From mountains of dog treats and doggy fashion to fun canine competitions and entertainment, it was a dog-lover’s cornucopia, and, it seems, everyone and their dog was there to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the Woofstock festival at Woodbine Park in the Toronto Beaches on May 24th and 25th.
It was CKC’s first time at Woofstock, and with 300,000 visitors expected, the Club was eager to represent! The Woofstock organizers were thrilled to include the CKC in their programming, to offer attendees a unique, educational experience: from CKC breeder expertise and the history of our Canadian breeds to information about finding the right dog, responsible dog ownership and more.
Long Live the Legends!
Presenter extraordinaire, Jason Foucault, was on hand each day to tell the story of the CKC Living Legends and their passionate and knowledgeable breeders/owners provided first-hand knowledge to this new audience of dog owners and prospective puppy buyers. On Sunday, it was a first for CKC to have all of the CKC Living Legends on stage together! From the most popular breed, the Labrador Retriever, to the energetic Nova Scotia Duck-tolling Retriever and the grand Newfoundland―to the rarest breed, the Canadian Eskimo Dog―it was truly a sight.
The crowd was clearly captivated by our Living Legends―who became instant celebrities with their own followers of wide-eyed children and smitten grownups. It was a win-win for the dogs, who clearly enjoyed being outdoors and for attendees who wanted to experience the breeds first-hand.
Rewarding Responsible Dog Owners
CKC was also pleased to offer Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) testing―which was well-received by owners of mixed-breeds and purebred alike and there were some very proud owners when their dogs passed with flying colours. Thanks to veteran CGN evaluators Naomi Kane and June Ward for their expertise and commitment to promoting responsible dog ownership.
All in all, it was a super weekend with lots of opportunities to promote purebred dogs, spread the word about our new website and tout the new CKC Canine Companion Program; reinforcing that CKC now speaks for all dogs.
What a Team!
Big thanks to our Living Legends and dedicated volunteers: Jason Foucault, Lynda Hixson, Kim Beverly, Laura Pitblado, Kelly Magill (who came all the way from Whitehorse, Yukon) Dan and Darlene McLean, Vanessa Lobo, Debbie Borden, Emily Dann, the Keltz family and a special thanks to Patricia Coffey for helping to find some great volunteers. Hope to see everyone at the next show!
Be sure to check out our photos from the Woofstock weekend on our CKC Facebook page.