Dock jumping

Dock jumping, also known as dock diving, is a dog sport in which dogs compete in jumping for distance or height from a dock into a body of water.

A dog competes in dock jumping

There are dock jumping events in the United States and other countries such as United Kingdom,[1] Australia,[2] Germany,[3] and Austria.[3]

History

Dock jumping first appeared in 1997 at the Incredible Dog Challenge, an event sponsored and produced by pet food manufacturer Purina.[4] There are now a number of organizations that run dock jumping competitions in different countries.

In the United States, DockDogs was established in 2000;[5] its first event was at the ESPN 2000 Great Outdoor Games competition.[5]

The Super Retriever Series Super Dock was established in 2002 and created as a qualifier for ESPN Great Outdoor Games along with the Super Retriever Series Retriever Trials. The Super Retriever Series Dock is a competition but also allows for titles through the United Kennel Club which started in 2014. The SRS Dock events held are Super Fly, Super Vertical (V) and Raider Run which is a Speed Retrieve. www.superretrieverseries.com

Splash Dogs was started in 2003.[6] Ultimate Air Dogs was founded in 2005,[4][7] by former Major League Baseball player Milt Wilcox.[8] In 2008, UAD partnered with the United Kennel Club (UKC) which added dock jumping as a recognized UKC sport.[7] In 2009, UKC also recognized competitions run by Splash Dogs.[9] Dogs can get UKC titles by competing in dock distance or height jumping like they can in agility, obedience, weight pulling, and others.

North American Diving Dogs was formed in 2014 and offers diving dog titles recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Canadian Kennel Club (CKC).[10]

In the United Kingdom, Dash 'n' Splash, which runs competitions across southern England,[11] was established in 2005,[1] followed by JettyDogs in 2007.

K9 Aqua Sports was started in 2014, and runs competitions across all of England and Scotland[12]

Dock

The dock is usually 35 to 40 ft (11 to 12 m) long by 8 ft (2.4 m) wide and 2 ft (0.6 m) above the water surface,[13] but may differ depending on the sanctioning organization. Any body of water or pool that is at least 4 ft (1.2 m) deep can be used.[13] The dock is covered in artificial turf, carpet, or a rubber mat for better traction and safety for the competitors.[13] The handler may use any amount of the dock and they may start their dog from any point on the dock when competing.

Official jump distance
An example of jump measurement

The jump distance is measured, by most organizations, from the lateral midpoint of the end of the dock to the point at which the base of the dog's tail (where the tail meets the body) breaks the water's surface. DockDogs Big Air Discipline measures the distance to the point that the base of the dog's tail breaks the surface of the water.[14] Purina's Incredible Diving Dog event measures the distance to the point that the dog's nose is at when its body enters the water.[15] The jump distance is measured electronically using digital video freeze frame technology or, in some cases, is measured manually by judges.

Each team takes two jumps in round-robin format. The longer of the two jumps is that team's score for that competition. A jump in which the dog's tail enters the water at a point further from the dock than another part of the dog's body is scored using the point of the dog (for example, the head/nose) that breaks the surface of the water closest to the dock. If the dog's strides are off so that the dog starts its jump before the end of the dock, that is a disadvantage, because the jump is always judged from the edge of the dock, not from where the dog leaves the dock. A jump is only official if or when the toy leaves the handler's hand. The dog is not required to retrieve the toy for the jump to count.[13]

Techniques
A place and send jump
A chase jump

Two different techniques can be used to encourage the dog to jump into the water.

Place and send

Walk the dog to the end of the dock and or, hold the dog back while throwing the toy into the water. Walk the dog back to the starting point, place the dog, then release or send the dog to go get the toy. This is effective for dogs that are not trained to wait or stay on the dock, especially if they have a lot of speed and can compensate for the lack of lift at the end of the dock.

Chase

The dog is placed in a stay or wait at its starting position on the dock. The handler walks to the end of the dock holding the toy, then calls the dog and throws the toy, trying to keep the toy just in front of the dog's nose so they chase it into the water. The goal is to use this method to get the dog at the optimum launch angle to increase distance by getting him to jump up, instead of just out or flat, as with place and send. The chase method is difficult to master. However, if the dog is toy-driven, he can be trained to follow the toy.

Divisions

There are many divisions depending on the sanctioning organization. All teams are ranked according to how far they jump and are rated against teams within their own divisions for placements. Even small dogs have their own division, "lap dogs", along with older dogs (8 years and older), the "veteran" division. DockDogs also recognizes dogs over the age of 10 with their "Legend Dog" division.

Ultimate Air Dogs[16] Splash Dogs[17] DockDogs[18]
DivisionDistanceDivisionDistanceDivisionDistance
Noviceup to 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)Splashup to 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)Noviceup to 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
Junior10 ft (3.05 m) to 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)Junior10 ft (3.05 m) to 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)Junior10 ft (3.05 m) to 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)
Senior15 ft (4.57 m) to 19 ft 11 in (6.07 m)Senior15 ft (4.57 m) to 19 ft 11 in (6.07 m)Senior15 ft (4.57 m) to 19 ft 11 in (6.07 m)
Master20 ft (6.10 m) to 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)Pro20 ft (6.10 m) to 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)Master20 ft (6.10 m) to 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
Ultimateover 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)Extremeover 23 ft (7.01 m)Elite23 ft (7.01 m) to 24 ft 11 in (7.59 m)
Super Eliteover 25 ft (7.62 m)

Notable competitions

Records
DateDistanceDogHandlerEventLocationReference
7 July 200022 ft 4 in (6.81 m)HeidiBeth GutteridgeESPN Great Outdoor GamesLake Placid, NY[19]
8 July 200123 ft 1 in (7.04 m)JerryMike WallaceESPN Great Outdoor GamesLake Placid, NY[19]
20 February 200223 ft 3 in (7.09 m)Little MorganMike JacksonIndianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel ShowIndianapolis, IN[19]
1 May 200223 ft 4 in (7.11 m)HaleyJohn KlineESPN2 Super Retriever SeriesNorthfield, MN[19]
6 July 200226 ft 6 in (8.08 m)Little MorganMike JacksonESPN Great Outdoor GamesLake Placid, NY[19]
7 August 200527 ft 5 in (8.36 m)CountryKevin MeeseBass Pro ShopsBaltimore, MD[19]
21 August 200528 ft 7 in (8.71 m)CountryKevin MeeseBig Nickle time Cabela'sHamburg, PA[19]
9 October 200528 ft 10 in (8.79 m)CountryKevin MeeseBass Pro ShopsBaltimore, MD[19]
30 May 201028 ft 11.59 in (8.829 m)QuasiRande MurphySuper Retriever Series Crown ChampionshipLittle Rock, AR[20]
11 July 201029 ft 1 in (8.86 m)SmokeMelissa Ness2010 UKC PremierRichmond, IN[21][22]
29 May 201129 ft 7 in (9.017 m)BaxterTony LampertSuper Retriever Series Crown ChampionshipLittle Rock, AR[23]
4 August 201231 ft 0 in (9.449 m)CochitiDiane SaltsDockDogs Clark County FairRidgefield, WA[24]
201231 ft 0 in (9.449 m)Taz (tie with Cochiti)[25]
18 December 2018SoundersLaurel Behnke2018 North America Diving Dogs/American Kennel Club National ChampionshipsOrlando, Florida[26]
July 201935 ft 3 in (10.744 m)SlingshotRachael Brinkman[27]
14 August 201935 ft 6 in (10.820 m)SoundersLaurel BehnkeAKC 2019 Olympic Kennel ClubEnumclaw, Washington[28]
22 September 201936 ft 2 in (11.024 m)SoundersLaurel BehnkeSanta Clara, CA[28]

References
  1. Cawley, Laurence (26 January 2010). "Dash is UK's doggy long-jump champ". Evening Star (Ipswich). Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  2. Clement, Jessica (5 November 2009). "Remember dock-diving Joey? She's now a world champ". Hornsby and Upper North Shore Advocate. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  3. "Home - PRO PLAN Dog Diving by EXOTICA Veranstaltungen GmbH". www.dogdiving.eu (in German). Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. "Dock Jumping". United Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  5. "Dock jumping a growing sport; Jake is a world-class jumper". The Hour. 19 August 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  6. "Splash Dogs Water-Jumping Contest Returns to International Sportsmen's Exposition" (PDF). International Sportsmen’s Exposition. 25 February 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  7. "UAD & UKC, What's the difference?". Ultimate Air Dogs. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  8. Katopodis, Harry (27 July 2009). "Former Tigers pitcher travels with new sport". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  9. "United Kennel Club, Inc. Dock Jumping Titles Now Available Across the U.S." United Kennel Club. 15 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  10. "Diving Dogs Title Recognition Program". American Kennel Club. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  11. "Canine version of the long jump 'taking off' in UK". The Daily Telegraph. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  12. "K9 Aqua Sports".
  13. "Regulations Governing UKC Licensed Dock Jumping (Air Dog) Events". Official UKC Rules & Regulations. United Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  14. "2016 DockDogs Rules & Policies". DockDogs Rules & Policies. DockDogs, Inc. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  15. "Incredible Dog Challenge FAQ". Nestle Purina. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  16. "2010 Divisions". Ultimate Air Dogs. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  17. "Classes, Divisions and Titles". Splash Dogs. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  18. "2016 DockDogs Rules & Policies". DockDogs Inc. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  19. "Dockdogs World Records" (PDF). Dock Dogs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  20. "Awe Inspiring". Super Retriever Series. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  21. Pettit, Dixie. "'Air dog' flies to national fame". Ramona Sentinel. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  22. "2010 UK Premier Results". Ultimate Air Dogs. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  23. "2011 Crown Championship - Super Fly Results". Super Retriever Series. 3 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  24. "DockDogs World Records". DockDogs. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  25. Flaim, Denise (7 December 2018). "Dock-Diving Whippet Attempts World Record". AKC. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  26. Ciaccio, Danny (21 December 2018). "Dog named "SoundersFC" sets dock diving world record". Sounders FC. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  27. McCrary, Rachel (11 July 2019). "Genesee County dock diving dog sets world record". WNEM. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  28. "Farthest jump by a dog (dock jumping)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
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