06/22/2025
Yesterday was a good day to spend in the pool at Duke's K9 Dash N' Splash helping some dogs and humans learning how to dock dive or hone some skills with experienced dogs. Each team got helpful information related to each level of skill and we saw nice improvements for most of them. Knowing your dog is key, so you can make the right decisions on whether to push for more or quit while ahead so the dog has a favorable impression of the activity. Dock diving is just for fun, so the dogs are encouraged to enjoy water and swimming while building desire and value for their toy of choice. Most dogs prefer one more than the other, a few just really liked to swim and the toy was secondary. With these dogs the value of the toy should be built so they will put more effort into their jumps. On the other end of the spectrum, the dog who is frantic for the toy benefits from some impulse control so they can focus and channel their energy into their jumping performance. A good balance between swimming and toy desire will get you the best performance your dog has to offer.
I will be teaching again at Duke's K9 Dash N' Splash on July 26th! I've heard the morning spots are already grabbed and 3-7pm had some openings as of yesterday. If you want a spot, don't delay and visit their website for further info and to sign up.
