K9 Kings high-flier Whoopsie goes airborne for a frisbee thrown by dog trainer J.D. Platt — and execute a trick play — at the Hood River County Fair on July 25. Platt’s show features rescue dogs and was a new attraction at this year’s fair.Noah Noteboom photo
K9 Kings high-flier Whoopsie goes airborne for a frisbee thrown by dog trainer J.D. Platt — and execute a trick play — at the Hood River County Fair on July 25. Platt’s show features rescue dogs and was a new attraction at this year’s fair.Noah Noteboom photo
HOOD RIVER — In 1996, former professional snowboarder J.D. Platt was hitchhiking back home from Mount Bachelor when he luckily got a ride. As it turned out, his driver was a frisbee dog entertainer for NFL halftime shows — a fluke moment that changed the course of his career.
For the past 28 years, Platt has hauled his bright yellow trailer full of rescued dogs, from small Parson Russell terriers to attentive border collies, across the country to perform his K9 Kings Flying Dog Show. Along with an interactive butterfly exhibit and performance by country duo Maddie & Tae, Platt’s show was one of several new attractions at this year’s Hood River County Fair.
“I feel like it’s an accumulation of everything I did as a child,” said Platt, who has adored animals, sports and talent shows since he was young. “It’s a lifelong story that pieced together to create this career that I absolutely love now.”
Platt’s half-hour show featured eight dogs, and though each has an affinity for catching discs, they come with different skill sets. While Whoopsie and Xilo performed flips and twists in the air, 17-year-old Carousel preferred to stretch in Platt’s arms. Dancing to “Boogie Wonderland” and cracking jokes throughout the show, it’s safe to say that Platt had fun too.
All of Platt’s dogs are rescues, either from animal shelters or families who could no longer care for them, including 16-week-old puppy Amelia Earhart, who has fittingly large ears. Platt partnered with nonprofit organizations like Street Dog Hero and Dog Is My CoPilot to find Amelia, one of 39 dogs set to be euthanized at a shelter in Oklahoma a month ago. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, around 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized every year in the United States.
“I just believe that there are a lot of dogs out there that need homes, and a lot of people don’t realize the potential that they have,” said Platt.
As for training, Platt’s regimen revolves around patience, repetition and consistency. He understands that each rescue dog has individual problems that require tailored solutions, like where they train and whether it’s for socialization or obedience. “Always working with them and keeping it positive is important,” he said.
Platt hopes to return to Hood River and Fair Manager Jody Loop said this year’s fair definitely seemed busier than the last. “The fair is a staple in our community, and it gets better every year,” said Loop. “I think it brings our community closer together.”
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