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Dog Days of Summer 2026

  • Jun 10
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 15



Welcome to the Dog Days of Summer! This year's event will consist of an Ashley Whippet Invitational (AWI) world qualifier and UpDog Challenge Games. More information can be found here: Event Invite.

Note: Due to only playing on one field, this event is limited to 170 runs total (14 runs maximum per person).


Competition Dates: July 11th & 12th

Location: Black Dog Park, Burnsville, MN

Registration Opens: Wednesday June 17th at 7pm

Schedule:

Saturday [UpDog]

  • Freestyle Performance

  • Frizgility

  • Boom

  • Four Way Play

  • Time Warp 

  • Spaced Out

  • FarOut


Sunday [AWI + UpDog]:

  • AWI Freestyle (Round 1) 

  • UpDog Freestyle lvl1

  • AWI Toss and Catch

  • UpDog Throw n’ Go Lvl 1

  • AWI Cash and Catch (Round 1) 

  • AWI Freestyle (Round 2)

  • UpDog Fireball

  • AWI Cash and Catch (Round 2)




Note: Sign up will not be available until after the registration open date listed above.


Additional Premium Information


Run Limit

  • Due to this event only running one field, we will have a run limit of 170 total runs. Registering handlers will be limited to 14 runs Saturday, with the goal of allowing more runs for different handlers. If extra runs are available within a week of the event, teams who might desire additional runs above 14 will be contacted and runs will be offered to them.


AWI Information

  • This event is an AWI World Qualifier event. There are two divisions; Open Overall and Open Toss & Catch. Additionally, the Open Toss & Catch winners (nicknamed Cash & Catch) will be eligible for a cash prize. See COST section below for more information on cost and cash prizes.

  • Open Overall teams will complete one round of Freestyle and one round of Toss & Catch. These two scores will be added together and the field will be cut to the top 10 teams AFTER any ties have been broken. These 10 teams from Open Overall Division will then run one more round of Freestyle.

  • Toss & Catch teams will run 2 rounds, then cut to the top 10 teams for one more round to determine the Champion. If there is a tie for 1st place, a throw off will determine the Champion.

  • Teams can sign up for both Open Overall and Open Toss & Catch.

  • More information about AWI including full rules can be found here: https://www.ashleywhippet.com/rules



Awards

  • The Black Dog Award - As this is our first year at Black Dog Park, we will be offering a special award sponsored by The Canine Coach! This fun award will earned by the crowd's favorite freestyle routine performed by a black (or mostly black) dog. All divisions are eligible to earn this fun award. If you plan to play in freestyle with a black dog, make sure to note that in your sign up.

  • Sunday Only - We encourage all levels of teams to try out AWI and join the Open division. However, we understand new teams might prefer to play in a recreational level, so we are offering UpDog Level 1 freestyle and throw n go. Intermediate and Pro levels can play these UpDog games for points only but awards will only be given out to Novice teams*. All AWI teams will be eligible for awards. All divisions of UpDog Fireball will also be eligible for awards. In addition, only the AWI and Fireball points will go towards Club Cup on Sunday.

    • *Novice Level 1 Freestyle (Sunday only) and Novice Throw N Go will have a combined award, similar to the AWI combined award. When signing up, make sure to select the Sunday Novice Package in order to be eligible for this award.



Divisions

  • UpDog Divisions are selected using the tool "More Data for UpDog Games". This is a free Chrome extension that only works on your Chrome web browser on a computer. We would recommend downloading this extension to see what division it recommends on your UpDog Teams page. If you are not able to use the extension, the percentile that was used to calculate the recommended divisions is as follows;

    • Top 90-100% - Pro

    • 89-55% - Intermediate

    • 54% and below - Novice


Cost & Prizes

  • The cost of the event helps offset our costs for the field rental, paint, event fees, awards and more. We offer a member discount per run for UpDog games if you are a 2026 member. Price per run for this event is set as the following;

    • Freestyle (UpDog) - $15 members/ $20 non-members

    • UpDog Games - $10 members/ $12 non-members

    • Sunday Novice Teams - UpDog Level 1 Freestyle + Throw N Go - $20

    • AWI Open Overall (Freestyle and Toss & Catch) : $25

    • Open Toss & Catch : $25

      • AWI Cash Prize: $5 of each entry fee will go to the overall winner of the Cash & Catch




 
 
 

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