Dock Jumping
Dock Jumping is a performance sport in which dogs compete by jumping for distance or height from a dock into a body of water. The dogs are motivated by a toy thrown by the handler or suspended in the air above the water. There are a variety of events offered during dock jumping.
Distance Jumping is the original feature of dock jumping events. Dogs run down a dock and jump into a pool after an object thrown by the handler and the distance of the jump is measured (from the end of the dock nearest the waters' edge to the base of the dog’s tail where it lands in the water).
Fetch It is a distance retrieve event where a bumper is suspended 4 feet above the water (starting at a minimum distance of 10 feet away from the dock) and the dog must knock the bumper out of its hold within two tries in order to move to the next level. The bumper is moved out at 1 foot increments and the dog that knocks the bumper off at the furthest distance from the dock wins. It is not only a sport of endurance and skill, it also helps condition dogs to jump further in regular distance jumps, as it trains muscle memory and improves speed on the dock.
Capital City Dog Sport Association Dock Jumping Pool (located at Cher Car Kennels in St. Johns, Michigan).