Dog Days of Summer returns to Libertyville July 7-9

Daily Herald staff report

Bring your canine best friend to Libertyville's Cook Park for the 14th annual Dog Days of Summer, taking place Friday through Sunday, July 7-9. The dog-friendly event is hosted by the Knights of Columbus 3674 and features the DockDogs National Canine Aquatic Competition.

All three days of the event, dogs will fly through the air in the DockDogs competition. The highlight is the Big Air contest, in which dogs jump for distance into a tank containing 30,000 gallons of water. The event draws national competitors and is also open to local dogs, with online and on-site registration available. Local dogs can try out the jumping tank from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, and the competition runs from 1-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. DockDogs will also hold an Extreme Vertical Competition at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and a Speed Retrieve contest at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The finals for the Big Air event will be at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Along with the jumping competition, Dog Days features a pet-friendly vendors fair and food court from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Other events include a police dog demo at noon and Rehabilitation For Your Pet with Dr. Elle De Ford at 2 p.m. Saturday; and a pet blessing at 10 a.m., Yoga With My Pet sponsored by Black Cat Yoga at 10 a.m. and pet parade at noon Sunday.

Cook Park is at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The rehabilitation and pet blessing events take place in front of Cook Mansion.

For information, visit facebook.com/LibertyvilleDogDaysofSummer. For details about the Dock Dogs competition or to register to take part, visit dockdogs.com.