Labrador Sets Record for Clothes Pegs in One Minute

Java, a 5-year-old black Labrador trained by Missouri dog trainer Lisa Rickards, placed eight clothes pins on a washing line in one minute.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Dogs

A 5-year-old Labrador named Java set a Guinness World Record in Kansas City on March 21 by placing eight clothes pins on a washing line in one minute. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Java, a 5-year-old black Labrador owned by Missouri dog trainer Lisa Rickards, set a Guinness World Record for most clothes pegs placed on a washing line by a dog in one minute. The record attempt took place March 21 in Kansas City.

Why it matters

The record highlights how dogs that do not succeed in formal service dog programs can build new skills through canine sports and tricks. It also shows how trainers can redirect a dog's abilities toward a different kind of work.

Java manipulated the clothes pins with her mouth and completed eight placements within the one-minute time limit. The source does not indicate how many attempts were made or whether the record had previously been held by another dog.

The players

Canine Companions

Canine Companions is a national nonprofit organization that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is a global organization that certifies and records world-record achievements across many categories.

The details

Rickards raised and socialized Java for the first 18 months of her life while Java trained as a service dog for Canine Companions. Java was determined not to be a good fit for the program, so she was adopted back by Rickards as a pet, and the two pivoted to canine sports and tricks.

Java spent her first 18 months of life in service dog training with Lisa Rickards.
March 21: Java's record attempt was held in Kansas City.

Roadmap

Java's trajectory follows the path many working dogs take when they are released from formal service programs and redirected into alternative roles. The story illustrates how dogs initially bred and trained for assistance work can find new purpose in competitive canine sports.

Dog owners in Kansas City who have a dog that did not pass service training may find that canine sports and trick training offer a productive outlet. The record shows that a dog's natural ability can be channeled into structured skill-building outside of formal assistance programs.

The takeaway

A dog that does not qualify for one kind of work may excel at another when trainers adapt their approach to the animal's strengths. Owners considering canine sports can start with short, focused tasks that build the dog's confidence and precision.