Dock Dogs!

"the ultimate water sport for dogs!"

BIG AIR BASICS (BA)

Big Air is essentially the long jump for dogs.  Big Air is essentially the base of the sport, and is the most prevalent aspect of any DockDogs event.  Owners are allowed to throw a floatable toy or object (must not be edible, alive, or dead animal) in to the pool for their dogs to retrieve.   Dogs have the use of the entire dock surface (up to 40’) in which th

ey can run and jump into the pool.   The dogs distance is measured at hind end of the dog, at the base of the tail, where it first breaks the surface of the water.   A dog does not have to retrieve the toy in order to obtain a score.

EXTREME VERTICAL (EV)

Extreme Vertical (usually referred to as EV) was first introduced in 2005 as a competitive game.  Prior to that, it had been used as a training method to teach dogs to jump upward for their toys; in order to obtain greater distances in Big Air.   In Extreme Vertical an ‘EV Rig’ is used to suspend a Dokken, double stringed, puppy foam bumper, up in the air.   During competition, the bumper is required to be suspended 8’ out from the edge of the dock, and at a minimum of 4’ 6” high (measuring from the bottom of the bumper).  Dogs may begin at any height, but must make a successful ‘grab’ (given 2 attempts) in order to continue to the next height.  The bumper is gradually raised by 2” increments, until finally there is only one dog remaining. 

SPEED RETRIEVE BASICS (SR) 

Speed Retrieve is a relatively new game, and was first introduced to through DockDogs National in the 2008 season.   During Speed Retrieve a Dokken, double stringed, puppy foam bumper is suspended a few inches above the water at the end of the pool.   Handlers then line the dogs up at the 20’ mark on the dock, just behind an infrared beam.  The apparatus used to suspend the bumper has yellow and green lights.  Similar to car racing, the yellow lights will blink to signal that it’s about time to start.  Once the green light is lit up, you would release your dog and encourage them to retrieve the bumper.  If you were to let your dog go before the light has turned green, you would be disqualified.    Time is measured from the second the green light comes on until the dog pulls the bumper completely away from the apparatus, therefore breaking the magnetic connection.   Dogs do not have to make a compete retrieve of the bumper. 

Seattle area dock dog club http://www.pugetsounddockdogs.org/PSDD/welcome.html