Anyone on PDB participating in Dock Diving? - Page 1

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Cutaway

by Cutaway on 06 July 2015 - 18:07

Just curious if any of you are currently or have been active in Dock Diving with your GSD's? I am getting ready to start this upcoming weekend and i really don't know what to expect lol. I did visit with the DD club a little and was able to watch a little but it was late in the day and there were not many people left to watch.

Do those of you who have participated have any words of advice? Training Tips? Or even things to look out for?

Thanks in advance


VKGSDs

by VKGSDs on 07 July 2015 - 01:07

Yes I do. I have one that does it "for fun" and another that's pretty competitive now (this is his first season and he set a new NADD breed record and is trying for the UAD breed record, must beat his aunt!). It is what you make of it. If your dog enjoys it, you don't have to train for it, however there is some technique involved as far as throwing, getting the dog's head up, pacing them on the dog so they aren't launching early and losing 2+ feet, etc. My older GSD I just let do it however he wants. He's always jumped straight in, head low. A great jump for him is 12-14' and a normal jump is about 9.5'. He has a lot of enthusiasm for it and the crowds usually like him even though he's not a big jumper. He actually has a championship UKC dock diving title because he has been dock diving for years (you accumulate points from your jumps, since I live in MI and only dock jump outdoors during a few summer events, it took us a few years to earn enough for a CH). My younger GSD is in his first season dock jumping. Last summer he refused to go in at first. His best NADD jump was 22'6 and his best UAD jump 22'0". Those are not huge jumps compared to the best labs and Malinois but for GSDs, those are great jumps. I see most GSDs jumping in the 8-14' range. I do a lot of disc with this dog as well so that helps. He knows to "track" discs (look up and try to catch the toy, not jump down into the water). He's 19 months old and 58lbs so a sporty thing. Also does agility and flyball.

People make a big deal out of swimming and dogs that like water, but really I think the most important thing is that your dog is not negatively effected by the environment and that your dog likes to engage with you. NONE of my GSDs have had the desire to jump into the pool their first time out and ALL of them have ended up loving dock diving whether they are a Novice or an Elite division dog. The advantage I had as someone who participates in almost a dozen different dog sports is that my dogs are very used to travel and big events with lots of dogs, people, loud music, emcees, etc. They also love toys, fetch, tugging, and just being with me in general. The first time out, I bring my dogs up on the platform and we play tug and do short fetches with their toys. I helped host a NADD event over Memorial Day weekend and could not believe how many people paid money day after day to "try it" with their dogs and their dogs did not seem to even realize the handler existed. Not only did they not want to jump or swim, but had zero interest in any toys or any interactions with the handler. Many of the dogs were negatively affected by the environment, some even downright scared (not just of the water, but the whole concept). There are dogs that will sail off the platform their first time either because they love water THAT much or they are that obsessed with their toy, but these are few and far between. It's like everything else in dog sports, it starts with the relationship and the desire to have fun with you and using some sort of toy for make a game and interacting with you.


by ILMD on 07 July 2015 - 03:07

I would love to, but with my current dog it would have to be dock tossing, as in how far they can be tossed off the dock by the owner. She won't even put her toes in the water. My last dog loved swimming and we went 4-5 times a week. a perfect exercise for dogs.


by foreversolucky on 07 July 2015 - 04:07

I agree with Lies completely - like, all of it.  My 85 lb. GSD is in his 2nd season, jumping 20'-21' last weekend.  Aiming at the Splash Dogs breed record and now I know where we need to be for NADD.  ;)  He's good enough that I have to pay attention and learn how to throw, but my plan was to just have fun chucking a toy in the water and letting him go for it.  His day job is still IPO but dock diving is great for the environmental exposures, putting on more travel miles while he's young, and getting him used to working with my trial nerves.


Cutaway

by Cutaway on 07 July 2015 - 16:07

Thanks for the Replies... My focus is still IPO but thought this would be another "fun" outlet for my mutt. As with all things training, he does great jumping into the pool in the back yard but will not be shocked if he has some early stumbles at the Dock Diving club. My goal in this endevor, as of now, is just to have another activity that he and i have fun with one another and since our temps are normally 100+, it sounded like a great new avenue where heat stroke is not as big of a concern.

@VK - I really like how you bring up the part of the dog engaging with the handler. This is something that i have focused on in our training. I look at the toy (Ball, tug, frisbee, ect...) as an object that my dog and i use to interact with each other. the focus is not so much on the toy but just a way to play with me. 


Bundishep

by Bundishep on 01 August 2015 - 21:08

I know of a lady that has done it in the Las Vegas area but she doesn't use this site that I know of you can pm me if you want her contact info,I,m sure she would be more than happy with any advice,to the other post what is the splash dog record for a german shepherd in feet ?

by foreversolucky on 02 August 2015 - 00:08

Turns out that the website is wrong - they have a Mal with his name misspelled ("Joner" not "Joker") as #1 GSD at 23'0". Working on correcting that. The #2 dog is currently 22'0" and we're #3 at 21'3". This is all-time with Splash Dogs - mine is #1 GSD 2014 and 2015 (as of 7/7/15 rankings).

Sherman-RanchGSD

by Sherman-RanchGSD on 02 August 2015 - 03:08

Its really a FUN dog sport that is not only healthy but family friendly and open to most breeds.As you progress of course there is more skill and competition that can be involved. For those of you with working dogs and that includes K9s, Search and rescue and service dogs that are under more rigorous control training..this is a SUPER way to do something different and is a great stress reliever for both dogs and humans. Years ago a super SAR lady showed me how well the dogs who were under the gun all the time and going thru hectic stages or other training up and downs would do soooo well after doing something FUN but challenging and different then the normal JOB! Anyhow I had the chance to see my friends new set up with Californias best dock diving pool and platform in my opinion. There are private, and do your own thing train sessions and of course there will be trials. Its in great proximity of Northern CA or Southern Oregon check it out
a total BLAST. I think Traci Needles will have a website soon but you can view the FB page for now www.facebook.com/fidoletes and or call her number is listed on the FB page 530-624-7850 Chico CA






C

Bundishep

by Bundishep on 02 August 2015 - 03:08

So the record for a german shepherd is at 23 feet ?

by Khing on 02 August 2015 - 05:08






 


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