Dock Diving: Summer Fun for Water-Loving Dogs!

Any dog that loves water can try dock diving!

Is your dog a fetch enthusiast? Does your dog love swimming? Then dock diving may be the sport for you!

What is Dock Diving?

Dock Diving is an easy, fun sport where your dog gets to run full speed off a dock to catch a toy mid-air and land in a pool, then swim back to you with the toy. In competitions, the dogs who jump highest, furthest or swim the fastest win. However, many people take their dogs to dock dive just for the fun of it!

So what do you, the human, do in this sport? It's simple: place your dog on the dock, hold a toy where your dog can see it, release your dog to start running and toss the toy over the water! Then just be there to praise your dog when they get the toy and encourage them while they swim!

What Dogs can Dock Dive?

Any healthy dog can learn and compete in dock diving! However, dogs that don't enjoy chasing toys or swimming won't enjoy this sport. Furthermore, some breeds have a tough time swimming because of their body shape, and should either wear a doggy life jacket or be monitored closely while swimming. Brachycephalic dogs and dogs who have major physical limitations may not be suited to the sport.

Dogs as young as 6 months old can compete... and handlers as young as 7 can compete, so kids can have fun too!

What do I Need to Get Started?

At minimum, you need:

• A dog that knows how to swim (and enjoys it)

• A buoyant, water-safe, high-value toy

• Clothes you don't mind getting wet

• A dock/pool where you can practice!

There are a few things your dog should know before they try dock diving: first, they need to learn to fetch a toy you throw- to chase, retrieve and return that toy to you. Bonus points if they can catch a toy before it hits the ground! Next, they'll need to have some ability to swim without assistance. If your dog doesn't know how to swim but enjoys water, focus on teaching them to swim with confidence first. Finally, a good recall can be very helpful as sometimes dogs get disoriented after jumping off the dock and may need some help finding their way to the exit ramp.

The most difficult part of dock diving will likely be building your dog's confidence to jump off the dock. The docks are about two feet above the water's surface, which can be daunting for some dogs. In addition, if your dog is only used to swimming in bodies of water that don't have clear water, dock diving pools can be intimidating as the water looks different! But dock diving pools also have ramps that go straight into the water, which are very helpful when a dog is first learning to swim or jump in.

Once your dog knows how to jump off the dock to chase their toy, it's up to you to master your timing for sending your dog and throwing the toy!

Some dock diving pools offer private lessons. We recommend starting out with at least one private lesson to ensure you are using the dock correctly and so that your instructor can answer any questions you have about the sport. It's also helpful to have a second person present in case the toy floats out of your dog's reach (or your dog doesn't see it) and you need to retrieve it yourself.

Where can I Get Started?

There are two great places to get started in southern Minnesota: The Paw Mankato in Mankato and The Dog Tank in Mendota Heights!

The Paw Mankato has a heated in-ground pool. You can reserve private sessions where it's just you and your dog, or (if you have a social dog) you can join in a group swim session. They allow you to enter the pool with your dog in most circumstances, and they have life jackets available as well. The only potential drawback is that their dock is not standard dock diving size, so while it can be great for getting your dog used to jumping into water, it will not prepare you for competitions. However, it is a great place to begin teaching your dog how to swim and have fun jumping off a dock!

The Dog Tank offers private lessons for dock diving and has two docks: a standard dock and a smaller lower dock, for dogs who may not be confident jumping off the standard dock. If you are serious about wanting to get into dock diving, this is the place to go! Their standard dock is competition length/size, their pool is marked like a competition pool would be, and the private lesson instructors are knowledgeable about the sport. They can also help teach your dog to swim from the ramp. Unlike the Paw Mankato, The Dog Tank's indoor pool is not heated and can get cold in winter. You are also not allowed to be in the pool with your dog, so prepare accordingly if you plan on teaching your dog to swim. Still, The Dog Tank is our preferred place to practice dock diving in the warmer months!

When you're ready to start competing, research dock diving organizations and decide which one to join. There are several organizations that host competitions and have lists of associated clubs. The NADD (North America Diving Dogs) is the official diving dogs organization for the AKC (American Kennel Club), meaning you can earn AKC titles for your dog by competing through them. Dock Dogs and Ultimate Air Dogs are two other organizations that host many diving dog events across the United States, and hand out titles separate from the AKC. Aside from these, there are smaller local organizations around the country. Take a look at their websites to see which organization is the best fit for you and your dog!

Dock diving is a simple, fun activity which can enrich your dog's life and give you both a new way to enjoy working together. In addition, it can be a great way to cool off in the hot summer months as well as great low impact exercise for your dog! If you're looking to try something new with your water-loving pup, give it a go!