How to Get Your Dog Started in Dock Diving

You’ve most likely seen dogs leaping wonderful distances into swimming pools of water. But do you know it’s a sport? Dogs compete and earn titles via one of many varied organizations that sanction dock diving occasions. Yet, the most effective components about dock diving is it’s simple to get your canine began — along with the camaraderie between the human handlers and confidence the dogs develop.

What Is Dock Diving

Dock diving is an thrilling sport with a number of disciplines — dogs that love water and retrieving toys are a pure match. But with observe, even dogs which might be much less assured across the water however love toys can take pleasure in dock diving. 

The first dock diving competitions started within the early 2000s. At the time, the one occasion available was the lengthy leap, however as dock diving grows, so do the occasions!

Distance Jumping

This self-discipline comes with barely completely different names, relying on which organization. Regardless, it’s the dock diving equal of a human long-jumping occasion. In distance jumps, dogs are competing for distance – how far did they leap off the top of the dock? 

You could also be questioning how they measure the gap. To maintain it honest and constant, competitors judges measure the canine’s leaping distance by the place the bottom of their tail hits the water. 

Organizations group the dogs into varied divisions primarily based on how far they leap; the present distance report is over 35 ft off the sting of the dock. You could hear this occasion referred to as Big Air or Distance Jump. It is the most typical self-discipline and the one all organizations use in some kind. 

Air Retrieve

The Air Retrieve entails distance and a toy goal. Dogs attempt to leap far sufficient to knock their bumper toy off an equipment. After every profitable leap, the bumper equipment strikes farther away.

Speed Retrieve

In this occasion, the canine’s favourite dock diving toy is placed within the pool a set distance from the top of the dock. Dogs leap from the dock, swim to the toy, and produce it again to the exit ramp as quick as potential. 

High Jump

Much like human excessive jumpers, dogs compete to see how excessive every can leap, utilizing their toy as a lure. Dogs’ bumper toys are suspended above the pool, encouraging them to leap as excessive as they will. 

What Breeds Are Best for Dock Diving?

You’ve received a canine that spends its time discovering each puddle to play in? Dock diving could also be a superb choice. Like agility and flyball, dock diving is open to all breeds and blended breeds. Your canine must be in good bodily situation, just like the water, and have a robust need to retrieve. 

Although you could assume Labrador retrievers and different water-loving breeds would do greatest, you is likely to be shocked. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, a whippet named Sounders holds the present report. In 2022, then seven-year-old Sounders leapt 36 ft, 6 inches into the diving pool — as verified by NADD judges, who officiated the occasion.

The solely dogs who can’t dock dive are people who simply don’t need to be within the water. Even dogs like pugs would possibly be capable of dive in with a life jacket! 

As a lot as most dogs love dock diving as soon as they get going, some dogs received’t do effectively. For instance, in case your canine is overly fearful or reactive, a less-intense sport could also be higher. Rally obedience and agility are nice sports activities for much less assured dogs as a result of they build regularly on expertise, fairly than diving straight into the deep finish. After they develop extra confidence, you possibly can all the time come again and check out dock diving once more.

Join a Dock Diving Club or Find a Class

The greatest option to get your canine began in dock diving is to discover a native membership. Most of them provide lessons and coaching, they usually may also help you join with different diving canine handlers. They are in the perfect position that can assist you, plus the social facet is a large draw. Also, golf equipment might be the most effective methods to listen to about and enter upcoming competitions.

Each organization listed beneath may also help you — they’ve all of the contact data you’ll must discover a native membership or teacher that can assist you begin your canine’s dock diving profession.

Dock Diving Organizations

Each dock diving sanctioning organization has barely completely different guidelines, and a few have completely different video games inside, referred to as disciplines. Not all organizations have all disciplines, however all of them begin with the core distance leap. Here are the first North American dock diving organizations.

Train Your Dog for Dock Diving

All diving dogs want a number of basic expertise — considered one of them is basic obedience. They’ll be simpler to deal with and have extra enjoyable in the event that they know learn how to behave effectively round different dogs and folks. Not to say, you’ll be extra relaxed too! 

Here’s what your canine might want to know to efficiently get began in dock diving.

Fetch: It could seem apparent, given the sport. But, it’s essential sufficient for us to say that in case your canine doesn’t care to return a toy to you, dock diving might not be your sport. 

Recall: Although your furry, four-legged fish might be on leash till you get to the dock, good recall is a should. One of the disciplines entails retrieving a toy as quick as potential from the opposite finish of the pool. 

Leash Manners: Often, the canine and handler groups line up outdoors the dock, ready their flip. Most handlers attempt to give one another some area, nevertheless it’s not all the time potential. So, having your canine snug with sitting quietly subsequent to you whereas leashed will make issues simpler. 

Building Toy Drive

If your canine likes toys however doesn’t love them, you possibly can build toy drive. It takes treats, persistence, and the proper toy. Building toy drive in younger dogs is far simpler than in mature dogs — however even older dogs could be taught to play with a toy with you with some observe. 

Even gentle curiosity in your pup’s new toy will be constructed into drive.

Find a toy that floats, ideally some kind of floating tug. Put all different toys and chews away and solely convey out a toy if you’re taking part in together with your canine. Start by rewarding even a small quantity of curiosity within the toy with a ridiculous quantity of pleasure. As your canine will get the hold of it, maintain encouraging them — earlier than you you realize it, your pup might be thrilled to play and you should utilize it for a reward.

Remember, it doesn’t matter which toy you employ to assist build your canine’s toy drive. But diving dogs should use a floating toy for observe and competitors. Most of them use particular floating bumpers which have tuggable streamers on every finish. So, in case your aim is dock diving, begin with one thing you should utilize sooner or later.

Swimming

Dock is a swimming sport, so in case your canine isn’t already in love with the water, you might have some work to do. Start easy by taking part in in a kiddie pool or go to the seaside. Take that particular floating tug toy or bumper to the seaside too — you possibly can play within the water whereas your pooch will get used to being within the water. 

Of course, in case your canine loves the water already, you’re already on the best way to dock diving success!

The photograph featured on the prime of this put up is © GoDog Photo/Shutterstock.com

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