Italian Greyhound - Woofstock 2014

Location: Woofstock, Woodbine Park
Date photo taken: 25 May 2014

I almost missed it this year! Woofstock, Toronto's annual outdoor festival for dogs, snuck up on me. It was held last weekend, a few weeks earlier than usual, and it moved to a new location, Woodbine Park. The park setting seemed much more natural for an event of this type and there was plenty of room for everyone to move around but I missed all the restaurant patios on the sidelines where you could sit, have a cold drink, and watch all the cuteness go by. Despite not spending the hours and hours there that I have in the past, I did manage to pick my "it" dog for 2014. While there was a stunning number of bulldogs and Shiba Inu, I also noticed that there were quite a lot of these diminutive dogs, which I am told are Italian greyhounds. As I don't recall seeing nearly as many in past years, I'm giving them the title this year.

Shiba Inu - Woofstock 2013

 

Location: Woofstock, Front St. between Church and Jarvis
Date photo taken: 8 June 2013

This past weekend was Woofstock which, according to their website, is North America's largest festival for dogs. It happens each year in early June and it really draws a crowd. Every year I go and spend a few hours soaking up the doggie love and marveling at the outfits and dye jobs some pooches sport. I also try and identify the new "it" dog. In past years the uptick in pugs, bulldogs and dachshunds was obvious, and they are all still very much in evidence. This year, it was a little harder to make the call. There were far more Great Danes than I remember seeing before, but I think It Dog 2013 goes to the Shiba Inu, a breed made famous by Puppy Cam. Also very popular this year were doggie strollers containing two or more tiny canine occupants. Visit my Woofstock Picasa album to see more images from the event.