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Diving canines add action to dog show
By Billy Ludt
CANFIELD
Where conformation shows measure the physical characteristics, walk and attitude of the standards of a dog’s breed, dock diving instead measures how far a dog can jump into a pool of water.
For the third year, North America Diving Dogs set up a diving pool for pooches at the 26th annual Steel Valley Cluster at Canfield Fairgrounds. They are running the pool daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
NADD is the only dock diving company affiliated with the American Kennel Club.
“No dog competes against another dog,” said Steve Powell, a NADD portable diving pool judge.
Handlers run up and down a platform with their dog and throw a toy into the pool to make them leap. Judges stand in view of where the dog lands and record the jump.
Dock diving is split into two classes: lap and open. They’re each made of five divisions.
For open class: Novice is up to 9 feet 11 inches, Junior is 10 feet to 14 feet and 11 inches, Senior is 15 feet to 19 feet 11 inches, Master is 20 feet to 23 feet 11 inches, and Elite is 24 feet and above.
For lap class: Novice is up to 4 feet 11 inches, Junior is 5 feet to 8 feet 11 inches, Senior is 9 feet to 12 feet 11 inches, Master is 13 feet to 17 feet 11 inches, and Elite is 18 feet and above.
To qualify for a division, dogs must make five recorded leaps within the required distance.
“It’s a great way to get out and do something fun with your dog,” Powell said. “Some folks want a title, but all I want is for people to have fun. You can sit on a couch and do nothing with your dog, or you can bring it out here and do something.”
Powell worked for 25 years as a plumbing contractor in Wisconsin. He took his Belgian Malinois, Ivox, for tryouts at a dock-diving competition, but the dog didn’t end up making the jump.
Determined to train Ivox, Powell built a permanent dock-diving pool on his property. Nine months later, NADD reached out to Powell and asked if he wanted to run a portable diving pool.
He said yes and has since dedicated his time to dock diving.
“I literally smile every day while I’m at work,” Powell said. He said his friends are pretty jealous of his job, too.
Powell said many dogs hesitate to make their first dive. He chalks it up to the pool water’s visibility compared to a lake or ocean.
Heather Waldeck’s Labrador retriever Charlie holds a Junior title with NADD and is working toward Senior division.
“He’s just a goofy dog,” Waldeck said. “Dog shows are too low key for him. He likes the action, and he’s very much into being in the water.”
Waldeck said Charlie learned to swim at the Outer Banks, N.C., and since will get into any body of water he can. Charlie made a jump of 15.1 feet Wednesday afternoon.
The Steel Valley Cluster is every day until Sunday, with conformation judging starting at 8 a.m. and ending between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Any dog that can swim is able to try dock diving for $15 at the show.