Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dogs have their day at Palooza
There were big dogs, small dogs, shy dogs, fast dogs, slow dogs and families looking for the right dog.
The Second Annual Puppy Palooza at the plaza in front of Miramar City Hall Saturday wasn’t just dog friendly — it was all about the pooches, right down to the doggie popsicles, doggie obstacle course and about a dozen booths offering dog accessories, in-house training for dogs, and dog adoptions.
“I want one” said Serenity, a girl who attended the event with her younger brother Righteous and mother Jocelyn Boley, who works at the city’s cultural center. They didn’t have a dog but are looking to get one soon.
“I’m glad to see that so many people showed up,” Boley said.
About 80 people showed up, most of them with dogs on leashes.
Unleashed, Brody flashed around the obstacle course. The Parson Russell Terrier looked more like a greyhound at the races, zooming around corners, darting through a hole and nimbly jumping over barriers. Brody could hardly wait his turn, barking anxiously to get over the fence and onto the course.
“He loves these things,” said Brody’s owner, Kris Taplin, from Bal Harbor. “It’s really nice that the city does this, it’s a great event, I’ll definitely look out for it next year,” he said.
All the dogs seemed to get along. But for those that didn’t, help was not far away.
“Barking, dogs that pull a lot on the leash, we handle aggressive dogs as well ... no breed restrictions, we handle any breed any age,” said Nicole Browne, a canine behavioral consultant with the Fort Lauderdale- based Sam Ivy K-9 Consultants. The company does private in-home dog training.
Eric Schultz attended the event with his 10-year-old son, Donovan, and their two dogs.
“Donovan is a big dog lover and he wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up, so this is a big deal for him,” Schultz said. “That’s Huckleberry and Comet,” he said, pointing to their two midsized dogs, both rescue dogs.
“We’re kind of thinking Comet is a little too high-strung for this,” Schultz said, referring to the obstacle course. “We’re not quite sure he is going to be a good cut for it, but we will sure have fun watching.”