Rits
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I put "pic(s?) because the main photographer hasn't posted any up yet and I'll post some more as I get them.
But, for those that didn't read in the shout box, Java, Derek and I all went up to the Detroit area (4 hour drive
) and tried out Dock Diving for the first time! It was fun having her do something but like I said in the shout box, it isn't her forte.
We got to let her get in the pool to accustom her to the exit ramp, she did that wonderfully and she's never ever been in a pool and didn't need a toy either to coax her in. Between each official jump they have practice set up and we did get a pointer or two on helping her jump better but they didn't seem to work, she always ran full speed to the end then slammed on the breaks and by this time the toy had already landed in the water, THEN she'd launch herself. Dork.
We tried moving closer...like almost 3 feet away from the edge of the dock, throwing the toy shorter, throwing it flat so she would see it, throwing it up, using a tennis ball instead....all kinds of things and none of it changed her jumping style.
Funny, when we decided to let them know we'd be pulling out of the third jump to give Java a break, they suggested to us to do land training so we told them we do that at least 3 times out of the week. Then they told us to come up to Bark a Bout and use their pool to practice in like the rest of the members do for $10. Told them we woooould BUT we live 4 hours away. I think that's why the rest of the dogs jump so well is because they are either born to do it or they have access to the Bark a Bout pool to practice. All the other dogs definitely practice/train so, to say there is no training in dock diving, I would say otherwise... especially hearing from others that "Oh yeah, we are training at least once a week!" The nice thing though was that club was nice enough to give us a $15 refund for the jump we cut Java from!
Now that I think about it and discussed it more with Derek, we think the biggest thing was that it was all too much for her to process in one day. Loads of other dogs (there were 40 entries) and lots of OTHER toys that were squeaking and grabbing her attention, plus this insane (to her) giant pool with crystal clear water. She was probably thinking "WHAT am I/are we doing here?!?!" Although, I say it's not her forte, we've discussed it more and think we're going to give it a few more shots. Maybe the more we do it, the more she'll get used to the distractions and might progress a little each time as the stuff sinks in.
Our next event is the big event at the UKC Premier in Kalamazoo, MI so, if anyone from the board is there and sees a 6'3 guy and a 5'1 girl with a chocolate lab...come over and introduce yourself to us!
And, what you all came here for...(sorry, I chat too much!!
) I only found one pic of her on the training center's (bark a bout) facebook page. There were only 3 pics of the dock diving as it was a bigger event to try and get others to come out and check their facility out so, WOO Java made it as one out of the three! You can see how she's jumped flat, this is right after her screaming to the end of the dock, slamming on the breaks, ball falls in...then she jumped. Her biggest jump was 6'9 but not the lowest out of the group so, yay!
But, for those that didn't read in the shout box, Java, Derek and I all went up to the Detroit area (4 hour drive
) and tried out Dock Diving for the first time! It was fun having her do something but like I said in the shout box, it isn't her forte.We got to let her get in the pool to accustom her to the exit ramp, she did that wonderfully and she's never ever been in a pool and didn't need a toy either to coax her in. Between each official jump they have practice set up and we did get a pointer or two on helping her jump better but they didn't seem to work, she always ran full speed to the end then slammed on the breaks and by this time the toy had already landed in the water, THEN she'd launch herself. Dork.
We tried moving closer...like almost 3 feet away from the edge of the dock, throwing the toy shorter, throwing it flat so she would see it, throwing it up, using a tennis ball instead....all kinds of things and none of it changed her jumping style.
Funny, when we decided to let them know we'd be pulling out of the third jump to give Java a break, they suggested to us to do land training so we told them we do that at least 3 times out of the week. Then they told us to come up to Bark a Bout and use their pool to practice in like the rest of the members do for $10. Told them we woooould BUT we live 4 hours away. I think that's why the rest of the dogs jump so well is because they are either born to do it or they have access to the Bark a Bout pool to practice. All the other dogs definitely practice/train so, to say there is no training in dock diving, I would say otherwise... especially hearing from others that "Oh yeah, we are training at least once a week!" The nice thing though was that club was nice enough to give us a $15 refund for the jump we cut Java from!
Now that I think about it and discussed it more with Derek, we think the biggest thing was that it was all too much for her to process in one day. Loads of other dogs (there were 40 entries) and lots of OTHER toys that were squeaking and grabbing her attention, plus this insane (to her) giant pool with crystal clear water. She was probably thinking "WHAT am I/are we doing here?!?!" Although, I say it's not her forte, we've discussed it more and think we're going to give it a few more shots. Maybe the more we do it, the more she'll get used to the distractions and might progress a little each time as the stuff sinks in.
Our next event is the big event at the UKC Premier in Kalamazoo, MI so, if anyone from the board is there and sees a 6'3 guy and a 5'1 girl with a chocolate lab...come over and introduce yourself to us!
And, what you all came here for...(sorry, I chat too much!!
) I only found one pic of her on the training center's (bark a bout) facebook page. There were only 3 pics of the dock diving as it was a bigger event to try and get others to come out and check their facility out so, WOO Java made it as one out of the three! You can see how she's jumped flat, this is right after her screaming to the end of the dock, slamming on the breaks, ball falls in...then she jumped. Her biggest jump was 6'9 but not the lowest out of the group so, yay!
