First Annual Wag It Canine Sports Camp

Canine Athletes and their owners will have a new opportunity for training and playing in Maine this summer. The first annual Wag It Canine Sports Camp will be held at the Medomak Retreat Center on beautiful Washington Lake, August 17, 18 & 19. Camp will focus on three of today's most popular dog sports: agility, musical freestyle and K-9 disc. The weekend will also include time to play and relax with a canine splash party, amazing pet tricks contest, demonstrations, trail walks, campfire and great food.

A residential Canine Sports Camp is the next natural progression for Sumac Grant-Johnson and Brian Johnson of Lincolnville, owners of Leaping Dogs Training. Sumac and Brian love working and playing with dogs and all that summers in Maine offer. Wag It Canine Sports Camp brings the two together and offers something not previously offered within the state. Registration has just opened and the 45 spaces are filling fast with dog and handler teams from Maine and beyond signing up for the private cabins and dormitory accommodations.

The Wag It staff and volunteers are an impressive group of talented competitors with experience in regional, national and world competition. Instructors will offer group sessions and private lessons utilizing positive training techniques to motivate the dog and build the working bond between dog and handler that leads to enjoyment and success in competition

Ed Jakubowski, a master judge from Salem, Connecticut, will instruct K-9 Disc. Handlers will learn skills at disc throwing while dogs run, leap and jump to catch. Ed has taken multiple dogs to National and World finals, as well as Purina Dog Challenge. He has also appeared on many televised events including Wide World of Sports, NFL demonstrations and Animal Planet.

Laurel Rabschutz from Willington, Connecticut, will offer instruction in Canine Musical Freestyle. Laurel will take participants from the basics to choreographing a complete handler and dog routine to music. Laurel has received numerous prestigious awards and performed more than fifty routines with her Newfoundlands. She has appeared on The Today Show, CNN and Nick at Nite.

Abbie Tamber of Oxford, Pennsylvania, brings the experience of a world competitor in agility to camp. Abbie was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2004 World Agility Championships held in Spain. Abbie operates Dogs on the Run in Pennsylvania and instructs at numerous seminars. Abbie will be helping others on their way to success in agility.

Anne Andrle is a highly successful obedience and agility instructor from Portland, Maine. Anne has achieved some of the highest agility awards, titles and distinctions in the United States. She will help dogs improve their jumping and weave pole skills, as well as assist handlers in course analysis.

The Eastern Maine Agility Club joins camp offering an Agility Fun Match. The match provides competitors an opportunity to practice in a show-like setting. Handlers will run their dogs with the option of training along the course. This process can ease handler jitters and perfect skills for competition.

Local sponsorship has played a critical roll in bringing this all together. Michelle Davis, assistant camp director, has worked with both businesses and dog lovers to create some wonderful collaborations. Critter Outfitter of Camden and Rockland is a Top Dog Sponsor helping us pull together the Amazing Pet Tricks contest. Critter Outfitter will also be on site selling dog treats, toys and other supplies at camp. Ed and Nancy Boylan, owners of the Rockport, Maine branch office of Allstate Insurance will be the Top Dog Sponsor of Ellie's Splash Party in honor of their top dog, Ellie, the Labrador Retriever.

For more information - visit http://www.wagitcamp.com or call (207) 789-5126.

Submitted by Sumac Grant-Johnson