunity to qualify to participate in two events:  dog diving and freestyle flying disc.  Top qualifiers win the chance to demonstrate their skills in Saturday's April 2 competition with the possibility of qualifying for the National Championship in St Louis in October.

Schedule:

 Friday, April 1
 9:00 AM         Qualifying Sign-Up and Registration
 9:00 AM         Purina Incredible Baseball Game Location
10:00 AM        Incredible Diving Dog Qualifying
10:30 AM        Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc Qualifying
 1:00 PM         Incredible Agility Practice
 1:45 PM         Incredible Diving Dog Practice
 2:30 PM         Incredible 30-Weave Up-and-Back Practice
 3:15 PM         Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing Practice
 3:45 PM         Incredible Fetch-it Practice Dog Diving
 4:15 PM         Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc Practice


Saturday, April 2
11:00 AM        Agility Course Inspection
11:15 AM        Agility Forerunners
11:25 AM        National Anthem
11:30 AM        Incredible Agility Competition - Large & Small
12:30 PM        Incredible Diving Dog Competition
 1:15 PM         Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing
 2:00 PM         Incredible Fetch it
 2:30 PM         Incredible 30-Weave Up-and-Back Competition
 3:15 PM         Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc

2011 marks the 14th year of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, which continues to demonstrate Purina's commitment to and passion for pets.  The even has become a national sensation known for attracting world-class canine athletes in a multi-city tour that culminates each year with the nationally televised championships.  For more information on the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge visit Bark Network.

Soaring Border Collie: Freestyle Flying Disc Purina Incredible Dog Challenge

We all have spring fever at For Love of a Dog.  The past few days have found us outside playing jolly ball and frisbe.  Well, Lucy and Tucker are mostly appreciate spectators.  However, Jeffie is trying hard to teach puppy Rudy how its all done.  If any of us needed some inspiration this video from the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge would do the trick.

This gorgeous Border Collie dog, Sienna, competes in the Freestyle Flying Disc competitions with her partner, Preston Dean.  This young Floridian trained his dog in the sport and they are now nationally ranked champions.  This is a terrific interview with Preston, interlaced with absolutely awesome video footage of he and his dog competing.

None of us will ever be this good...  but its good to have a goal, right?!

And I thought I was old...

Get this! Milk-Bone turns 100 years old this year. That's 700 in dog years! To celebrate, Milk-Bone is going to donate a million dollars to a dog charity and they're holding a national contest for a spokes-dog! More info here Though I admit that I just don't like the green ones, I think I'd make a terrific spokes-dog for them, don't you?

Woof! Woof!
Tucker