If your Catahoula loves water, Dock Diving is a great activity you both can enjoy.  Dock Diving consist of a 40’ dock that is 2’ above the water. The dogs run and jump off the dock. It requires very little training and the costs are comparatively inexpensive. Your dog does not have to be registered in any type of registry and competitions are held all over the US and other countries.

Dock diving organizations

These are 3 major dock diving organizations.

1. Ultimate Air dogs - (UAD) – Is the only dock diving organization that is partnered with UKC so you can earn UKC titles along with UAD titles, if you wish.  UAD holds events in the South, Midwest, and North East. This organization is very beginner friendly and Milt is more than willing to help all newcomers. UAD does not have local clubs, but invites anyone from anywhere to jump. Main focus is on having fun with your dog and every dog is a winner.  UAD is the only organization that allows two people on the dock so is great if you have a dog that does not have a good stay. This is the organization I jump with the most as they hold more events in GA and FL and are relaxed fun events. Milt has made a point to familiarize himself with Catahoulas and educates the spectators on the breed. You will find yourself very welcome with your Catahoula at UAD events.

2. Splash Dogs – holds events mostly on the North West coast. Does have one or two events in FL each year. They are at all of the Red Fish Cup events. Splash Dogs does have some regional clubs, but are very open to anyone who wants to participate. Their main rule is to have fun!! Splash dogs were the very first jump Dexie and I went to and we had a blast. We have since jumped with them twice this past year when they came to FL.  There are several catahoula regulars that jump with Splash dogs and the top jumping Catahoula in the US jumps with Splash dogs. Therefore they are familiar with and welcome the breed.

3. Dock Dogs – holds events pretty much all over the US and other countries and are the largest organization. They encourage local clubs and are more elitist and competitive than the other groups. I have only jumped one competition with Dock Dogs. The announcer did not know what a catahoula was, did not make a point of learning anything about the breed, and after a 3 day event still could not properly pronounce Catahoula. However they do have a more widespread base, so maybe if we get more Catahoulas jumping they will become more Houla friendly.

Competition

Any dog over the age of 6 months is eligible to compete.  Dock diving events is a great way to introduce your dog to working in a distracting environment as Catahoulas are great at performing in a known environment and then fall apart when you change the environment. I recommend that as soon as your dog will jump off a dock go ahead and enter into an event. I started this with Dexie to get her ready to go to agility competitions. She is now much more relaxed in new environments and her confidence is so much better.

Competitions are held in natural bodies of water with a natural dock or in 40’ long above ground pool with a trailer used for a dock. The docks are covered with non slippery surfaces like green turf.

Dock diving consists of two different types of jumping:

1. Big Air - the most common, and one that any dog that will jump can do.

Dogs run down a dock and fly into a pool after a chase object. In competition each dog gets 2 jumps in each wave. Most organizations score the jump from where the butt hits the waster. Each organization breaks the dogs up into divisions: Below are Ultimate Air Dogs divisions and distances:

Novice – 1” to 9’11”

Junior – 10’ to 14’11”

Senior – 15’ to 19’11”

Master – 20’ to 22’5”

Ultimate 22’6” and up

The other organizations may vary a bit in name and distance, but this is the general idea. Many newcomers think that since their dog is a first timer it is automatically a novice, but Dock Jumping determines division by length of jump and not how many times the dog has jumped. Everyone enters each wave on equal ground. Divisions are determined by how far the dog jumps in each wave with the longest jump for that dog determining her division for the finals. After all the waves of the event are done the top dogs in each division (called “the bubble”) are in the finals.

In the finals the dogs are broken up into divisions and compete with the other dogs in that division only.

Titles are given when a dog has 4 jumps in one division. Only 1 jump per wave will count toward the title. So Dexie would need to jump 4 waves with one jump in each wave being between 15” and 19’11” to get her senior title. It is possible to have titles in different divisions or even get 2 titles in the same division. The titles start over at the beginning of each “jumping year” (usually in starts in the fall)

Styles of Throwing for Big Air Jumping

Place and send: In this style you are basically throwing the toy off the dock while the dog is watching. You than take the dog to their starting place on the dock and “send” them for the toy. I use this method with Katie as I can get her really excited, throw the toy in while and then drag her back and release her.

The Chase: The dog is put in a sit stay in their staring place. The handler is on the end of the dock, releases the dog and throws the toy when the dog gets close enough so they are “chasing” it into the water. This method takes more timing but the dogs get a lot of height trying to catch the toy which many of them do. This is the method I use for Dexie, although she does not get the concept yet of jumping up to catch the toy. I have been told it may have something to do with my throwing skills???

2. Vertical is the 2nd type of Dock Diving: - This is an awesome sport to watch and is a real crowd pleaser. This is the height event as opposed to distance. An apparatus hangs a training bumper 8 feet out over the pool, after the height is measured from the dock to the bumper. Dogs must release the bumper for the jump to count, by either grabbing it by mouth or knocking it clean off. Dogs get 2 shots at each height, and the bumper is moved up, usually in 2-inch increments. 

The competition proceeds until only one dog is still getting the bumper.  The height usually starts around 5’ and goes up from there. There are some vertical dogs jumping over 7’6”. This sport takes a lot out of the dog and usually only one vertical competition is held during each event as opposed to 4-8 big air waves per event. Not all dogs like vertical jumping and there are only a handful that really excel at it

Competition Etiquette:
1. Keep your dog crated or leashed at all times: most rules ask that you use a 4’ leash when in queue to jump. I bring a 6’ leash for walking.

2. It is best to keep your dog away from all the other dogs, even if they get along well with other dogs, as Catahoulas often scare people with the noises they make and you will be in a group of non-houla savvy people

3. Do not let your dog up on the dock until the person if front of you has leashed their dog.

4. Do not hog the dock during open dock time

5. Do not bad mouth Labs!

Training

Dry Land Training:  

Play lots of fetch with your houla and use different toys to find one that they get really excited about. I probably have $500.00 worth of floating toys and Dexie prefers a plain tennis ball, while Katie will switch back and forth. My young male Elwood will only jump if he can jump on Dexie’s head so needless to say he is not yet competing as I have yet to find a toy that looks like Dexie’s head.  Once your dog is really excited about fetching the toy, set up a low (about 12”) hurdle up and have your dog practice jumping the hurdle and catching the toy in the air. This is supposed to teach them to chase the toy off the dock into the water and get more height. I know it works great with labs and Dexie excels at this on land, but has not related this game to jumping off the dock as of yet (again Houlas do not have the same drive as labs so it takes more time and patience in training) 

Water training:

Depending on your access to water, get your Catahoula use to jumping in after the toy. Start in shallow water if they have not had a lot of water experience. Once they are comfortable in the water you can get them in deeper water. If you have access to a dock take them to the edge of the dock and get them excited over their toy and then toss it into the water while holding onto the dog. Than back the dog up about 2 feet all the while revving them up for the toy and then let them go. Continue doing this until they jump off the dock. This may take one or many sessions. It took about 4 (1) hour sessions to get Dexie off the dock as opposed to the side of the pool and she turned out to be my big jumper, vs. Katie (never jumps over 10’) who jumped off the dock the very first time so do not despair if you dog takes a while to get the hang of the game.

If you have an event coming to your town or close by you can take you dog to the event and let them jump during the “open dock” (practice time) even if you do not want to enter the competition. It is good policy, though, if you are not entered into the wave, to let the competitors have the last 30 minutes prior to the wave to warm up their dogs. Open dock is usually limited to 1 or 2 jumps per turn. If you dog will not jump after a few minutes, it is best to go back in line and wait for another turn.

As soon as your dog is jumping off the dock you are ready to compete.

Cost:

This sport is relatively inexpensive compared to other sports.

Training costs depends on your access to water and a dock. I have 2 places I can practice for free (1 on a lake with a private dock, the other is an in- ground pool) and a place with a competition dock and pool that cost $15.00 an hour to practice. If you live in an alligator free state you can often find lakes with docks where you can practice for free. Dock dogs and splash dogs have some regional clubs you can join for a small yearly free that usually have access to a practice place.

Of course there is the cost for toys. I do recommend once you decide on the toy for dock diving, DO NOT let your dog have that toy any other time. This will not only keep their drive up for that toy is will also keep you from having to replace it so frequently. Some of the most common chase toys are: tennis balls, Wubbas (the ones that squeak work better than the water wubbas and cost less) bumpers – these come in several different materials, and loopies. Anything that floats can be used as a chase item as long as it is not an animal.

 When you start going to events you will have the cost of travel and lodging and meals, unless you are lucky to have events locally. Camping is also an option to reduce cost. The entry fees run from %15.00 to $20.00 a wave with some organizations giving a multiple dog discount. Finals are free and all events provide free practice time prior to the waves.