This past weekend Gertie attended a North American Diving Dogs event held at Three Hounds Training Grounds in Plymouth, WI. This was Gerties first dock diving event. She learned how to jump off the dock the end of December so I was hoping she didn’t forget and that she would jump off the dock during her splash times. I entered 2 splashes on Friday and then 4 splashes on Sunday. She needs 5 splashes in the same distance category to earn a dock title.

Gertie remembered what she was to do, I went by myself on Friday so I needed to figure out how I was going to throw the bumper into the pool and what I was going to do with Gertie. I decided that I would have her sit and stay in the middle of the dock and I would go to the edge of the dock at waters edge and throw the bumper from there. You are allowed one practice jump and then two jumps per splash, they then take the best distance for your score. I did a practice jump as I wanted to make sure she would go off the dock. I had her sit stay and then I threw the bumper, she took off and then went around the back side of me between the wall of the dock and jumped in, well she went off but not exactly the way she should. It was now time to do her first jump. I put my back right up next to the wall so she couldn’t sneak around me and threw the bumper. The next thing I know she is jumping off the exit ramp as I forgot to shut the gate to the ramp so she veered off again and jumped off the ramp, that would be a NQ. Second jump I remembered to shut the door, back up against the wall and threw the bumper, off she went the normal way. Her first jump was 16.6″ that was a senior level jump and her personal best. We waited for our next splash and when our first jump was up we just went for it without a practice jump she jumped 17.6″ which would be another personal best. The second jump wasn’t as long at 15′ so they took the first score as her jump score.

With her drying robe on we headed for home.

We went back on Sunday for her other 4 jumps. We were much better prepared this day and didn’t have any mishaps. Her first jumps of the day were 17′ and 18.6″ they took the 18.6″ for her jump score and that gave her another personal best. Her second jumps of the day were 18.3″ and 16.3″ they took 18.3″. Her third jumps were 18.3″ and 17′ they took 18.3″ which would give her her dock senior title. She had one more splash to do and for those jumps she jumped 17.3″ and 17′.

Needless to say we had a great weekend. Gertie did great by qualifying for 6 splashes, receiving 3 personal bests and her Dock Senior title pending NADD approval. She has room for more titles as Masters in the next jumping division.

Thanks to Three Hounds Training Grounds for another well run dock diving event.