Join us at the Dog Days of Winter

If you are looking for a way to get out and enjoy the winter season with your pup, then look no further! The Dog Days of Winter is back on February 11, right here in Charlotte this year!

What is the Dog Days of Winter?

This is an event held every year by the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The goal of the Whitewater center is to find ways to bring people together outdoors.

At this event, you can bring your four-legged friends to celebrate winter with a variety of outdoor activities. Plus, it’s free to enter!

What Events to Expect

There is a ton of different events you can expect to see. Currently, the itinerary looks like this:

• 10:00 am – Public Skating Opens,
• 10:00 am – Dog Jog 5k Trail Race and 1 Mile Walk
• 10:00 am – Vendor Village Opens
• 11:00 am – Agility Demo with Happy Dogs Training
• 11:45 am – Public skating closes
• 12:00 pm – Adoption Event
• 12:00 pm – Dogs on Ice (Small dogs)
• 1:00 pm – Doga (Dog Yoga)
• 1:00 pm – Good Citizen Clinic with Happy Dogs Training
• 1:00 pm – Dogs on Ice (large dogs)
• 2:00 pm – Dogs on Ice (small dogs)
• 3:00 pm – Agility Demo with Happy Dogs Training
• 3:00 pm – Dogs on Ice (Large Dogs)
• 4:30 pm – Public skating opens
• 10:00 pm – Public skating closes

Dog Jog

One of the biggest events of the day is going to be the choice between completing a 5k with your furry friends or a 1-mile walk around the whitewater channel.

For both of these races, the last day to pre-register is February 9th. If you pre-register, the 5k cost is $37 and the walk is $25, whereas if you wait until the day of to register the prices go up to $42 and $30 respectively.

The check-in location on the day of the race is the Ridge Pavilion.

Dogs on Ice

One of the other big highlights of the day is Dogs on Ice. This is an opportunity for your four-legged friend to test out ice skating! While this event is strictly on-leash only, for dogs on ice you are required to take your dog off their leash and accompany them on the ice.

There are four different sessions throughout the day, grouped by small dogs (less than 45 pounds) and big dogs (over 45 pounds) and it will cost $7 per person to participate.

It is recommended that you bring boots or other paw coverings for your pet as ice can be slippery, wet, or even sharp.

Doga

Doga, or Dog Yoga, is the opportunity for you and your dog to strengthen your physical and mental connections. Make your way through a series of stretches and breathing exercises to help improve posture, have better quality sleep, and alleviate stress and anxiety.

This activity is free for anyone.

Vendor Village

Vendor Village will be a series of tents and stalls set up for patrons to browse through. Vendors will be made up of pet brands from the Charlotte area so you can get gear, treats, and more!

Agility Demo

If you have always wanted to try out agility training with your pet, here is your chance to test the waters! You will make your way through 10-25 obstacles and get some exercise in the process!

Good Citizen Clinic

The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen program teaches training and responsible dog ownership. You can earn your title of being a good Canine Citizen by completing a 10-item test that includes obedience, commands, and how dogs behave around other dogs.

This clinic is being put on by Happy Dogs Training and will demonstrate what it takes to be a good canine citizen.

If this even sounds interesting to you, check it out on February 11th!