What’s UpDog?

Copper, an 8-year-old Catahoula, catches some air as he leaps after his toy thrown by his owner, Julie Ostrander, before splashing down into the pool during the Bring The Heat Dog Dock Diving event at the Ocala Dog Ranch on Southwest 110th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Despite the searing heat and heat indexes in the triple digits, dogs were trying for their longest jumps yet with their owners tossing their toys from the dock into the diving pool. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Fans of sports might know that spring brings playoff tournaments, but would they know that now their dogs can join in on the fun? The Ocala Dog Ranch is hosting a tournament for our furry friends on Saturday, May 11.

Ocala Dog Ranch is an organization that offers obedience and agility training courses for dogs of all ages and sizes. Additionally, they have boarding options and daycare for pet owners travelling out of town.

Events like the UpDog Tournament, part of the UpDog Challenge program, are designed to test a dog and their handler’s endurance, agility, and communication. Dogs and humans must work together in a variety of games.

Competitors will have the option to play any or all of the following games:

• Four Way Play, in which dogs must catch a disc at four distinct areas known as “zones” to earn points.
• Time Warp, where dogs need to catch a disc at four zones in the quickest time.
• ThrowNGo, where dogs go between 10 to 50 yards to catch throws to earn points.
• Frizgility, in which dogs must traverse an obstacle course, catch a disc, and then return through the obstacle course in the quickest time.
• FunKey, where dogs will venture through the obstacle course to catch a disc in various zones to earn points.
• 7Up, in which dogs must jump and catch discs at various zones, then return them to the “sweet spot” at the center of the field.

These games are created by UpDog Challenge, a nonprofit organization that hosts athletic competitions for dogs.

For more information on this event and other programs offered by the Ocala Dog Ranch, visit ocaladogranch.com.