Dock diving or dock jumping – fun for all breeds, ages, and abilities.

One of the nice things about the sport is it can be fun and competitive for all levels. We have Dexter, a 12-year-old Labrador retriever, and Aksel, a 6-year-old German Shepherd Dog who get to go out and compete together at all the same events but they aren’t competing against one another because they are in different divisions.

There are typically 3 disciplines with various dock diving organizations:

(these could be named differently at different events)

1. Distance jump – measuring the distance from the end of the dock to where they land in the pool
2. Timed retrieve – A timed event where they swim toward the end of the pool to grab a suspended bumper
3. Vertical – jumping up to grab a bumper suspended over the water.

What you need to start

The first two things you’ll need starting out are toy drive and a dog that’s had experience in water that’s comfortable swimming. You’ll want to find that favorite toy your dog really gets excited about and work on their toy drive. A common misconception, practice means water time. There are things you can work on in your own space that you’ll need on the dock. For example, practice a sit stay eventually moving further away from your dog each time calling them to retrieve the toy as you throw for them.

Our story

We got our start without even knowing we were training for the sport. We frequented our local lake a lot in the spring and summer months and when teaching a pup how to swim we used a boat ramp that didn’t get any traffic so it would be gradual for the pup to get used to water rather than a drop-off. The more confident they’d get the more they’d love playing a game of fetch into the water. Eventually, we started jumping off the dock at the lake until we found a dock diving facility.

Once we found our first dock event we were hooked. We began traveling in state and out of state that first year, learning and improving along the way. Aksel & Dexter are quite different up on the dock. They both get so excited to play, Aksel can be pretty vocal while he’s waiting to get up on the dock but once he’s up there he’s all business. He’s silent, laser-focused, and waits for Travis’s release command. Dexter can get a little impatient up on the dock and we’ve had to work a lot on his stay and wait for my release. He can also be noisy up on the dock but he knows he won’t be able to jump until he’s quiet. This is in fact a discipline and the reward is that toy, they need to earn it playing by the rules. It’s still hard to believe he’s 12. Some of our accomplishments include two regional reserve champion placements for Aksel. Dexter and Aksel have both qualified for and attended several regional championships, National championships, and world championships. Aksel has been crowned back to back as the #1 ranked GSD with Dockdogs in big air (distance jump), in 2022 & 2023.

We enjoy a lot of outdoor activities in the summer including hiking, camping, and outdoor patios. Pretty much anywhere we can take our dogs we are there! We also really enjoy being at home, any day we are all together is a good day. Their personalities are certainly different, Aksel likes to steal our socks and shoes and proudly trot through the house with them. He’s a huge goofball with a big personality. Dex is probably one of the sweetest souls I’ve known, he can also be quite stubborn. He’s also got a great internal clock and will let us know when it’s close to meal times.

Fueled by Northwest Naturals

Training, conditioning, and good nutrition have played a key role. We appreciate all the protein options available with Northwest Naturals in conjunction with a variety of single-ingredient treats and toppers that can be very beneficial. Green mussels are known to help joints, and FUNctional Toppers provide palatability and additional health benefits. Feeding NWN ensures a quality healthy diet for our boys.

The bonds we have with our dogs have grown stronger through this sport. The dock diving community is kind and helpful, and we’ve made a lot of friends in this endeavor. We’ve traveled the country to get to various events with our furry best friends including Regional championships, national championships, and world championships, visiting beautiful new areas all along the way. We’ve made memories we can cherish for the rest of our lives, we’re having a lot of fun all together and that’s the best part. It’s a fun game we all enjoy. Get out and try something new with your dog, whatever it might be that interests you. If dock jumping is something you think you and your dog might be interested in I would suggest finding a facility in your area and schedule a lesson.

Happy exploring!

Blog written by: Traci Wescott

Instagram: aksel_the_gsd