If you’re looking for information on how to get involved with dock
diving you’ve come to the right place!
At all DockDog® events there is a 40 foot dock with a 40 foot pool. The dock is 24 inches above the water. This remains constant for judging purposes. To begin, the first thing you need when attempting your first few jumps off the dock is a floatable toy. Any toy that floats is acceptable by DockDog® rules. The best toy to use is one your dog is wild for, then when you throw it in the pool he’ll actually want to jump in to get it! Making sure your dog has some “toy drive” and enjoys the water are two key components with DockDogs®. Put those two together and you’ve got a great dock diving combination.
Handlers may use any technique to get their dog into the water. You can lay down on the dock, splash the water and make as many encouraging sounds/motions as you like! However, we do not allow pushing, pulling or throwing of the dogs into the pool. This will result in a no score. You may use any throwing technique as well. Some people prefer the chase method and have their dogs sit at the end of the dock and dive into the pool while the toy is in mid air. Other people prefer a “fly ball” method of throwing the toy called place and send, taking the dog back on the dock, revving them up and releasing the dog. The trick is to try out various methods and see which works best for you and your dog. The only rule about this is that in competition you only get 60 seconds from when your dog sets foot on the dock until the dog is in motion into the pool. If it takes you longer to get the dog in at this point there will be a no score.
Distance is measured from the base of the dog’s tail. At club events they are judged manually by two certified judges, at a National event they are judged electronically by a computer that freezes frame by frame. Both methods are very accurate. Once your dog has figured out the name of the game you can take the time to perfect your own skills such as throwing….any handler will tell you “it’s all in the throw”!
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! For some Tips for newcomers go HERE!
At all DockDog® events there is a 40 foot dock with a 40 foot pool. The dock is 24 inches above the water. This remains constant for judging purposes. To begin, the first thing you need when attempting your first few jumps off the dock is a floatable toy. Any toy that floats is acceptable by DockDog® rules. The best toy to use is one your dog is wild for, then when you throw it in the pool he’ll actually want to jump in to get it! Making sure your dog has some “toy drive” and enjoys the water are two key components with DockDogs®. Put those two together and you’ve got a great dock diving combination.
Handlers may use any technique to get their dog into the water. You can lay down on the dock, splash the water and make as many encouraging sounds/motions as you like! However, we do not allow pushing, pulling or throwing of the dogs into the pool. This will result in a no score. You may use any throwing technique as well. Some people prefer the chase method and have their dogs sit at the end of the dock and dive into the pool while the toy is in mid air. Other people prefer a “fly ball” method of throwing the toy called place and send, taking the dog back on the dock, revving them up and releasing the dog. The trick is to try out various methods and see which works best for you and your dog. The only rule about this is that in competition you only get 60 seconds from when your dog sets foot on the dock until the dog is in motion into the pool. If it takes you longer to get the dog in at this point there will be a no score.
Distance is measured from the base of the dog’s tail. At club events they are judged manually by two certified judges, at a National event they are judged electronically by a computer that freezes frame by frame. Both methods are very accurate. Once your dog has figured out the name of the game you can take the time to perfect your own skills such as throwing….any handler will tell you “it’s all in the throw”!
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! For some Tips for newcomers go HERE!
Big Air
Big Air is the discipline in dock diving where every dog starts their journey. This is a “long jump for dogs.” The only requirements are that the dog must be 6 months or older, and jump into the pool after a floatable, non-edible, toy. The distance is judged from the end of the dock to where the tail set of the dog breaks the water’s surface.
Division Jump Distance
Novice 1” - 9’11”
Junior 10’ - 14’11”
Senior 15” - 19’11”
Master 20’ - 22’11”
Elite 23’ - 24’11”
Super Elite 25’ and up
National Events
Amateur 17’11” or less
Semi Pro 18’0” - 21’11”
Pro 22’0” or and up
Division Jump Distance
Novice 1” - 9’11”
Junior 10’ - 14’11”
Senior 15” - 19’11”
Master 20’ - 22’11”
Elite 23’ - 24’11”
Super Elite 25’ and up
National Events
Amateur 17’11” or less
Semi Pro 18’0” - 21’11”
Pro 22’0” or and up
Extreme Vertical (EV)
Extreme Vertical can be compared to the high jump, but for dogs! The bumper is hung 8 feet out from the front end of the dock and raised 2 inches increments as dogs pull down the bumper.
Cadet: 4’6” - 5’11”
Top Gun 6’ - 6’11”
High Flyer 7’ and up
Cadet: 4’6” - 5’11”
Top Gun 6’ - 6’11”
High Flyer 7’ and up
Speed Retrieve (SR)
Speed Retrieve is similar to the 50 yard dash for dogs. The dogs start at the 20 foot mark on the dock. The Handler signals when they are ready, run, jump and swim as fast as they can to pull the bumper off the apparatus at the end of the pool.
Express 8.000 + seconds
Turbo 7.000 - 7.999 seconds
Nitro 6.000-6.999 seconds
Sonic 5.999 seconds or less
Express 8.000 + seconds
Turbo 7.000 - 7.999 seconds
Nitro 6.000-6.999 seconds
Sonic 5.999 seconds or less
Iron Dog
Iron Dog is similar to a triathlon for dogs. Teams that compete in Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve and earn points towards their Iron Dog Score.
Warrior – 2799.99 and under
Titan – 2800.00 – 2899.99
Gladiators 2900.00 – 2999.99
Spartan – 3000.000 and up
Copyright material compliments of Dock Dogs, Inc.
Warrior – 2799.99 and under
Titan – 2800.00 – 2899.99
Gladiators 2900.00 – 2999.99
Spartan – 3000.000 and up
Copyright material compliments of Dock Dogs, Inc.