Water sport of dock jumping is fun for canine and owner

A dog, a dock, water and a ball. These are all you need to join the growing canine water sports, "dock jumping." You and your dog are a team, with your dog competing for distance by diving from dock into a 25-foot pool of water. According to dockdogs.com, "Simply put - the dog with the longest leap off the end of a dock … wins."

Terry Long, Whole Dog Journal, July 2009, reports, the sport of dock diving or dock jumping got its start in England in the 1970s. The sport was introduced in the United States in 1997, and became more popular when ESPN televised it as part of their Great Outdoor Games program.

The sport grew in popularity and three organizations now offer separate titling programs and sanction dock jumping and dock diving events in the United States. For example, DockDogs divisions, based on the level of jumping, include: Novice - 1 inch to 9 feet 11 inches up to the Super Elite at 25 feet and longer.

Dock jumping has several events, all involving distance. The basic dog jump event involves the dog leaping off the end of the dock to chase a toy, with the forward jump distance measured from the end of the dock to the point at which the base of the dog's tail breaks the water's surface. Other events include speed retrieving and vertical jumping. The vertical distance event involves a toy suspended above the pool and the dog jumps up to get his toy.

The dock jumping team, consisting of one handler and one dog, is popular with a variety of people and their dogs. Jumping doesn't require any special equipment only a dog strongly motivated to retrieve a toy thrown into a body of water and the person throwing the toy with accuracy. You practice by throwing your dog's toy into the water a lake, river or pool. Then it's on to the competitive events. With the different organizations having junior handler programs, even children in the family can participate.

Tom A. Dropik www.dockdogs.com describes the basic steps to get your dog to jump off a dock and the proper technique needed to jump off the end. Dropik stresses the importance of keeping the activity fun, something your dog will get excited about and staying away from discipline. He notes this is a time for teaching and rewarding.

This is the basis of all of the training we do with our dogs.

After your dog has learned how to jump off the dock, your dog will need to be acclimated to the dock jumping event environment. Tony Reed, founder of Splash Dogs, Pittsburgh, California, describes the steps to getting your dog (and you) acquainted with the dock, pool and exit ramp in his Newcomer's Guide, www.splashdogs.com.

Dock jumping is a sport for the whole family to enjoy. It's also another way to continue to build the relationship between you and your dog. Sounds like a summertime winner to me.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. For information, call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.