Paddle with Your Pooch

Your dog is the best -- or so you claim. But can Fido help you win ultimate glory? Can he help you paddle to victory at the annual Paddle with Your Pooch paddleboat race? Participate in one of three heats today at 1 p.m. at the Boathouse in Forest Park (www.boathouseforestpark.com), and see if you qualify for the finals. Perhaps your puppyface (a cocker spaniel coxswain?) will howl and bark and encourage you to sail to victory. Heck, maybe you've even trained him to operate a paddleboat. But maybe he will be making eyes and tail-wags at the cute, well-placed lady dog across the way. Only one master-dog team can win at this race -- will it be yours? Fortunately, even if you are not crowned champion, Forest Park Forever will win, because the organization benefits from a portion of the race proceeds. It costs $40 to enter the race, but admission is free for spectators.