DockDogs
Dogs are bred for so many different reasons: height, hair, etc.… all based on what their owners favor, making them the most anthropomorphized animal on the planet. Given the sheer breadth of diversity that exists within this canine family it is so refreshing to hear about a sport that any dog can do, and they have a ton of fun doing it.
Dock jumping first appeared in 1997. DockDogs was established in 2000 and had its first event on ESPN in their Great Outdoors Competition in that same year. As popularity grew, more organization began to spring up. Splash Dogs was created in 2003 then Ultimate Air Dogs (
Last year Dock Dogs thrilled more than 2.3 million people. Generally the dock must be thirty-five to forty feet long and eight feet wide. Dogs are judged via the distance they traverse via the lateral mid-point of the end of the dock to the base of the dog's tail when it breaks the water surface. There are two different techniques used to encourage dogs to jump into the water. One is the Place and Send technique and the other, Chase. The great thing about both these methods is any dog can literally learn from either, usually within a couple of hours or so. Once they are doing it they are ready to compete.
The divisions within this sport are many, e.g. “lap dogs” or dogs that are eight years or older the “veteran division.” They are broken down into Novice, Junior, Senior, Master, and Ultimate. According to Wikipedia , the current record holder as of August 4, 2012 is Cochit, who jumped thirty-one feet.
Competitions are popping up all over, so if your dog loves water and you can find one, maybe your dog is a Dock Dog.
Recent Articles
-
The Original and Real Pit Bull
The pit bull has to be one of the most, if not the most, controversial dog breeds there are. Putting aside feelings and politics, let's look at the history of this misunderstood animal. -
Working Like a Dog – Service Dogs
This Labor Day we wanted to focus the spotlight on service dogs, as well as to offer a better understanding of the law and how we as a community can protect the rights of these dogs and their handlers. Service dogs not only provide companionship to those who have disabilities, they also give them a better quality of life, allowing more independence and control over their own lives. These highly-trained dogs start their training in puppy hood. They then work tirelessly everyday to make sure that their person is safe, taken care of, and is provided with immediate attention in...
-
The Science of Sound Waves
Customers understandably get concerned as to the effect our devices have on their dog. Will it hurt them? The answer is a big “no”. Read on to learn about sound waves and why this is the case. -
Save Money With Solar Power
Curious how much you'll save with the new solar panel? We've compiled a breakdown on how much batteries might cost you in 1 year compared to a one-time purchase of the Solar Panel. -
Robotic Dogs: the Future of Companion Robots
This may seem pretty far fetched – to even think we could have feelings or a sense of companionship with a mechanical dog or cat. However, it's already been seen that many of us experience empathy for these robots.
