THE ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIR DOGS PLAYING CATCH MAKE AN ART OF FETCH.Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer LANCASTER - Flying through the air with twists and turns, dogs narrowly avoid colliding with each other in their anticipation of catching a bright pink Frisbee. Ashley and Rocket Hoskins' trained dogs - Rocket's K-9 Comets - have been performing at professional football games, fairs, school assemblies and on television for 20 years. They are based in Ramona, in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. County, but they spend most of their time traveling all over the country in a 40-foot motor home. ``We're on the road most of the year from about February to October,'' Ashley said. The 10 dogs sleep in their own air-conditioned room on bunk beds bunk beds bunk npl → lits superposés bunk beds npl → Etagenbett nt bunk beds npl → letti mpl in the motor home. Showing off Saturday at the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Fair was Crazy Daisy, a 7-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever Chesapeake Bay retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed in the United States. It stands about 24 in. (61 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 65 lb (29.5 kg). , and Cowboy Kazoo, a 5-year-old Australian cattle dog Australian cattle dog, breed of medium-sized herding dog developed in Australia. It stands from 18 to 20 in. (45.7–50.8 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 33 lb (15 kg). . The Hoskinses have trained almost every kind of dog imaginable to catch Frisbees, including a Chihuahua known as Lizzy Lizard. Lizzy catches mini-Frisbees. She drops them at the command, ``Drop the chalupa
A chalupa is a kind of tostada platter in Mexican cuisine. .'' Only four or five dogs are used in each of the shows, giving the other dogs time to rest between performances. The Hoskinses prefer herding or retrieving dogs to train for Frisbee catching. ``Their inherent abilities are to herd. We take the herding instinct from a cow to a Frisbee,'' Ashley said. The dog team goes through 7,000 Frisbees a year. A dog's ability to leap and catch Frisbees is only limited by his size. Large dogs could injure themselves when they land because of their weight, and dogs with short legs, such as basset hounds, have difficulty leaping from the ground. The Hoskinses have no children but are content to be mom and pop Mom and Pop An adjective denoting a small-scale and family-like atmosphere, often used to describe these types of businesses and investors. Notes: A mom-and-pop business is typically a small family-run business. to their canine kids. Rocket Hoskins is a former world Frisbee champion and six-time national champion, and was the original California state champion. He got started in the canine Frisbee world when he met Ashley Whippet Ashley Whippet (c. 1971 – 1985), a Whippet owned by Alex Stein of Ohio, was the first great disc dog and the winner of three Canine Frisbee Disc World Championships. , the first famous Frisbee-catching dog. Rocket threw for the dog at the New Orleans Super Bowl. When Ashley Whippet's owner retired, the Hoskinses started their own canine team. ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIR SCHEDULE TODAY Entertainment: Monster Truck Show, 3 p.m., $12, $15. Demolition Derby, 8 p.m. Smokin' Armadillos, 6:30, 10:30 p.m. Hypnotist Kevin Stone, 6, 9, 11 p.m. DAILY: Carnival rides, farm animals, flower exhibits, handicraft handicraft: see arts and crafts. display, photo exhibit, gem and mineral displays, bungee jumping, antique farm equipment, petting zoo, chain saw sculpture, Discovering Science hands-on exhibits. TIMES: Noon-1 a.m. today; noon-11 p.m. Monday. ADMISSION: General admission, $5; children 6 to 15 and seniors 55 and over, $3; children under 6 and active duty military personnel with identification, free. Grandstand event tickets include fair admission. PARKING: $3. LOCATION: 155 E. Ave. I, Lancaster. INFORMATION: (805) 948-6060 or www.avfair.com. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Rocket's K-9 Comets star Cowboy Kazoo entertains Antelope Valley Fair watchers on Saturday with a midair catch. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer Box: Antelope Valley Fair Schedule (see text) |
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