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Guest columnist Nancy Tucker and her Toller Windy are avid participants in the sport of dock diving.
Although dock diving is not yet an AKC sport, it’s often featured on TV.
DOCK DIVING: BIG JUMPERS IN
SMALL PACKAGES
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are finding their way into the world of competitive dock diving.
Their versatility and drive make them ideal candidates for the sprot. Cinnstars Windy Tamarac is one example.
Windy was the top-ranked DockDogs, Inc. competitive diving Toller in 2006, and her 2007 personal best jump was 19.8 feet.
This appears to be a Toller diving record.
Many breeds (the sport is also popular with Labrador Retrievers) compete
in dock diving, but a 33 pounds and a hair under 18 inches, pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch Windy is a dynamite jumper,
competing with dogs up to three times her size. For Windy and other Tollers, diving is not just enjoyable but a great
physical outlet that contributes to their mental wellbeing. Dock diving is a venue where dogs can have fun and “do
what comes naturally.”
According to DockDogs, Inc., an independent governing and sanctioning body for the
sport, “DockDogs originated in the United States, when men working on the docks waged bets with each other to see how
far their dogs would jump into the water. In 2000, the sport of DockDogs was officially launched in the United States.
Every official jump of all competitors is tracked, and dogs are ranked nationally. Dogs must be more than 5 months old
to compete, and there are various levels based on the dog’s skills, experience, and proficiency. Class levels
range from Novice, where the dog jumps up to 9 feet 11 inches, to Super Elite where they jump more than 25 feet.”
A number of attributes are helpful if a dog is to take to this sport. The Toller has it all, including:
Love of water. While most dogs love to jump into ponds, diving into a competition pool can be intimidating,
requiring an extra dose of “water obsession.”
Drive. It helps to have a dog that is driven
for the “chase object,” which can be any toy/object, of the handler’s choosing.
Enthusiasm.
Tollers love this sport, and the handler’s enthusiasm is as important as the dog’s. This is, after all,
a team sport.
Courage. While many Tollers love jumping into ponds, competition pools are at least two
feet above the water surface, depending on the organization. The water may be glaring, filled with reflections, and
surrounded by crowds of cheering onlookers. Tollers have the necessary bravado to take on these challenges.
Athleticism. The running, jumping, lurching, and launching movements involved with dock diving call for an extremely
athletic dog, and Tollers fit the bill!
Although the AKC does not yet participate in this sport, you can learn
more about dock diving by visiting the web site of dock diving organizations, such as DockDogs – www.dockdogs.com.
Observing an event or joining a regional club is another great way to learn more. While each organization’s rules
vary somewhat, the overall concept is the same: dogs jump for titles and, just as importantly, for fun, while achieving
their personal dive bests.
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