Canine Capers

At this weekend's Dog Daze in Belmar, participants can test their skills on a wheelchair obstacle course — which should give them some small idea of what it's like to lose the mobility we tend to take for granted. And that's appropriate, since all proceeds from Dog Daze benefit Canine Partners of the Rockies, a non-profit organization that trains service dogs and places the furry friends with Colorado residents with disabilities.

But Dog Daze is much more than one wheelchair obstacle course: "What's going to be really great are the demonstrations by the bomb-sniffing dogs, the agility-team dogs and the search-and-rescue dogs," says Canine Partners of the Rockies spokeswoman Kelly Hurley. "We're going to have different vendor booths with great things to buy that very much pertain to dogs," she continues, and — since entry to Dog Daze is free — "we'll also have things that'll help raise money."

Things like a bouncy castle where kids can defy gravity, doggie massage stations, bobbing-for-tennis balls, paw-painting for the pooches, face-painting for the humanoids, a photo booth (complete with costuming) where you can dress up your canine companion and record the moment for posterity, an agility run and a donation booth with games such as the bone toss. Dogs can enter contests to compete for best in show, funniest, cutest and more; all pooches must be spayed or neutered and leashed. Stop by Belmar in Lakewood from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow; for information, visit www.caninepartnersoftherockies.org or call 303-399-4575.
June 23-24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.