The dogs and people got along famously at Woofstock in Jamesville Beach Park.
Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle survived the Woofstock Festival Saturday afternoon.
She mingled with mutts, listened to music, let two women wearing veterinarian scrubs scratch her head, ate only half a cup of ice cream and never had to roll through a mud puddle.
The dog days of late July were pretty good in this short drive to the southeast of Syracuse.
Ellie B liked the bobbing for tennis balls game.
Organizers made sure there were games for the dogs. Others circled the kiddie pool filled with colorful tennis balls, but when we were there, Ellie B was the only one to actually show an inclination toward perhaps plucking one out. She stopped short despite the urging of my dear wife Karen.
A stage was set up for a daylong procession of Syracuse area bands.
Music for dogs to dig, from Priime Time Unplugged.
First we heard JPEG. Then Prime Time Unplugged took the stage. I liked both, certainly. The dogs seemed to dig them, too.
Between, hosts took the stage to hold a contest for the best hippie dog.
Did I see you at Max’s farm?
The winner above beat out a pretty good half-dozen hippie dogs, I’d say.
Next was a contest for the best lookalike, dog and owner.
Where do you guys shop for your clothes?
The daddy-daughter dog combo beat a different 10 lookalike entrants, including a bearded dragon lizard which somehow was allowed in.
Walking back to spot a bushed dog who did not enter any official contest, I decided to declare my own winner.
It’s cooler down here, dah.
Ellie B got my most bashful award.
Karen was smart enough to take our dear rescue mutt to a shady refuge while I was snapping photos with my iPhone 4.
Speaking of rescues, the Central New York Humane Society had a big spread of tables with pamphlets and volunteers to tell you anything you’d like to know about saving dogs who need a good home. Donations were accepted as you entered the event, and at several of the information tables.
Go ahead and run, run, run.
Organizers set up side-by-side fenced dog parks, for large dogs and small dogs to provide exercise spaces.
Most owners knew that meant to keep the dogs on leashes everywhere else.
Two, though, thought they had to show off how good their dogs were off the leash, catching Frisbees in the field next to the long walk back to the parking lot. Karen and I watched everybody else keep, along with us, their dogs on the leash on the walk taking the long way instead of taking the short cut through that field to the lot.
Would you bring your dog to a Woofstock for mingling and music? What’s your dog’s favorite song? What contest do you think your dog would win?
Mark Bialczak 
We have an event here called Bark In the Park and the dogs have a dog park especially for them. My elder dog prefers the comfort of a beach towel to watch the world from my bedroom floor. And she adores Train. Like ah-dores them.
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Smart pooch, Apple Pie. Very smart pooch.
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This was such a sweet post, charming me into wishing I could stop by and pet someone’s dog at a nearby dog park! Love the “Woofstock” theme and glad the dogs didn’t howl at the music! Fun stuff!
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The dogs were very respectful of the music. The two bands I heard were respectful of the dogs. They didn’t play ‘Who Let the Dogs Out,’ thankfully, Robin!
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Even though I am officially a cat people, I babysat my daughter’s chihuahua for the past 2 months and taught her a bunch of tricks. So yes, I would have taken her. You have absolutely the best radar for finding cool places to go EVER! And that’s a beautiful photo of Karen and Ellie B by the way. 🙂
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Full disclosure, Rachel, Karen gets credit for half the picks, you know, and this one was hers! 🙂 I take full responsibility for the photo of her and Ellie B, by the way. 🙂 Yes, I had a good time at Woofstock!
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😀
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Hi, I came from the Pitch Party – looks like it was a fun day with the dogs! 🙂
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It was a great dog day, Jessie. Glad to see you drop in from Austin’s Pitch Party! You’re always welcome.
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I wish that my furkids would behave in public so I could take them to events like this……well, Lily (the momma) acts fine on her own but if I don’t bring Dart (her son) with us he would pout and whine until we get home. I can’t even schedule the vet appts together because Dart feels like he needs to protect his mom and I and turns into Cujo, talk about little dog syndrome!! haha
sounds like you had a great time 🙂
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Wow, protective pup paranoia! That’s a new one on me, Jolene. At least he’s standing up for his mom, I guess… Too bad. Socialization would do Lily and Dart good. The dogs at Woofstock all loved it.
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Wonderful post, Marco !
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Thank you, Anne T!
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Welcome. . .Marco!
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Mark, what a great day for you and Ellie B. Too bad we don’t have a Woofstock around here, but I guess it doesn’t matter now, since my little Max passed away a few years ago. He would have loved it though. He weighed in at 10 pounds, but thought he was a Doberman, so his little head was in the right place. And he was a good protector. When someone tried to break into my house one night Max grabbed his ankle and held on til the police got there.
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I love the image of ankle-biter Max protecting house, home and Angie. Thanks for giving me that this morning, Angie!
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oh sweet, all that woofy loving around 🙂
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Dog karma was at 10, Niki!
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Ellie and Karen win best looking couple for sure, Mark. My Bassett Hound won for longest dog when I was in high school. Her name was Gracie and she was a sweet pup. Looks like a great day.
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Your Oscar wins for sneeziest, right, Aud?! Karen and Ellie B do cut cute the dashing figure together, don’t they? I’m glad you agree! Gracie the long dog sounds like a sweet pup to me, Aud. Nice.
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Yes, Oscar also wins for loudest snore. I look forward to seeing him on Tuesday. Heading home tomorrow, Chum.
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From your posts, Aud, I think you had one hell of a summer ’14 family tour. Home will feel good, though, I bet. Travel safe.
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Thank you 🙂
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what a great idea and story! I like it!
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The dogs loved it, mihrank! Thank you.
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There is so much to do up state. I should think about relocating. But I can’t leave the city I love.
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There is so much to do in the city, too, Kim. You know that and I know that!
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Yes but the open space and fresh air.
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That we have over you down there, I agree.
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Oh my gosh, Zola would go nuts to be around so many different dogs.
I think we could win a most-similar-personality contest because she’s just as daft and ridiculous as me, with a mix of hyper and lazy to match. I suppose we also kind of look alike… red hair, a few extra pounds but still making it work.
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I could picture you and Zola mixing and schmoozing at Woofstock with the peeps and the dogs, making them laugh and tail-wag, working it and making it work, Aussa! Wish you guys could have been there with Karen, Ellie B and I! 🙂
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Looks like a lovely day. My favourite photo is the one of Karen and Ellie B.
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I shall pass that info along. It will make them both smile, Rachel! 🙂
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Woofstock – what an idea! I don’t have a dog so it would be weird for me to attend an event like that, no? Glad you guys had a wonderful time. 😀
Diana xo
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No, it’s a great event for non-dog owners to attend, to rack up a day of dog-lovin’, Diana. Sort of like having a grand time at a picnic playing with other people’s toddlers after yours is all grown up!
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I really need to find a horse fest like that. I’ve loved horses forever and I don’t think I will ever own any horses. 🙂
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Let’s start one, Diana. Hoofstock! Only country bands. Whaddya think?
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haha I’m in!
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Oh have you put a smile on my face. Thank you, Mark!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
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Oh, my nature-loving friend, you would have loved this one. Hugs back, Amy!
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Now what makes you THINK I LOVE Nature? Tee hee xx
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If I had a dog I would do just such a thing. 🙂
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Some people there didn’t have a dog but were petting other people’s dogs, which I thought was a good deal all around, Colleen. Spread the love both ways!
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Amen Mark! 🙂 What a beautiful thing….affection and petting. 🙂
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My dogs like to get out but the little(er) one sucks at car rides. If there was a contest for getting your leash wrapped around any and everything, then both our dogs would win for sure. Looks like a fun event. That Syracuse isn’t a half bad town it appears.
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So happy to see Ellie B! My Max would love this and old Berkley would not. He’s a curmudgeon in his old age.
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I saw Max types and old Berkley types both, Barb. It was every doggie for her/his self!
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this is fabulous, mark, what a great, great event, both for people and dogs. i love all of the characters who attended, the events, the music. great shot of ellie and karen too ) also, nice shout out to the shelter who helps animals and people find their homes together, you know i am a fan of rescues )
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Yes, Beth, you had a great rescue happen in the cottage just this month, and I am so glad for you and Nacho! There were cat people at the event, too, and they were wearing shirts that said Meow Matters. It made me wonder more about that organization. Cat events would be harder to actually bring the pet, though, I guess. 😦
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indeed we did and i love the cat shirt and you are so right, imagine how crazy it would be with herds of cats! )
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Great post! What a fun day! My dogs are lounge lizards with a preference for the Rat Pack. They keep asking for a trip to Vegas… So far I have managed to hold out…
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I want a picture of them snapping their paws to Frank and Sammy Davis Jr., Kate.
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They’re too cool for that; I’ll send you a photo of them smoking cigarettes and drinking some Jack on the rocks… doo-bee-doo-bee-doo…
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Playing pool, racking ’em up, I can see it, Kate. Hipster pooches.
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That’s an amazing idea Mark. I’ve never seen a “Woofstock” before. It looks like a lot of fun. Ellie and Karen both have big smiles. Was there much problem with the dogs not getting along? That would be my greatest fear.
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There were sporadic spurts of barking, a stray growl or two, but I did not see one skirmish. Owners were good about pulling dogs back from the first sign of any aggressive behavior. That’s why I get so hacked off at the folks who take their dogs off the leash in open fields at events like this. You bring your dog in the gated area and unleash it with the other unleashed dogs, they’re all on equal turf and act as such. Expectations from the owners are the same, too. But in the field, even those these entitled idiots are quick to fall back on “well MY dog is always well behaved off the leash,” owners NEVER know how an unleashed dog and leashed dog will react toward one another. So I cringe that the unleashed dog will run up to my leashed Ellie B and spook her and cause a conflict, and the unleashed dog will be at an advantage over my leashed pet with the other dog’s owner far off in the distance and unable to control the pet and help. Oy. That’s my greatest fear.
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This is adorable! We’d definitely take Jack to an event like this. He’d win if there was a “Poster Child for Depression” award. 🙂
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Cheer up, Jack … Life’s pretty good down there, doggie! Thanks, Kate. You’d all have fun at your Woofstock, I think.
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OK, now I’m going to have CSN&Y’s song in my head all day, but with a certain letter replacing the D in Woodstock. Gimme an …
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The fur was flying in a peaceful manner, Jim. A new meaning to the word woodshedding, too!
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What a fun day!! And I have my own objective view as to who would win the most gorgeous pup of the day (at the festival of course)..
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I wish Bogey and friends — and you and Andy — could experience Woofstock, Mimi. Peace in our little neck of the hills.
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