CARTERVILLE - Littie the Jack Russell terrier apparently knows that all work and no play would make her a very dull dog indeed.

Littie was one of dozens of dogs competing in the Gateway Dockdogs big air contest, the newest addition to this weekend's Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days at John A. Logan College.

Dogs ran the length of a dock and soared through the air before coming to land somewhere along the length of a 40-foot pool of water.

While the more serious competitors - mostly Labrador retrievers - in the contest were studies in concentration as they prepared to make their jumps, Littie was bounding around the feet of her teammate, Susan Smith of Springfield, jumping up and down and barking excitedly.

But when Smith threw a ball into the water, Littie ran full out on instinct, jumping a crowd-pleasing 17 feet, a personal best for the dog, which measures just 18 inches from head to tail.

"She loves it," Smith said. "She just started in August and has gotten better and better and better. She has the heart and the speed for this."

That's more than Snickers, a labradoodle from St. Louis, had. Snickers was trying to overcome a fear of the water by competing in the contest, owner Carol Brooks said.

"She's definitely a novice," Brooks said after a practice run that required more than a little nudging to get the dog into the water. "If nothing else, at least she got wet."

Andrew Zieba of De Soto brought his two yellow Labs, Goldie and Reed, to the competition along with his co-handler Austin Lashbrook.

Lashbrook, 9, said he had been working on his throw for several months.

"It's important so you can get them to jump far," he said. "I like it when Goldie jumps far, and I like the crowd cheering for me."

Zieba said his dogs compete to stay in shape during the off season.

"This gives them something to do when we can't hunt," he said.

The competition resumes today with open registration at 10 a.m., said Mike Damron, co-chairman of Gateway Dockdogs, which boasts close to 200 members in the St. Louis area.

"This has been a great event for us. It gets people into it and interested in it," he said.

Event committee member Dwight Hoffard said the Dockdog events, as well as other dog activities and demonstrations were popular with spectators and he anticipates today's events will be similarly attended.

While attendance figures were unavailable Saturday, Hoffard said the 21st annual event, which showcases outdoor recreation, should draw about 30,000 people.

"We had an absolutely huge crowd. Weather always plays a big factor. The sun shined on us today and it worked out pretty good," he said.

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Details

What: Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: John A. Logan College, Carterville