If your dog loves to run, jump, and swim, dock diving might be the ideal sport for him. It’s an excellent activity to play in the water, have fun, and do some exercise together.
But before you get starting, there are a few things you should know about dock diving. First of all, let’s make sure everyone understands what this sport is exactly.
What Is Dock Diving?
It’s a canine sport in which dogs have to jump as far as possible from a dock into a body of water. They are at the other end of a 40-foot-long-dock waiting for a command to start running towards the pool. To motivate diving dogs, handlers throw their favorite toys just before they jump in the water.
Here’s an excellent video to show you how dock diving for dogs looks like in action!
What I like about this sport is that it’s fun, challenging, and accessible. You can introduce your dog to dock diving as long as you have a dock where he can jump in the water safely. Thus, let me share more information you should know about this unique activity.
Is Dock Diving Bad or Good For Dogs?
The first thing you should do before starting anything new with your dog is to make sure it’s safe for him. Fortunately, dock diving has many benefits and fewer drawbacks than you might think. Here are all the pros and cons of this distance jumping canine sport.
Benefits Of Dock Diving For Dogs!
- It’s A Fun Way To Exercise!
Helping your dog to maintain an active lifestyle isn’t always easy. Well, dock diving includes many types of physical activity; Running, Jumping & Swimming. Thus, it’s an excellent way to keep your buddy in good shape and have fun simultaneously.
- It’s Joint-friendly!
High-impact sports such as hiking, agility, or endurance running can lead to joint problems. Dock diving puts much less strain on your dog’s body because he will only sprint on short distances and jump directly in the water. Therefore, it’s an appropriate activity for old, overweight, and fragile dogs.
- It’s The Perfect Activity For Hot Days!
We all know that dogs don’t withstand high temperatures well. They practically don’t sweat, so the only way they can evacuate the heat efficiently is by panting.
That’s why it can be complicated to find safe ways to exercise your dog in the summer. Water sports such as dock diving are great solutions to spend his energy without overheating.
- It’s Good To Strengthen Your Bond With Your Dog!
Dock diving requires a serious commitment, but it’s an excellent opportunity to improve the relationship between you and your dog. Spending time together to develop his jumping skills is one of the best ways to strengthen your bond.
My Only Concern About Dog Dock Diving!
Let’s be honest; every sport has some downsides that we shouldn’t neglect. For dock diving, it’s the risk of drawing.
Any activity in which water is included has potential dangers for your dog. But with the right equipment and some precautions, it’s easy to prevent this problem.
With that said, dock diving is still one of the best dog sports I know. Running and jumping from a dock into a body of water can be fun, safe, and beneficial for everyone. Thus, I highly recommend you give it a try!
How Can You Get Your Dog Into Dock Diving?
Now you probably have many questions concerning how to get started. Even if it’s safe and accessible to everyone, you still need some information to introduce your dog to dock diving the right way.
Thus, here are 5 steps you should follow if you want him to participate in this sport!
1. Make Sure Your Dog Suitable For Dock Diving!
First of all, you don’t want to start something with your dog if he’s not ready for it. As I already told you, practically anyone can run and jump from a dock. But there are still some prerequisites for him to be suitable to dive in the water.
To Participate In Dock Diving Your Dog Must Be:
- Old Enough.
Most sports are only safe for dogs that are fully grown. (Which generally occurs between 12 and 18 months old.)
For dock diving, your pup can start competing as soon as he reaches 6 months of age. Before that, he’s too fragile to run, jump, and swim without potential negative repercussions.
- Healthy.
Even if dock diving is a gentle sport, your dog should still be in good shape to participate in it. He doesn’t need to be excessively fit, athletic, or muscular. However, I highly recommend talking with a vet to make sure this activity is safe for him.
- Comfortable In The Water.
The last condition your dog must satisfy is not to freak out when he’s near or in the water. He doesn’t need to be an excellent swimmer because he can wear a life jacket. But dogs that don’t like to play in the water are merely not good candidates for dock diving.
What Are The Best Dog Breeds For Dock Diving?
From Chihuahuas to Great Danes passing by Labrador Retrievers, any breed (or mixed-breed) can participate in diving dog competitions. Nonetheless, some are much better at this sport than others.
Natural runners, jumpers, and swimmers are generally the best for dock diving. To give you an idea if your dog might win titles, here are some breeds that are well-suited for this activity!
Top 10 Best Dog Breeds For Dock Diving!
- Whippets.
- Belgian Malinois.
- Labrador Retrievers.
- Border Collies.
- German Shorthaired Pointers.
- Australian Cattle Dogs.
- Golden Retrievers.
- Catahoula Dogs.
- Pit Bulls.
- Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Many other breeds are excellent dock jumpers. If your dog hasn’t made it up to the list, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t introduce him to this sport. Letting him run, dive and swim can still be a fun workout to do in the summer. He might also have a chance to win small local competitions!
2. Invest In The Right Dock Diving Equipment!
The second step is to gear up properly. Like any other activity, dock diving requires some equipment. But don’t worry, it should not be too expensive compared to other sports such as hiking or agility.
Dog Toy.
Apart from the dock and body of water, you will also need an appropriate dog toy. The most popular waterproof fetch toys for dock diving beginners are either the Kong Wet Wubba or ChuckIt Amphibious Bumper.
However, any object that floats and can get your dog’s attention can be suitable to get started. It’s an essential piece of equipment because the more he loves the toy you throw, the more motivation he will have to jump and dive to bring it back.
Choosing your dog’s favorite toy might not always be the best idea. I highly recommend purchasing one specifically made for waterfowl retrieving and use it only for dock diving. That way, your dog can associate this toy with the sport and all the fun that comes with it.
Waterproof Dog Collar.
Whether you’re in an event or at the lake, you always want to have control over your dog. Furthermore, it’s not convenient to put his collar on and off every time he’s jumping in the water. So what should you do?
My recommendation would be to invest in a collar that he can wear for dock diving. You can check out the Tiger Tail Urban Nomad to keep your dog safe, comfortable, and under control near the water.
Dog Life Jacket.
Most people think all dogs are natural swimmers. Well, it’s not the case. That’s why I highly recommend you don’t take any chance, especially since their life is at stake.
Investing in a canine flotation device (CFD) is the best way to ensure your dog is safe while dock diving. Even if he swims well, you never know what can happen in the water. Thus, consider the Outward Hound Life Jacket or any other CFD to let him jump from the dock with peace of mind.
How Much Is A Dock Diving Pool?
Another common question is all about the cost of the pool in which your dog can safely jump. Dock diving is a fun sport, but it’s tricky to practice it if you don’t have any dock and body of water near you. Therefore, you might be wondering how much you need to buy a pool for this purpose.
High-end competition pools for dock diving can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. But you can also build your own swimming pool if you are into DIY home projects or find cheaper options for around $2,000.
Quick Tip: This pool on Amazon could be an excellent starting point to train your dog for dock jumping.
4. Start Training Your Dog For Dock Diving!
Now it’s time to prepare your dog more seriously for running, jumping, and swimming. Dock diving is relatively simple, but there are a couple of fundamental skills that are required. Whether it’s to have fun in your backyard or compete in events, here’s how you can train your dog for this sport!
Basic Obedience.
As for any other activity, dock diving will be much more enjoyable for everyone if your dog is well trained. If he doesn’t respond to any commands, it’s practically impossible to get started. Thus, I highly recommend you work on his manners and obedience skills before anything else.
For dock diving, the most important commands are “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Come”. Without these voice cues, your dog won’t be able to take a run-up before jumping in the water.
An alternative would be to find an assistant. If someone else is with him on the other end of the dock, everything should work just fine. You can give the starting command (to tell your assistant to let him go) and throw his favorite dock diving toy in the pool.
Physical Conditioning.
Running, jumping, and swimming are all vigorous workouts. Thus, your dog might need some physical preparation to be suitable for dock diving. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and healthy habits should be sufficient to keep him in good shape.
Intense training is not necessary, especially if you are into this sport for entertainment. Just make sure your dog is physically ready for what you want him to do. Without an active lifestyle, he’s more likely to injure himself or have problems during vigorous physical activity.
Introduction To Jumping In The Water.
As I already told you, your dog should be confident near and in the water to practice dock diving. If it’s not the case yet, you can still work on this point. Once he feels comfortable and safe swimming, it’s time to teach him the diving part.
There are many to make your dog jump in the water. You can use his favorite toy, some treats, or a lot of praise. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s fun, irresistible, and safe for him to dive.
At this stage, I highly recommend putting his life jacket on. It will improve his confidence to jump and prevent him from going too deep in the pool. Then, you can slowly encourage him to run before diving into the water.
Teach Your Dog How To Fetch.
If you didn’t see it like that, dock diving is a water retrieval game. Instead of throwing a ball in your backyard for your dog to chase it and bring it back, you do it with a toy in a pool. Thus, if he knows how to fetch, it’s an excellent starting point.
Improving your dog’s retrieving skills will help him to perform well at dock diving. Running and jumping to catch his favorite ball is good preparation for this sport. Fetch is also an excellent way to exercise and train him, by the way.
5. Put It All Together To Start Dock Diving.
Finally, you only have to combine everything your dog has learned. Once he’s good at jumping in the water and retrieving toys, he’s ready to start dock diving. The next step is to find a dock from which it’s safe for him to jump.
In the beginning, it might not look like you want. But don’t worry, your dog will slowly improve his diving skills. Let him learn at his own pace, and everything should be alright.
Here’s a video of Golden Retriever puppies that are starting to jump from a dock. Enjoy it!
Find Dock Diving Events For Your Dog!
You can start training your dog anywhere there’s a safe place to jump in the water. But competing in a dog sport is a fun experience to show his skills and meet great people. Thus, you might be wondering how to get involved in dock diving events.
In the USA, there are 3 main organizations you should be aware of: The North American Diving Dogs (NADD), Dock Dogs, and Ultimate Air Dogs. They all have different events, so make sure to read their rules and regulations before signing up.
What About The American Kennel Club (AKC)? They don’t have independent competitions for this sport, but they may participate in some NADD events. (Find More Information Here!)
Overall, finding competitions in your area should not be too difficult. Apart from associations, you also have clubs you might be able to join. Otherwise, I simply recommend you type “Dock Diving Events” in Google, and you should be ready to go!
Have Fun!
Dock diving doesn’t have to be serious and competitive. You can continue to jump in the water with your dog for plain fun. It doesn’t matter if you do this activity in your backyard pool, at the lake, or in official events as long as you both enjoy it.
The only thing I don’t like about sports is when the competition overrun the pleasure. Dock diving events can be great fun if you go there for the right reasons. Just make sure this activity stays enjoyable for everyone!
More Information About Dock Diving:
Now that you’re ready to get started, I have some interesting facts you certainly want to know about dock diving. From the types of competition to records, many things might pique your curiosity. Thus, let me share with you everything I’ve learned about this awesome dog sport!
Dock Diving Variants!
As I already told you, the dog that jumps the farthest from the dock wins. This sport was originally all about distance-jumping. But now, the participants can be judged on other aspects while they are diving in the pool.
The highest jump is also a popular category of dock diving competitions. Another variation is the fastest dog to retrieve the toy from the water. Thus, whether your buddy jumps high, far, or swims fast, he might be able to win a title!
The Ultimate Dock Diving Dog, Spitfire!
If you never heard about Spitfire, you either live under a rock or don’t listen to the news. He’s a popular Whippet that excels at dock diving. With his young handler’s help, Sydney Mackey (16-year-old in 2020), they have broken five world records.
In 2018, Spitfire also held two world championship titles in dock diving. Therefore, it’s an athlete that deserves your attention. Here’s a video on their inspiring story to show you how this dog sport impacts their life.
Dock Diving Records!
There’s no sport without some challenge to beat the best and with the legendary Spitfire comes records. For now, he’s not anymore the holder of the farthest jump by a dog (dock jumping).
The new leader is Sounders, another Whippet from the USA. With his owner Laurel Behnke, he leaped 36 feet 2 inches (11.02 m) at a dock diving competition, breaking his previous record. In case you’re skeptical, judges from the NADD organization were there to verify the distance.
Dock Diving Record By Breeds. (Some Of The Most Popular)
| Breed | Name | Owner | Record Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whippet | Sounders | Laurel Behnke | 36’ 2 |
| Belgian Malinois | Addis | Craig Foster | 30’ 11 |
| Border Collie | Switch | Danielle LaBrèche | 30’ 11 |
| Dutch Shepherd | Batman | Susan Fife | 30’ 4 |
| Labrador Retriever | Bella | Heidi Patterson | 30’ 0 |
| Catahoula | Copper | Julie Ostrander | 27’ 6 |
| German Shepherd | Jessie Jo | Jeri Fishack | 27’ 4 |
| Golden Retriever | Blaze | Denise McDonald | 27’ 4 |
| Australian Shepherd | Keeper | Cheri Grant | 27’ 1 |
Dock Diving Tips For Beginners!
Before letting you go, I still have some advice to help you out. Even with the right equipment and training, dock diving is not an easy sport to get into. That’s why I want you to benefit from my experience and avoid common mistakes.
- Start Out Slow & Improve Gradually!
- Keep Training Sessions Short!
- The Younger Your Dog Starts, The Better!
- Safety First, Always!
- Don’t Assume Your Dog Can Swim!
- Have Fun!
Last Thoughts About Dock Diving For Dogs!
Finally, there are many things you should know before your dog can jump off the dock safely. Proper preparation is essential to make this water sport as enjoyable as possible for everyone. With all the information in this article, you should be all set to get started.
Now it’s time to put in some time, effort, and money. Believe me; this might be one of the best investments in your life. You also can follow my 5 steps process to get into dock diving more easily.
From gearing up to training, you have a lot of work to do. But I’m sure it’s worth all the fun your dog will have jumping in the water together!
Good Preparation & See You On The Dock!