By Jared Curtis

A dog competing in the Tennis Ball Toss. The 2012 Canine Olympics will be held on Saturday, June 2 starting at 9 a.m. at the Canine Craze Performance Center, 3101 104th St., Ste 3, Urbandale. For more information, visit www.caninecraze.com .

Annual canine competition offers an array of events

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but the people at Canine Craze will dispel that myth during the 8th Annual Canine Olympics on Saturday, June 2.

“My husband Scott came up with the idea because he has always been passionate about people getting involved with their dogs,” said Renee Jetter, co-owner of Canine Craze Performance Center. “It’s been fun to see the event grow and evolve every year.”

The event is open to any dog/handler team. Dogs don’t need to be able to catch a Frisbee or play dead; every dog is welcome.

“We wanted to make sure and focus the event on contests that an average pet could do,” Jetter said. “No matter how talented they are, they can come here and win some prizes and medals.”

Interested owners can register prior to the event at the store for $10 or register the day of for $15.

“Once you’ve registered, you can compete in as many events as you’d like,” Jetter said. “We’re expecting 40 to 75 teams this year.”

Yes, she said teams. The dogs and their handlers will compete as teams in the numerous events.

“The contests we offer are pretty easy,” Jetter said. “The pie-eating contest, for example, is a contest where the dog and its handler both must eat pies. Or there is another contest where the dog will lick peanut butter off its handler’s face. Nothing too tough, just a lot of fun for both the dog and the handler.”

The Canine Olympics will also feature a variety of events including The Pooch Smooch, Hot Dog diving, Tennis Ball Toss, Puppy Bowling, Tunnel Relays, Barrel Racing, 6-legged Hurdles and the Ultimate Stay contest. Jetter’s favorite event is a twist on the reality show “Fear Factor.”

“The Fear Factor Feast is a really fun event where we cut up a variety of about 20 foods in little pieces, and the team that eats the most items wins,” she laughed. “And if the dog doesn’t eat it, the handler can for the win. Some of the stuff is pretty easy like a carrot, but last year we had raw beef liver and the dogs hated it.”

Each of the gold medal winners then moves on to the final competition known as The Iron Dog. The winner of the final event wins a year’s worth of agility classes valued at $720.

“We have three events that are totally different than the previous day’s events,” Jetter said. “We have a lot of fun each year creating some creative and wacky contests for the dog and handler to do. It’s a great way to end the event.”

Whether you have a dog or not, Jetter encourages everyone to experience the Canine Olympics. The event is free to spectators, but if you bring a dog, you must pay the fee whether you’re competing or not.

“If you love dogs, you’ll enjoy watching them compete in the contests,” Jetter said. “It’s a great opportunity to get your dog out of the house and do something fun. And it’s one of the few events that dogs and their handlers can be involved with everything. Come on out and let your dog be a dog.” CV