Roxbury dog competing in 'Canine Olympics'
A local Jack Russell Terrier is heading to Boston this weekend to compete in the eastern regionals of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge. ★ "Ivy Hill Just in Case," Harper for short, is a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier - one of five owned by 34-year-old Roxbury resident Lauren Bohs – who will compete in the "Canine Olympics" this Saturday. ★ Harper will compete in the Jack Russell Hurdle Race, one of a variety of Olympic-style events at the competition. Others include dog diving, freestyle flying disc, and head-to-head weave poles.
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Bohs' five Jack Russell Terriers all compete in trials, and she said she is at a different competition about every other weekend in the summer.
Growing up, Bohs knew someone whose dogs competed in races and caught the bug.
"It looked like so much fun. So once I was out of college at 21 I got my first Jack Russell Terrier," Bohs said. "Since then he's had a daughter and a son. And then he became a grandfather and a great grandfather."
Other trials her dog compete in include the "go to ground" where they tunnel underground to find a prize, and "show ring" which is similar to a traditional dog show.
"But racing is a thrill," Bohs said. "Jack Russell Terriers just chase, it's instinctual. Every race is exciting."
Bohs has been training with Harper since he was just eight weeks old. They try to practice every day by playing catch in the yard in addition to the summer events.
"Since the day Harper started racing when he was six months old, he's been a champion so many times I've lost count," Bohs said. "He's won a championship already this year and placed in four others. He always comes on top, even at nine years old."
Bohs is a special education teacher and behaviorist in Sussex, working with autistic students, and Harper is a certified therapy dog, regularly joining her classes.
"Of all Jack Russell Terriers, Harper is an anomaly," Bohs said. "He's got an immaculate temperament. I've never met a dog like him."
Through her weekend competitions, Bohs said she's made friends and met people from around the world.
"Great people who all love dogs," Bohs said. "I love the competition and it's good for the dogs to get that energy out, but there are the social aspects too like getting to see my friends every other weekend."
Bohs said she's participated in competitions with higher stakes, but never something as public as the Incredible Dog Challenge.
"This is very public," she said. "Others will be watching which is really cool."
The 2015 Eastern Regionals for the Incredible Dog Challenge take place Friday and Saturday in Boston.
The Jack Russell hurdle race will take place at 1:15 p.m. Saturday. The races feature six dogs per heat, and several heats per round.
If Harper wins, he will automatically qualify for the National Finals of the challenge, which will take place on September 25 and 26 in St. Louis.
Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com