The Southwest Voice

By Joe Cox  565-1808

 

I have found a new sport to enjoy. It is called Dock Jumping and features ordinary dogs doing spectacular jumps into water. Thousands of dogs across the country participate in big-air dock jumping. The concept of dock jumping is simple: Dogs jump as far as they can into a body of water. Specifically, the dogs sprint down a 40-foot dock which stands two feet above the water's edge. Their handlers toss a toy into the air for incentive. Then they leap out over the water in hopes of reaching the toy — and a record distance. Officials then use a specialized camera to create a digital image and measurement of the jump, calculating the distance from the end of the dock to the closest point where dog hits water, minus the tail. Average distances in competition range from 6 to 18 feet, while dogs jumping over 20 feet are considered to be at a professional level. There are no age groups in the sport, dogs are placed based on how far they jump.

 

My grandaughter and her husband have a 6 month old Lab that they are training for this. Last weekend, June 6-7-8,  they entered Prince Andy in the "Wags of Wishes" competition in San Diego where he was outstanding. On Friday, Andy jumped 12' 6" on his first competitive jump, bypassing the "Splash Class". Andy was one of only two puppies entered in the event. Dogs compete not by age but by how far they jump. On Saturday, jumping in the senior class, he jumped an eyepopping 15' 4". On the final on Sunday, Andy was placed in the Junior Class where he won his "Wave" and the Blue Ribbon with a jump of 14' 11".

 

Andy also qualified for the Splash Dogs World Championships in Scottsdale, AZ on November 1 - 4.  Next weekend we will be going to Vallejo for the Sonoma County Fair Dock Jumping Challenge.