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Awesome Doggie Festival

Circus dogs, dancing dogs & Doggie Diner heads take over Pier 15
By - posted 8/13/2014 No Comment

Meet some of the hardest working hounds around, such as guide dogs for the blind, and discover what fun-loving pooches can do in circus school or on the dance floor.

Faculty from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine show you how canine genetics predict behavior, coat color, and the risk of heritable diseases, and what skulls reveal about the history and health of an animal. Find out how Finding Rover helps reunite lost dogs with their owners, and get to know best friends in need of homes from the San Francisco SPCA.

Market Days: A Breed Apart
Saturday, August 16, 2014 – 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Pier 15 | 698 The Embarcadero, SF
FREE (outdoor events only)

Noon and 2:00 pm: Dog Skills and Talent Shows
Canine contenders demonstrate everything from intelligent disobedience to choreographed dance steps. Hosted by Exploratorium master of ceremonies Ron Hipschman.

Dogs with Jobs:

  • Dogs for Diabetics
    These medical assistance dogs identify changes in their owners’ blood chemistry.
  • FEMA Search and Rescue
    Watch fire dogs climb ladders and demonstrate their tracking skills.
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind
    Guide dogs are trained to disobey unsafe commands—such as stepping into the street when there is oncoming traffic—in order to protect their owners.

Dogs Needing Homes: San Francisco SPCA
Talk with volunteers from the SPCA’s dog training, adoption, and foster programs, and introduce yourself to future canine companions.

Show Dogs:

  • Canine Circus School
    This art school for dogs unleashes the inner performer in even the shyest of students.
  • Freestyle Dog Dancing With Lynn Ungar and Piper
    In canine musical freestyle, dog and handler perform together in a choreographed routine that combines obedience training, music, timing, showmanship, and lots of treats. Lynn and Piper will dance to Michael Bublé’s rendition of “Feelin’ Good.”

Dog Science:

  • UC Davis Veterinary School
    Learn about the evolution of dog skulls with Dr. Frank Verstraete. He’ll discuss reconstructive surgeries and the ways a skull can reveal health and life history. Then meet with Dr. Cecilia Penedo to discover the ways scientists use canine genetics to predict the risk of heritable diseases, coat color, and behaviors such as aggression.
  • 11:30 am, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 pm: Cow Eye Dissection with the Explainers
    Take in a classic Exploratorium demonstration with a dog vision twist.

San Francisco Dogs:

  • Doggie Diner Heads
    Harold Bachman designed these famous dachshunds in the mid-sixties. After the Doggie Diners closed, these particular heads were rescued from oblivion and have since appeared at hundreds of local events.
  • Finding Rover
    This local company uses facial recognition software to reunite lost dogs with their owners.

Photo Credit: Chandler White via barbarycoastnews.com