Pet Shop Boyz News
World Record for The Petshop Boyz Team
Written by: Paul Thomas, 24 Sep 2008
The Gentle Cavalier Goes for Gold and Wins! – By Paul Thomas
What better way to support the dog world and bring awareness to a gentle breed than to beat a world record? Danny Boskovski of the Petshop Boyz in NSW and twenty four pure bred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels snatched the crown from the USA on 21st September 2008 at Empire Park in Newcastle. As part of the ‘Doggy Day Out’, an annual community event co-organised by The Petshop Boyz to raise funds for the Surf Lifesaving Movement in Newcastle, this record attempt captured media attention for the breed in the Daily Telegraph, Channel Nine TV network news in Newcastle, The Newcastle Herald group of Newspapers, local radio stations. The ABC radio network covered the event live and on blog sites around the nation.
The Doggy Day Out attended this year by an estimated 15000 spectators and their dogs witnessed this world record breaking event and cheered on the Cavaliers and their handler as they crossed the line to take the record from the USA. Previously the Guinness Book of World records’ has acknowledged an American handler as having walked 22 dogs for 1 kilometer as the current record holder. After failing an attempt last year to break the record Mr. Boskovski gathered a team of 27 Cavaliers to ensure he conquered the title this year. The event started with a good luck kiss for Mr. Boskovski and his canine companions by the lady Mayoress of Newcastle City Council Cathy Tate and a roar of encouragement from the watching crowds.
The event started with 27 Cavaliers however two dogs escaped their harness and one dog was released after becoming entangled in the main core lead this left 24 dogs to finish the course, two more the current world record. A special lead was constructed for the record attempt so that the dogs could be strung out without becoming stressed or confused.
Mr. Boskovski breeds and exhibits Weimaraners in NSW under the Somerford prefix and laughed at me when I asked him why he didn’t use his own breed to break the world record “Can you imagine the strength I would need to hold 27 Weimaraners together, I might not have had any arms left at all had I selected Weimaraners” he stated. Danny also explained that he could not have showcased this wonderful breed without the support and encouragement of breeders Pippa Turner, Sue Dawson and Sheree Gleeson.
Using Mr. Boskovski’s influence and contacts the organising committee of the Doggy Day Out was able to organise a display of rare breeds and showcase them to the general public raising the perception and awareness of these breeds. A great favourite of the crowds attending the event was a Siberian Husky Dog Sled event organised after an interview on Danny’s radio program prior to the Doggy Day Out.
Mr. Boskovski a well known personality of the ‘Doggy World’ in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, he is the General Manager of The Petshop Boyz pet supply store and hosts a weekly radio show called ‘Pet Chat Radio” on 2NURFM – 107.3 every Friday between 12 and 1. Danny regularly supports pure breed dog owners and breeders and usually has an interview every week with a different local breeder. He showcases and presents information on breeds and or up and coming events in the dog world. If you have an interesting story or would like your breed to be featured or showcased on his radio show you can contact Danny by email on dannyb@petshopboyz.com.au
