MONROE – Rukus went through a life-changing event on Wednesday.
The yellow Labrador retriever probably had no idea he was in a contest when his owner, Marci Grimsley, ushered him to a makeshift dock in a building at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
Three-year-old Rukus wasn’t nervous in front of about 100 spectators, said Grimsley of Granite Falls. He was ready to do what he always likes to do: chase balls.
As Grimsley threw a tennis ball, Rukus dashed down the dock and jumped into a swimming pool. His dive enchanted the crowd, bringing cheers and applause.
Rukus fetched the ball and swam back to Grimsley.
What he didn’t know was he had jumped more than 16 feet, beating three other competitors at the Northwest DockDogs Challenge.
The five-day competition began Wednesday as part of the Evergreen Sportsmen’s Show, which is being held for the second time at the fairgrounds, continuing through Sunday.
The show includes about 400 exhibits of outdoor equipment such as sport-fishing boats and hunting gear.
On Sunday, 12 dog finalists will compete for cash prizes worth $500, said Mark Stuart, the event’s announcer.
Stuart said he expects the event to attract about 100 dogs. Registration is finished, but walk-ins are still welcome, he added.
“This game is really all about fun,” Stuart said. “If a dog is having fun, they will do the best.”
Given it was his first entry in a diving competition, Rukus did well, Grimsley said. “He’s just obsessed with chasing balls,” she added.
Grimsley said she was more nervous than her dog.
“He has no idea what he’s doing. There’s pressure on me throwing a ball,” said Grimsley, who is a firefighter.
She said she thought about raising Rukus to be a search-and-rescue dog, but after this competition she may let him pursue a new career in flying and splashing.
Aside from winning or losing, the competition offers dog lovers a priceless grand prize, Stuart said. “These people find an entirely new way to enjoy dogs,” he added.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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