Dock Diving

I have a few questions....

When you register your dog at an event, it's usually $25 for a "wave", from what I see.

So for example, if a day looks like this:


Onsite Registration / Practice - 8:00 am
Big Air Wave # 1 - 9:00 am
Big Air Wave # 2 - 11:00 am
Big Air Wave # 3 - 1:00 pm
Extreme Vertical - 3:00 pm
Big Air Wave # 4 - 5:00 pm

Do most people put their dogs in EVERY wave? or no? Do you have to stay all day? Like, would it be okay to say register for big air wave #1, get there at 8 to practice, your dog hopefully does a jump in wave #1 at 9, and then leave or not do anymore waves?

What happens if a dog just doesn't jump? lol, how long do you have up there to try and encourage?

Also, is a dog allowed to wear a life jacket during a wave?

When it comes to divisions, I know they have a lap dog category, what is the height limit on this? When it comes to prizes... what if Jackson was the only "lap dog" for example, would he automatically win first prize? lol, if he was the only one in his division.

Just clueless about any rules, and since Jackson is getting so good at jumping, I really do want to try him out. I found a facility very close to me that has a pool and often has private lessons or open pool/etc, on certain days, so I want to try him out on an actual dock diving pool, but there's two events coming up close to me I want to check out.

Some people enter all waves. However, the dog gets tired. 3 BA waves per day is about our limit. So it were my dog, I would enter the 11, 3, and 5. You have 90 seconds on the dock to set your dog and throw the toy. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it really is quite a long time. I've seen many owners sit down and try to coax their dog into the water, and it seems like it's going on for a while. If they don't do in, don't sweat it. Just leave by the exit near the ramp and a wrangler will get your toy out for you.

Yup, you can wear a life jacket!

I think lapdog is 17"? Stardogs knows more about that, I believe!

You do not have to stay all day. Competitors are welcome to come and go as they please. Just make sure you're there about an hour in advance of your wave because they do a handler's meeting about 30 minutes before the wave. Many competitors bring a canopy, chairs, cooler, and a crate and just stay. You talk to people, see other waves, etc. It's alot of fun!

I know there is a group by me that meets up- maybe you could look into if there is one by you do your not just tossing money in for every jump. You join the club and can go jump from what I understood. And then there is not so much pressure first time.

All of this and yup 17 is lap dog, Shamoo JUST missed the cut off. LOL

Side note I just looked at the regional championships for the world qualifier and it's 30 dollars a wave. I'm going broke writing up my calendar for this show season. Whomp Whomp.

K, awesome, thanks

It really does just sound like so much fun, and all the people seem very friendly and nice.

I've been wanting to try it for a while, so was glad to find a place so close to me that offers sheep herding, dock diving, agility, nosework, etc, etc... I'm waiting to hear back from the guy about the next dates the pool is open. They have open swims as well as privates. If I can get him jumping off it at practice, I will be more willing to sign him up for an actual wave!

All I have to say is that their idea of a 'lap dog' makes me laugh. Some pretty huge lap dogs out there

To me anything over 14 inches is getting a bit large to fit in a lap. FIT in the lap lol, I have known danes who think they are lap dogs and sprawl all over you.

Dock dogs is a blast, I need to find some again. Have fun!

I was totally confused by the 17" "lap dog" thing too LOL. I registered Payton and Auggie and both are lap dogs. Payton kinda sorta fits in your lap if he curls up in a ball I guess LOL.

It's free to register as a handler and register your dogs as a team on their website, so I registered everybody last week. When you do that the rules handbook pops up as a PDF so you can print it out and read the whole thing. Might be handy to do!

I really want to try this with Steve when he's better. Argh! MOAR MONEYS. But he jumped off a brand new dock on the first throw at our flyball team's pond party a couple months ago. He's not a very good jumper, so he won't do anything amazing, but I think it'd be fun to try.

Urgh.... I HATE that there is so little to do with dogs here

I think LapDog is probably a play on words since it *is* a pool-based event in most cases.

Day of registration for Waves is generally $30 now, $25 if you prereg online.

Pre reg for regionals is 30. sadness.

Yep.

Lol, that's what I was thinking.