WANT TO TRY DOCKDOGS?
If you'd like to give the dock a chance and see if your pup has what it takes to become a Chesapeake DockDog, come to one of our member lead practices! Take a look at our CALENDAR for upcoming dates for practices and events. For a $20 fee (that can be put towards your membership if you join after attending practice) you can join our designated "non-member" slot where we encourage new dogs to make that leap of faith! Please feel free and comfortable to engage with members and ask tons of questions. You'll find that our competitors enjoy sharing their experiences and knowledge about the sport and are always more than willing to help others get started.
IMPORTANT INFO
Does your dog love swimming? Retrieving toys? Jumping?
First things first! Figure out your dog's absolute favorite floating toy. We call them bumpers, but any floating toy is acceptable by DockDog rules. The dog will want to go get that toy so badly, they won't even notice you are throwing it into a pool that sits 2 feet below the dock's edge!
Handlers may use any technique to get their dog into the water, however,
we do not allow, pushing, pulling, nudging, or throwing of dogs into the pool. They must go in at their own free will.
Not following this rule can get you removed from practices and competitions without a score.
You can lay down on the dock, splash the water, and make as many encouraging sounds or motions as you like! You may use any throwing technique as well. Some people prefer the "chase" method, where their dogs sit at the end of the dock, release the dog, and time the throw as best they can. Other people prefer a "place and send" method of throwing the toy, taking the dog to the back of the dock, revving them up, and releasing.
The trick is to try out various methods and see which works best for you and your dog. Remember, when you are in a competition, you only get 60 seconds to get your dog into the water for a qualifying score. If time runs out, the score will be considered a T/O and no qualifying score is achieved.
Distance is measured from the base of the dog's tail set and where it breaks the plane of the water. At club events, jumps are judged manually by two certified judges and the average of both their scores results in your score. At a National event, they are judged electronically by a computer that freezes frame by frame. Both methods are very accurate.
Once you and your dog are ready to get yourselves out there (Team Name, Outfits, Custom Shirts, we've seen it all!)
There are only a few simple rules you need to remember:
First things first! Figure out your dog's absolute favorite floating toy. We call them bumpers, but any floating toy is acceptable by DockDog rules. The dog will want to go get that toy so badly, they won't even notice you are throwing it into a pool that sits 2 feet below the dock's edge!
Handlers may use any technique to get their dog into the water, however,
we do not allow, pushing, pulling, nudging, or throwing of dogs into the pool. They must go in at their own free will.
Not following this rule can get you removed from practices and competitions without a score.
You can lay down on the dock, splash the water, and make as many encouraging sounds or motions as you like! You may use any throwing technique as well. Some people prefer the "chase" method, where their dogs sit at the end of the dock, release the dog, and time the throw as best they can. Other people prefer a "place and send" method of throwing the toy, taking the dog to the back of the dock, revving them up, and releasing.
The trick is to try out various methods and see which works best for you and your dog. Remember, when you are in a competition, you only get 60 seconds to get your dog into the water for a qualifying score. If time runs out, the score will be considered a T/O and no qualifying score is achieved.
Distance is measured from the base of the dog's tail set and where it breaks the plane of the water. At club events, jumps are judged manually by two certified judges and the average of both their scores results in your score. At a National event, they are judged electronically by a computer that freezes frame by frame. Both methods are very accurate.
Once you and your dog are ready to get yourselves out there (Team Name, Outfits, Custom Shirts, we've seen it all!)
There are only a few simple rules you need to remember:
- When not on the dock, keep your dog on a leash (no longer than 4 ft.) or in a crate. No retractable (flexi) leashes.
- Your throw object must float and not be edible or anything that is live or has been live.
- Only one handler on the dock at a time.
- No training collars allowed on the dock, only flat buckle and material only martingale collars are allowed
- No pushing your dog off the dock
- No abusive behavior toward dogs, other competitors, or workers
- No dogs in heat
- Keep your dogs at least 8’ from other dogs
- Only the dog on the dock may be off leash
- You must clean up after your dog at BOTH the event area and hotel
- You, or a representative, must be at the judge’s/handler’s meeting in order to compete in that wave.