The Splash Dogs competition is happening right now near my area and I think I am going to enter my two malinuts. There seem to be different ways of setting it up. They both love water (and jumping and toys and attention) so I don't have to worry about them following their toy off the dock. Has anyone participated in this event? Got any tips or tricks? Thanks in advance!

I have been to the events, Melissa, it's a lot of fun!

Many dogs in this area, all pumped to jump, so I would advise to keep a short lead on your dogs, and keep an eye on the other dogs, many don't watch what their dogs are doing.

Check out, first, where the dog exits and show them.

Have you been before?

I saw one "splash" heat yesterday by chance. A few labs of varying degrees and one unruly (untrained) malinois. One of the labs REALLY loved it and got amazing height and length. The other two were learning. The mal jumped well but was a poor showing of obedience. The website says that you bring a crate and only bring your dog out for it's turn or heat. Yesterday the labs were all in a heat together and then the mal went separately.
I was a little freaked at how the dogs got themselves out of the pool and then were expected to go up the steps to the dock where the handler was waiting all on their own. When we do it my boyfriend and I will have one of us at the pool exit and one on the dock so we can control our dogs. Both of mine are reasonably social for mals but I wouldn't tempt fate.

I'm really wondering if anyone has done this competition and is it best to have them wait in a sit stay and then run past you as you throw the toy or is it best to let them see you throw the toy and then pull them back before letting them jump?

I haven't done a competition since 2005, and that was with a Lab rescue. My last GSD wasn't crazy about water, nor was he fond of retrieving. There is hope for Roger, he loves both!

With you just starting, the place and send would be easier, the Chase takes a little more work lining up the toy,timing, but I like the launch better.


Take video, bet the Mals look great!

I think it depends on the dog. I entered Sinjin last year and what worked for him is putting him in a sit stay at the back of the ramp and then I was right on the water's edge and threw the toy right as he almost got to me.

At the Splash dogs that our fair had, you paid 20 bucks for a "heat" and that price not only allowed you to practice for that specific heat but to practice at any other time through the week when heats were not competing. You just had to pay for any additional competition heats. I would recommend taking advantage of that and trying out what works best for your dogs :-)

Thanks everyone for the info and advice! I did some more reading about it and we get practices too before the competitive splash so I will try different methods and see what works. I'll take video and update you all next week!

I'm very interesting in seeing your video. I've just started my girl with Dock Diving but so far she's only got her front feet wet on the ramp. We may have sucess by next year. ha ha ha

Paul has been training our Choc Lab Tyra in Dock Diving. She is placed at a stay at the far end of the dock. He is at the edge. When she is released she races to the end of the dock, and he throws the toy when she's about half way to him.

Toss high to keep the head up - that will help with distance. Here's a public link to our FB album of Tyra jumping. You can see the toy in a few of them (it's orange) - note her head position as she is in mid jump.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.218617948179182.55367.100000929359537&l=ee4897ca45&type=1

Have FUN!! This is seriously addicting!!!