On the Dock Side | First Splash
This summer has been scorching hot, often too hot to exercise the dogs during the day. It seemed like the perfect time to introduce Rumor to something new—dock diving. Up until now, Rumor had little experience swimming. We figured she could probably swim, considering a rather dramatic vacation moment when she chased birds right into the ocean. Rumor, in her bird-chasing frenzy, didn’t quite grasp the concept of water and went under as soon as she hit a drop-off. I thought I might have to dive in after her, but she popped up and swam back to shore, a little wiser but still undeterred.
On June 19, I booked our first dock diving lesson at PJ’s Canine Club. Paul and I took her up, with Paul mostly playing the role of videographer. The lesson focused on getting Rumor comfortable with walking off the floating dock into the water. For the first 15 minutes or so, she wasn’t having any of it. I tried everything—treats along the dock, her favorite toy just at the edge—but she was not going in. She stretched as far as possible to reach the treats without stepping off. The instructor, Shelby, reassured me that some dogs need a couple of lessons before they take the plunge, and I thought we’d be one of those cases.
Then I had an idea: I’d get into the pool with her. Shelby agreed, and as I started to get in, I quickly realized the difference between this pool and our heated one at home—the water was freezing! My heart felt like it stopped several times as I lowered myself in, but I eventually made it. Once in, I splashed around with her toy, trying to get her excited. She wanted to come in, you could tell. Then, I hit the jackpot—I used the phrase her handling coach often says in a cute, high-pitched voice: “Oh, my goodness.” And just like that, she jumped in.
From that moment on, Rumor’s confidence soared. She began walking off the floating dock with increasing assurance, and we ended the session with an impressive jump. It was a fantastic way to conclude her first day. Dock diving quickly became a highlight—its playful nature made it incredibly enjoyable for Rumor. She thrived on the exercise, the thrill of chasing, and retrieving her favorite toy, all while staying cool. This sport adds a joyful, game-like element to her routine, complementing her other training activities perfectly.
A couple of weeks passed before we could get back to the pool, but this time I had her favorite human, Stacie, with me. No offense to Paul, but Rumor absolutely adores Stacie and does not get to see her as often. It took a little time for her to remember she could jump off the floating dock and swim, but once she did, she was all in. She was jumping so well off the floating dock that Shelby suggested trying the main dock. We gave it a shot—holding her about 15 feet back while one of us got her excited at the dock’s edge. We threw the toy and yelled, “Get it!” She came running down the dock but then skidded to a halt right at the edge. Stacie and I lay down on the dock, reaching down to splash the water with our hands, trying to encourage her. Rumor crouched at the edge, clearly wanting to jump but unable to bring herself to do it. Then, with just the slightest tap/push on her bum from Stacie, she was in!
We repeated the crouch-and-tap routine a couple more times before she started jumping in on her own. It was so exciting—by the end of that second lesson, she was jumping off the big dock! We’ve been back a few times since, always starting with a warmup on the floating dock before moving to the big one. She still hesitates a bit at the beginning, but she overcomes it quickly. Shelby has us working on a few things to improve her jump. First, we’re figuring out the right distance for her to start so she can get a full stride and hit the right spot on the dock for jumping. Second, we’re adjusting the timing of when we throw the toy, aiming to throw it as she gets closer to the end of the dock so she can track it better. Third, we’re working on her tracking skills, tossing the toy left and right to see if she’ll jump in the direction of the throw.
Dock diving is definitely a team sport. I have the crucial job of throwing the toy, which seems easy but really isn’t. I’ve learned how much my body movements and throw can impact Rumor’s jump and distance. For example, I need to focus on forward motion only—at one point, I started bringing my arm back before throwing, trying to get a more accurate throw, but it caused her to stop right at the edge of the dock. My goal is to keep the motion forward and aim 2 to 3 feet in front of where I think she’ll land. When she gets a good throw, she stretches out and makes a great jump.
This has been a blast, and Rumor is loving it. As a holder, you can feel her excitement as she gets ready to run. Her muscles tense, and she pulls against you, eager to go. When I take her off the dock for a break, she immediately runs to the stairs, trying to get back on. She’s becoming more consistent with her jumps and has been gradually increasing her distance each time.
Shelby at PJ’s Canine Club has been wonderful to work with. She’s kind and super positive, which helps keep this whole experience fun and encouraging. She remembers where we were at our last session even though several days and many dogs have passed through between sessions and she always has a plan for our progression. Oh, and I should mention she takes awesome videos!
One side effect of all this dock diving is that Rumor now loves our pool. She’s crazy when we get in—if you make a splash, she’s like the creature from A Quiet Place, immediately pouncing on top of you. Her swimming has greatly improved in just a few short weeks—she’s now confident and smooth in the water.
If you’re looking for a new sport for your dog, I highly recommend dock diving. It’s fun, it’s great exercise, and most importantly, it’s something both you and your dog can enjoy together.
Rumor has it, we’re diving pawfirst into a new favorite sport!