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!

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.

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.