Dogs compete in dock jumping

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BELVIDERE, Ill., July 16 (UPI) -- An Illinois dog training center said more than 150 dogs competed in the three events of a dock-jumping competition.

Chicagoland Dock Dogs, which hosted the three-day Summer Splash event at Meyer's Tails Up Farm in Belvidere, said 150 dogs competed in the Big Air distance jump, the Extreme Vertical leap to retrieve a toy suspended 8 feet over the pool, and the timed Speed Retrieve event, The New York Times reported Monday.

Dogs participating in all three events competed for the title of Iron Dog.

Organizer Beth Wiltshire said the dock jumping event makes a good alternative to traditional dog shows.

"There are no professional dogs," she said. "They are all people's dogs."

"I mean, they're just jumping off a dock. It's kind of hard to take it too seriously," Wiltshire said.