Hampton, Va. - The 31st annual Hampton Bay Days Festival is creating a splash downtown, and not just for people.
For the second year, the Tidewater Dock Dogs took part in the festivities. People brought out their dogs to compete for cash, prizes and bragging rights.
"It's the greatest sport to have fun for your dogs," said Missy Gordon. Her dog Libby competed Sunday.
"We've been working for about 3 or four years trying to get her to follow the toy, so I try to keep it close where she really wants to go after it, and that really helps her get her distance where she can almost catch it," said Gordon.
Sunday, that practice paid off.
"She just caught her personal best with [17 feet 11 inches] today so we're doing pretty good," said Gordon.
With crowds cheering them on, dogs can compete in three categories: a long jump, speed retrieve, and high jump.
The top scorers win cash prizes, and any dog that's at least six months old can compete.
The sport is quickly growing in popularity across the country and Gordon says the reason for that is simple - more than anything else, it's about having fun.
"Dock dogs is amazing because everybody just likes to make sure that everybody else is having a good time, and doing their personal best all the time, and having a good time with their dogs."
