APPLE VALLEY — The magic number on the minds of every dog at the Paws n’ Claws Pet Fair was 391.
For those dogs and their owners who participated in a mass obedience training lesson at Civic Center Park on Saturday, the number signified the breaking of a three-year-old Guinness World Record for the world’s largest dog obedience lesson.
Town spokeswoman Charlene Engeron barely held in her excitement as she described the momentous occasion.
“This is the 10th anniversary of the Paws n’ Claws Pet Fair,” Engeron told the Daily Press. “We started out having an open house at our original shelter years ago, and it has grown into an event so big we wanted to do something really grandiose in commemoration of the event’s success. The biggest thing we could think of was breaking a world record.”
Apple Valley was up against Rocafort — located within the Valencian community of Spain — a small municipality with a population just above 6,800. Rocafort set the record at 390 dogs in April 2012.
New York-based Guinness official Michael Empric clicked away on his tally counter as dogs trotted into the fenced-off area around the Civic Center Amphitheatre.
Anticipation reached a fever pitch as the last of the dogs entered the record-attempt space and local dog trainer Jason Rae and his border collie, Whiskey, led the sea of attentive canines in three basic obedience training drills over a 45-minute period.
But, alas, the number of hopeful dogs in attendance totaled only 242.
“They fell a bit short,” Empric told the Daily Press, “but it was still a great day.”
Empric, who started officiating world record attempts four years ago after he sent the Guinness people a letter about his interest in joining their team, said he was surprised at how smooth the attempt went given the hundred of dogs that participated.
“I was expecting more chaos,” Empric said, “but it was everything you’d hope for in a mass obedience training.”
Naturally, this reporter couldn’t let Empric leave the High Desert without asking about his most memorable Guinness experience. He said it was meeting world-record breaker Ashrita Furman.
Furman has broken more than 500 records, according to Empric, and once set the record for the fastest mile on a pogo stick; the current holder of that distinguished record is Fred Grzybowski of Wooster, Ohio. Wooster pogoed his way to a 9-minute, 56-second mile in 2014.
Apple Valley Animal Services Director Gina Whiteside remained positive after the attempt. She said breaking the record would have been the cherry on top of an already successful day.
"Our focus was on the fact that obedience matters," Whiteside said. "If we can get the message of training out there we’re going to have fewer dogs in our shelter, more dogs in loving homes and fewer dogs that have to be euthanized. We believe we’ve carried that message all the way to the top of the charts, and the community was successful in helping us get that message out there."
The now-decade-old pet fair wouldn't have been possible without Christie Gonzales, according to Whiteside. Gonzales has organized the pet fair each of the past ten years.
"Without her this event wouldn't be the success that it is."
And while Apple Valley failed to break the record, the training lesson itself was a record for 15-year dog trainer Rae and four-year-old rescue dog Whiskey.
“This smashes anything I’ve ever done,” Rae told the Daily Press. “Before this, I've never done any (obedience lessons) over 25 (dogs).”
Rae specializes in using positive methods to train dogs and cites Whiskey as the ideal example of the effectiveness of his training methods.
“I got (Whiskey) three years ago,” Rae explained, “and he was completely feral. (Now) he’s a demo dog for (my website) struttmymutt.com. He helps me train other dogs. A few weeks ago he put in a full 20-hour work week. He’s my partner in crime.”
Rae commended Whiteside and the entire town staff for expertly managing the world-record attempt.
“That was a very large thing to do,” Rae said. “That was a lot of work for (the town’s) staff. They did a really good job,” Rae said. “I’ve had groups of 20 dogs that haven’t done this well. I thought it went awesome. (There were) no issues with the dogs.”
And, of course, Rae praised Whiskey.
“He did good, if you think about it,” Rae said. “He’s up on the stage looking out at (240)-plus dogs. And it was hot, but he did a great job of not freaking out.”