Dock Dogs Question

[moonsailnewf]

Hey Darlene with Bristles, are you out there??? Have a lady with a Lab up here in WI that wants to teach her boy the dock dogs stuff.

Any resources I can point her towards? Apparently, her boy loves to retrieve and does jump, however, he's running as she's throwing his bumper, and then stopping at the end of the dock, sighting on the object and then jumping with a resounding belly flop! :whistling:

Not having trained a dog for this, and facing wrd training issues of our own, (slithering off the boat vs. leaping), this summer, I'm not sure how to advise her.

My only thoughts for her at this point, since he is jumping, is to hold him back from the jump, toss the object, make him sight on it while he's in position, and then send him for it. Maybe he won't stop at the end of the dock that way, and the foward momentum will propel him into a nice leap.

Thoughts anyone?????

 

[wrknnwf]

Don't know much about it, but have watched the dock dogs here practicing. They have a contraption that holds a bumper up "over the water" and the dogs have to jump high to grab it. Honestly, I don't know how they made it, but they claim it cures the slither effect and encourages big jumps.

Could it be that he just doesn't see the object well? Maybe change to yellow or blue since those are supposed to be the only colors a dog sees. Changing my dogs bumper to yellow made a huge amount of difference. He went from not retrieving at all to being insanely obsessed with it, all in one day. I think he wanted to retrieve all along, but just couldn't pick the item out from the surroundings (in this case, water).

 

[moonsailnewf]

Hi Jane,

Thanks for that info! I will pass everything I learn along to Libby, the lady with the Lab.

I did mention to her that some colors are easier to see than others. I know that she is using a white and an orange plastic bumper. I did tell her that those colors are harder for dogs to see, and suggested blue, and I told her that I think it was purple and red that are the other easier colors for dogs to see.

Based on what she told me, it sounds like her boy is stopping to see where the object is, and then jumping when he spots it. So, changing color may help him to see it without having to stop. I'll have to try a google search for dock dog training to see if I can find more info on the contraption you were talking about.

Thanks again for your info!

Kathy

 

[wrknnwf]

Apparently, blue and violet look alike and they can't see red at all. This site has a color chart comparison (dogs to humans) that gives you an idea. While yellow isn't nearly as bright a color, I chose that for water work since I felt it stood out from the color of the water. But many of my water work pals think blue is the way to go. I would suggest buying a couple of different colors and trying them to see if there's an improvement. I have bought three different colors of bumpers (all the same kind) and only the yellow one produced (instant) results. Her mileage may vary.

http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors

 

[ozzysma]

i believe there is a website for dock dogs.
http://www.dockdogs.com/ it may be of some help.

 

[jumpinnewf]

Hi everyone,
Know this problem well in that Bristles did this for quite sometime though I think she enjoyed teasing the crowd on whether or not she would jump.

If the dog has never jumped off a dock either in to a pool or lake the best way to start is by taking them to a lake or pond and playing retrieve with them from the shore line. This is a game of retrieve and the dog has to learn the rules. First rule go get the item. Once the dog understands the retrieve part start by working from the end of the dock using the place and send method. This is the method I still use with Bristles. Have the dog sit at the end of the dock and toss the item in the water. Make sure that you have the dogs attention so that they see the item toss in the water. Than let them jump from the edge of the dock. Once they have this start moving them back on the dock until you have reach the distance you want. In Bristles case it is half way down the dock more than that and she loses speed by the time she reaches the end of the dock. Very important at no time push the dog off the dock or you will be struggling for ever to overcome a bad experience.

Once the dog is comfortable jumping after the item and knows it is there move over to what is called the chase method. Here you put your dog position your dog in a stay postion walk to the end of the dock and release the dog. You want to time your toss to the dog getting to the end of the dock. Caution this method has been known to result in handlers falling in. Either from walking backwards on the dock (40 ft is not that long) or getting to close to the edge and lossing footing.


The pole apparatus over the water is use for competition called Extreme Vertical (EV) In this event the dogs are competing to see who can jump the highest as oppose to who can jump the farest. Completely two different sets of skills. Though you will see some dogs compete in both plus speed retreive. In speed retrieve the dog is place at the 20 foot mark and swims to the end of the pool and knocks down a docken. The dog that does it the fastest wins.

The other good source of information is the www.dockdogs.com site. Also the Wisconsin Regional club is very active and a good place for your friend in Wisconsin to start. They can be reached throught he fourm on the dockdogs site. http://www.dockdogs.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=228&board=63.0

The most important thing in my opinion as with anything is to make sure you and the dog are having fun. Bristles has so much fun that if I let her up on the dock off leash she will jump into the pool before I even reach the top stair. For her it is all about the jump and the water. Forget the toy. Hope this helps feel free to have your friend contact me directly. Also let her know that they are welcome to come out and try the sport at any event. There are national and regional events going on all year long. Chicagolands DockDogs first out side event is May 16 and 17 at The Great American Mutt Show. We will also be in Rockford over the July 4th holiday and will be hosting a newbie night the day before the competition starts.

 

[moonsailnewf]

Thank you so much Darlene and everyone that offered such great help and advice. You're all the best! I can't wait to forward this info to Libby. :groovy:

I know she will be so excited! Darlene, in case she contacts you, her name is Libby Dorn.

Way cool!!! I didn't realize they have a dock dogs regional club. Will have to check it out!

Kathy

 

[Debbie S]

I agree it's all about the dog and handler having fun! Sampson has his WRD and is an obedient boy. But when he dock dives and does agility he turns giant goofball! That comes from a great trainer helping ME to lighten up, quit thinking so much, save the commands, smile and be silly. He is used to sitting on the boat until he is given a release command, so when we started dock diving he would run to the end and STOP! Then he'd look at me for a release... Hmmmm, what to do? My trainer had me NOT use commands but silly fun revvvvvvvim up stuff like "R-E-A-D-Y...." and "git it git it git it...." First Sam had to get comfortable with jumping off the dock which is quite a bit higher than a boat platform, little by little he realized the difference and continued off without stopping. I use a duck from Bass Pro Shops for dock diving, not articles we use in water rescue work which has helped tremendously (he LOVES his duck!) To teach him to jump without stopping my trainer would stand behind him about 6 ft from the edge and hold him around the chest, get him revved up while I was at the edge with the wiggling duck saying - ready............ the trick is the timing, distance and height of the throw, while saying git it git it git it (or something upbeat, silly.) Darlene has far more experience in this, this has been our experience so far Debbie

 

[jumpinnewf]

This just goes to show you there is no right or wrong way on the dock. I started dockdiving with Bristles as a way to practice for water work. Not only do I use the same commands of wait, take, hold, come to shore but I also use the oar, life jacket and cushion as Bristles retrieve items. We have gotten our share of looks as people try to figure out what I am throwing. But no matter what I always end the day with throwing her favorite toy. The duck does nothing for her.

"The Toy" as it is refer to in my house is the most obnoxious toy known to man. It is round rubbery, bumpy, purple, has a tail and squeaks both when it is squeeze and when it is release. Bristles is totally obsessive about it and once it is out will not retrieve anything else. So if your dog has a favorite toy use it. Anything is allowed as long as it is not food or alive. The best thing to do is just go out and try it and have fun.

If anyone is interested there are two training facilities in the ChicagoLand area that offer classes in DockDiving PM me and I will send you the information.

 

[Debbie S]

If we do water rescue training at the same facility as dock diving I use all his water articles and commands. To get Sampson to jump without stopping we had to figure out how to change it up for him and what I mentioned above works great for him. Even with our 6, different techniques/commands work better on one than another. We try to stick to the same commands/training regardless of what we do or what dog we are working with. It's way easier for me so I don't mess up or forget For the most part that works, if I mess up Sampson will even stop and wait for me to correct my mistake like he's saying "Mom, that wasn't right." He's way smarter than me! Debbie