Clever canines help wildlife

NEXT month, your dog could be crowned Ballarat’s smartest pooch.

Running the first Ballarat K9 Games on Saturday, 1 February, the team at Southern Cross K9 have created the five-event competition as an alternative fundraiser.

Owner, Jamie Huggett has always wanted to provide an inclusive, open opportunity to engage the community and their dogs.

“Throughout summer, we’ve had the horrific bushfires across the east coast and a few staff members were asking if there was a way we could raise money for the wildlife affected by it,” he said.

“We had an idea to run a canine games three or four months ago… Then we thought, why don’t we make it a fundraiser? All proceeds are going to Wildlife Victoria.”

Anyone is welcome to enter their dog into the competitive but non-traditional day, with the main requirements that they be social, obedient and good off-leash.

“One of the events is a food plate recall… There’s an egg and spoon loose leash competition where you have people walking around with a spoon and an egg with their leash wrapped around it, and if the dog pulls, the egg comes off and they’re eliminated from that event,” Mr Huggett said.

The dog that receives the most points across all five events will be the Ballarat K9 Games champion, and their owner will receive a $300 cash prize.

Registration is $30 by contacting facebook.com/southernxk9 or [email protected]. Spectators are welcome and a dog hamper will also be raffled off.

The Ballarat K9 Games will run from 10am at 4 Traminer Court, Wendouree. Southern Cross K9 hopes it may become an annual event.