The Rose Parade is one of the highlights of New Year’s Day. But this year, it's gone to the dogs: skateboarding dogs. Natural Balance Pet Foods is building a float where the dogs can ride their boards.
"They’re skaters. All they want to do go as fast as they can and as hard as they can,” said Jim Blauvelt, owner of Tyson, one skating dog.
What comes naturally for these dogs has turned into a monumental challenge for skateboard park designer Aaron Spohn, who is building a track atop a float that these boarding bulldogs will ride in the Rose Parade.
“Most skateboarders aren't afraid of anything and these dogs are no different,” Spohn said.
The finished float will sport a giant bulldog atop a skateboard. But all eyes are sure to be on Tyson and Tillman as they ride around the bottom, and they may face some distractions.
“hen you bring tyson's board out, nothing distracts him. Nothing,” Blauvelt said.
Tillman, the younger dog, can hardly contain himself when it's time to ride. But it's one thing to fly free across the pavement, quite another to be confined to a small ring.
“I compare it to putting a hockey player in a bathtub. They've got to learn in a real confined space,” Tillman’s owner Ron Davis said.
Tyson’s owner has to force them to take breaks.
“He feels his aches and pains after a good day of skating, yes, he's a little stiff and sore afterwards,” Blauvelt said.
But like all elite athletes, playing through the pain is just part of the game.
“I think they push each other a little bit though to see who goes faster, who can get more pictures taken of them. They have egos, yeah, they're bulldogs,” Davis said.
And the sidewalk shredders turn heads wherever they ride.
“It takes a special person to want and own a bulldog, let me tell ya,” Davis said.
The finished float will have Plexiglas walls so everyone will be able to see the skateboarding bulldogs. Tyson and Tillman both like to ride as fast as they can and as hard as they can, so they'll take turns on the float. There will be dog crates on board where they can cool down under a fan and take water breaks.
