Dock diving is a fun and fast-growing canine sport where dogs compete by jumping from a dock into a body of water, aiming for distance or height. It’s like long jump or high jump—for dogs! The sport is open to all breeds, sizes, and experience levels, making it an inclusive and exciting way for dogs and their owners to bond and stay active.

Dock diving officially started as a competitive sport in 2000, when it debuted at the Great Outdoor Games sponsored by ESPN. Since then, organizations like North America Diving Dogs (NADD) and DockDogs have helped popularise it, with events held across the U.S., Canada, and internationally.

Main Types of Competition -

Big Air – Dogs run and leap off the dock for maximum horizontal distance. Extreme Vertical – Dogs jump straight up to grab or touch a bumper suspended above the water. Speed Retrieve – A timed event where dogs race to retrieve an object from the far end of the pool.

Health Benefits Include -

Cardiovascular Fitness: Swimming and running down the dock are great aerobic exercises.
Muscle Toning: Jumping and swimming work various muscle groups, especially the core and limbs.
Mental Stimulation: Training and competing keep dogs mentally engaged.
Low-Impact Exercise: Swimming is gentle on joints, making it ideal even for older or arthritic dogs.
Weight Management: Regular participation can help maintain a healthy weight.

Bonus Perks -

Training for dock diving or swimming together strengthens the human-animal bond.
It is also great for building confidence in shy or nervous dogs.
Offers a supportive and fun community of like minded people.

Interested in having a go?