Sota leaps into the air during competition

Sota, a 5-year-old golden retriever owned by Steve Roessler of Elko, Minn, leaps 21 feet 6 inches Saturday during the Dock Dogs Big Air WAVE competition at the Bemidji Game Fair and Pet Expo at the Beltrami County Fairgrounds. Sota was the previous record older for longest jump, but Roessler's other dog, Rouser, jumped 25 feet. Sota was the first golden retriever to win an elite title (five jumps longer than 23 feet), and Rouser was the second. The Game Fair and Pet Expo continues today. Pioneer Photo/ Laurie Swenson