Dock Jumping - The Latest Dog Sport

There are any number of sports cropping up lately for dogs. The newer sports do not care about breed or size. They focus on talent. Any dog breed can enter and have a chance of winning.

This is also the case with Flyball and Dancing with Dogs. It is also true of another sport, although it is true you have an advantage is you are a retriever.

This is the sport of Dock Jumping.

The sport of Dock Jumping or Dock Diving debuted in the UK under the name of Jetty Dogs in 2007. In North America, this is the sport of Dock Diving. It began to make a splash in 2000. Dock Jumping is the Big Splash. It is Flying Dogs. It is a sport. It is exciting. It is fun. Need I say more?

The event is simple to describe. You have a 40' dock (or jetty). It gazes out over deep water. This is your launching pad. It stands some 2' above the water. You have a toy, your dog's favorite toy. You also have your favorite and bests-dog-in-the-whole-wide world.

Your dog, who absolutely adores water, has a task. First, water fanatic sits there while you toss the treasured object far off into the water. Your dog must then run along the dock/jetty until it reaches the end. At the end, he or she has to launch him or herself far off the dock and towards the thrown object. The judges then measure the distance of the leap.

The winner is the dog with the longest distance. An average dog can cover between 6 and 18 feet. Dock Jumping has many fans and supporters. There are web sites, competitions and clubs. You can find hints on training and conditioning. You can uncover the basics and suggestions for advanced dock jumping. There are even plans and ideas on winter training. There are many reasons why people love Dock Diving. They enjoy the sense of camaraderie that develops between them and their dog. Dock dumping helps you develop a direct and close relationship with your pet. This sense of friendship and team work extends to other people and their dogs making the sport fun and friendly. Dock Jumping is about teamwork. You and your dog have to work together to achieve the required result. You may have to start out teaching the dog to leap into the water. You then have to get your pet to extend its trust. It must make a leap of faith off the dock and beyond. This may take some work. It may also be simple. Nevertheless, you have to trust each other. Dock Jumping helps to build confidence. It works both ways. A shy dog may become less timid. A person may develop greater confidence in their abilities. It is a sport in which the two of you must work together to achieve the end goal. It is also a sport where you must consider training, diet and conditioning. You will need to look at books, do research and even join a club. This is an excellent way to meet people and other dogs with the same interest.

While dock jumping is open to all breeds, all sizes and all shapes (of people and dogs), there is one basic requirement. You have to have a dog who loves, or, better still, is a fanatic water dog – a crazy aquatic puppy. If your dog cannot stand to get its toes wet, if you pet hates to spoil his or her coiffeur when it rains, do not try this sport. Only water babies need apply.

Content written by Sharon Gordon of ohmydogsupplies.com, the top ranked spot to buy donut dog beds online.

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