Dog Keg Pull

The Wild West Winterfest at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds returns to Bozeman with Western-style fun for the whole family—including Fido. Back at the festival for its eighth year is the Dog Keg Pull, where contestants hook their Great Dane or Dachshund to everything from a beer keg to a single 12-ounce can and race for the finish line.

Prizes are awarded for the fastest beer-pulling dog in each division and winners receive a five-gallon dog-food tub filled with treats, grooming tools, food, toys, samples, and gift certificates. In addition, the grand champion with the fastest overall time wins a fancy new dog bed. “We have an amazing emcee, Dan Jessen, who keeps the crowd engaged and encouraged,” says event organizer Libby Burr. “He tells snippets about each dog’s background and makes the event very fun and personal.”

The event goes by quickly and it’s rowdy, so arrive on time. There’s music and food, along with well drinks for purchase, and each contestant gets a beer ticket, a t-shirt, and a dog treat. Weight classes—ranging from less than ten pounds to more than 100 pounds—determine the amount a pup will pull, with labs pulling a keg on a sled and yorkies pulling a single can of beer.

Register your dog for $10 from 11am to 1pm at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, February 17; the event takes place from 1-4pm. For more information, call 582-3270 or visit wildwestwinterfest.com. 

Photo courtesy of Wild West Winterfest