Hello everyone!

Thanks for entering the Western Cup Challenge!

This may get a little long, but please review all parts of it for important information including- directions to Eromit AIRcademy, how to pre-pay for entry fees, and site rules, and the trial schedule. Also on site/off-site camping, and a few other things you might find helpful. We  also welcome questions so if you can, shoot us an email early this week. We won’t be around the phone or computer beyond Friday evening so it works best if we can help you as much as possible before then. 

DIRECTIONS

We are located at 4131 Schemenaur Road. Our driveway is long and winding and you cannot see the pool from this road but watch for the street address sign (we are just next to the railway tracks). Our driveway is shared with a forestry cut block- do NOT drive straight-into the muddy/rutted forestry area. DO follow the better gravel driveway that curves to the right.

You will drive past our house, barns, and kennels to get to the pool- follow signs and please DRIVE VERY VERY SLOWLY.  We try not to have wandering humans or animals in the yard but do occasionally have escaped creatures that we would prefer do not get squished. There are 2 sets of speed bumps so watch for those. It is helpful if you contain your dogs fully in your vehicle as you drive through our yard (ie no barking heads out of the window since that can be stressful for our critters). 

See this map – save it to your phone or print it out because MANY GPS units do not map us correctly. You can use this map to verify that you’re getting solid directions. 

Note: No visitors/stopped traffic/ humans on foot or otherwise in our yard area please. Do not stop to say hi or visit our animals on the way by. It is ideal if they are able to ignore passing vehicles. If this is your first visit to our property, you’ll see what I mean- the pool field and area is very large and roomy but you have to travel through our personal yard space by vehicle to get there.  People and dogs are not permitted to walk back through the yard area near our animals.

ENTRY FEES

To streamline entries, pre-paying by e-transfer is ideal! (WE DO NOT HAVE INTERNET OR CELL SERVICE AT THE POOL SITE- electronic payment MUST be received by 10am August 11th (Thursday morning, at the latest) if you are paying in that manner- see details below.

If you would prefer to pay on site, you may pay with cash. Entry fees are listed in Canadian funds.

For E-TRANSFER pre-payment

STEP 1. Determine your camping fees, if you are camping at Eromit Acres. $10 per night that you will be camping is the cost. Camping is dry (no hookups, no electricity). If you are planning to camp on site, please do let us know in advance re: camper size or tenting so that we can ensure there is enough spots for all that want to camp. CAMPING IS AVAILABLE Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

***If you prefer a full service campground, we recommend Ten Mile Lake provincial park which is about a 5 minute drive from us. ****

Step 2. Check your dog(s) pre-registration fees. Do this by logging on to http://www.northamericadivingdogs.com – Click on your dogs- each dog’s individual name, and then hit ‘registered events’. You will see a chart that shows you exactly what you are registered in, with the total for that dog at the bottom right. (see example below). If you compete with multiple dogs, please tally these numbers together for one payment.

FAST FETCH– This is our fun, non-NADD sanctioned game that we’ll play on Sunday. Will your dog be the next Fast Fetch world champion? Add $10 to your entry if you’re planning to play fast fetch. (This game has awards for each division and is a required event for the Western Cup Challenge standings). See the rules HERE to decide!

Step 3

Add your dog(s) registration fees, including fast fetch- and your camping fees if applicable, any lesson fees that you have scheduled, and send as an etransfer to erin@kinderdoggin.com  BY August 11th 10 am (Sooner is appreciated too). Please use the password EROMIT (if you’ve sent me an etransfer in the past, it is helpful to ensure this password is updated)– I have no way to remember or save your past passwords!

PAYMENT BY CASH:

If you prefer to pay for your entries in cash, you can do so Thursday evening or Friday morning. Check in will be available between 7 and 7:30 am on Friday. If you arrive late, you may not be able to jump in the first splash of the day so plan accordingly- schedules are tight for this event!

CHECKIN TIMES/PROCEDURES:

All competitors will need to sign a waiver and gain a wristband prior to getting on the dock for practice or competition, even if you’ve prepaid by etransfer. ALL HELPERS who will be on the dock will also need to sign the waiver or have a parent/guardian sign on their behalf. This should be done prior to the handlers meeting that occurs before your first scheduled jump of the competition. You must wear the wristband each time you are on the dock.

When you check in for the Western Cup Challenge, you’ll also receive a Swag Bag! Filled with goodies donated by Blue Ferne Pet supplies, Hemp 4 Pets, and Smiling Blue Skies. If you’re sharing photos, tag the sponsors on social media- they always love that and it helps encourage them to donate again next year!

You can check in any time between 5-6:15, or 7:30-8pm…. or between 7-7:30 am on Friday (for the first splash- later is fine if you aren’t entered until a later splash but make sure you are checked in and ready to jump at least HALF AN HOUR before your scheduled splash). The more dogs/people we have checked in early, the smoother things will run for everyone! You can arrive as early as 7 am to get set up, warmed up, etc.

NOTE: Gates are closed between 10 pm and 7 am each day, so no traffic in or out, except in an emergency, between those hours.

PRACTICE TIME:

The dock will be open for training between 6:30-8 for practice on Thursday evening, and 7-7:30 each morning (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) – LIMITED TO competing dogs only, no more than 3 jumps each. Be ready to go when it’s your turn so that everyone gets a chance to practice as needed! It is unlikely that there will be practice time throughout the day due to the busy schedule.

A hose and kiddie pool is set up for cooling any dog that needs it- non competing dogs who need to cool down, etc.

General site rules:

1. Dogs must be on leash at all times except if they are on the dock/in the pool, or in the secured agility or off-leash gated areas. . This rule applies 100% of the time, day or night, whether there are other dogs present or not. No free roaming dogs at any time. 
2. Kindly pick up all poo and deposit in bins. The agility & nearby narrow fenced areas are NOT for pottying. Make sure your dog is already empty before warming up there! A $5 potty tax applies if your dog messes in the agility field (donated to Smiling Blue Skies). If your dog needs to be off leash to potty, or is likely to be an offender, use the two other gated areas at the far end of the field.
3. Do not allow your dog to pee on anything man made except the very exterior fences of the property. No peeing on the dock, the pool, vehicle tires, equipment of any sort, and not along the chainlink fence that surrounds the pool or agility fields. Thank you for helping keeping our training areas smelling as nice as possible! 
4. There are livestock (cows, horses, and sheep) that may be on the other side of the property fencelines. If your dog is like to bark or lunge at them, stay back from the fence. We have very good neighbors and try not to let our animals upset their animals. 
5. No dog to dog contact is permitted. If you are using the agility or warmup areas, only dogs who live together may play together. Try to keep your turns there fairly short if someone else is waiting. Be mindful of the personal space of other dogs even when leashed. 
6. We do not permit tethering of dogs at this event. If you are not holding the leash, your dog should be contained in a pen, crate, tent, etc. Dogs may not be tied to fences or chairs.
7. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE SPECTATOR PICNIC AREA. This is a people zone.
8. Excitement is encouraged during the event and it will get loud! but when trial hours are over, we expect barking dogs to be addressed. Please do not allow frivolous barking from dogs who are camping. Please also consider keeping barking dogs away from briefings so that everyone can hear judge instructions.
9. Have fun. This is actually the most important rule. Be nice to your dog, your volunteers, and your competitors. Everyone does this anyway, right?!

Event rules- North America Diving Dogs has specific rules laid out for the actual dock diving competitions. Competitors are expected to be familiar with the rules. You can find the rulebook here: 

https://northamericadivingdogs.com/content/view/cmsid/20/2018_North_America_Diving_Dogs_Rules

What to Bring

– all the usual stuff for enjoying the outdoors- bug spray, sunscreen, water for you and your dog (NOTE: Mosquitoes and biting flies are really bad right now. Be prepared!)

• your dog on a flat buckle collar. Corrective collars, head halters, electronic collars, and harnesses are not allowed on the dock
• A floating toy that your dog loves to fetch! Any type of toy that you can throw is permitted as long as it does not contain fur or feathers. 
• Cash for the lunch BBQ
• snacks
• Your own lawn chair(s)
• Shade (there is plenty of space to set up shade tenting near the pool)
• A crate for your dog (or other secure means to contain them while you are not able to supervise. Parking is NOT in the shade. Dogs cannot be tethered. 
• We will have some products for sale as well as having Clever Canine Boutique on site as a vendor with t-shirts, treats, and dog toy options,  so you may want to bring some $$ for frivolous spending! 

POTLUCK- plan to bring something to share for Friday night! We’ll set up the potluck during Air Retrieve, so before or after your dog jumps, you can enjoy dinner and cheer for your friends!

Now for some FUN STUFF!

We have a very kind and supportive competition environment. If you have a question during the event, please find anyone who looks like they know what they are doing- and ask! If they don’t know, they will direct you to myself (Erin), Tim, or one of the judges for help! There are no silly questions- we do not want you to feel uncertain or confused about anything. 

LUNCH- Ali & Paul Edgell will be operating the BBQ as a Smiling Blue Skies fundraiser for lunch each day. Bring cash!!

Other Fundraiser stuff (you’ll want lots of cash, lol!) – Raffle Table (prize contributions also welcome), Nail Trims by Donation (by fear free certified groomer/trainer Amy Atkinson), Custom Elastic bracelets by Weston and Sydney Brooks, and the Tennis Ball Fundraiser (currently still a few balls available)- for some big prizes! Our judge/announcer Derek Dixon has also organized a huge fundraiser with his plan to bike to Quesnel and back from his home in Kamloops- donations inspired by Derek can go directly to his Go Fund Me page HERE. If you have a dog who knows some tricks and needs to earn a trick dog title, judge Alycia Rogal will be on site to judge tricks and will be donating her judging fee to Smiling Blue Skies!

THEME SONGS- at various points during the distance splashes (and finals!) on the weekend, we’ll play your dog’s personal theme song- but I need to know in advance what it is (and needs to be available on iTunes). Join our facebook group and post there with your dog(s) theme song!

Experienced folks: If you see a newbie looking confused or engaging in something that isn’t allowed- reach out to them helpfully, OR let Erin, Tim, or Derek know, so that we can!

START TIMES and JUMP TIMES EACH DAY

Thursday

5pm or later- checkin in

5-6:15 – pool open for warm ups

Friday: running order A-Z (with some separation for staff/multi-dog owners)

7-7:30 checkin/warm up

7:30 All handler’s meeting – MUST BE PRESENT to jump in first splash

8 am – first dog in the pool Splash 1. Followed immediately by Splash 2, 3, and 4.

4pm – Air Retrieve Begins

*** we’ll set up the potluck sometime after AR gets going- feel free to bring something to share, and grab a plate while you watch and cheer or wait for your turn to compete! AR will be a long one!

Saturday: (running order M-Z, A-L – with some separation for staff/multi-dog owners)

7- 7:30- checkin/warm up

7:30- All handler’s meeting- MUST BE PRESENT to jump in first splash

8 am first dog in the pool for splash 5, followed by splash 6

12 pm – Hydrodash

2pm Splash 7, followed by splash 8

*** Tennis Ball Draw at conclusion of Splash 8. **** Awards for AR & HD on Saturday evening.

SUNDAY (running order Z to A, with some seperation for staff/multi-dog owners)

7-7:30 – checkin/warm up

7:30 All handler’s meeting MUST BE PRESENT to jump in first splash

8 am – First dog jumps Splash 9, followed immediately by splash 10 and 11

2pm – FAST FETCH CHAMPIONSHIP

DISTANCE FINALS (~ 4pm or as soon as Fast Fetch is over, whichever is sooner)

FastFetch, Distance, and Western Cup Challenge awards to follow

Covid restrictions do not currently apply to outdoor events, but it’s still a thing. STAY HOME if you are not feeling well. (This also goes for your dog, though we are not worried about them having covid, we really aim not to spread contagious dog cooties at events). We provide refunds for dogs and people who miss events due to personal illness BUT YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT COMING. Shoot an email, or leave a voicemail, if your skipping due to illness. Time stamps will let us know that you reached out before your scheduled participation even if we don’t chat directly.

The best way to contact me is by email: erin@kinderdoggin.com  Calling gets a slower response but you can always try 250-992-5253 if that is your preferred way to reach out. Please note- I don’t have phone OR internet/email access at the pool- so get me your questions by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest or I won’t be able to access them!

I also invite you to join our facebook group – Dock Diving at Eromit AIRcademy where event pictures and details are often shared (as well as frequent training tips and such between events!) 

Thanks for reading this far, I look forward to seeing you soon!

~Erin