08/03/2026
Happy Monday! We’re home and rested up from an incredible couple days at Jumping K9 Ranch in Kingman, Arizona, and there is so much to celebrate! 🐾💦
The facility was wonderful, and we especially loved being able to back the Explorer right up to the gates beside the pool. With the Aluminet shade, fans blowing, and the girls resting comfortably in their crates between turns, our travel setup worked beautifully—even in the Arizona heat.
On Thursday, Vivian jumped without her life vest for the first time, and she did great! She is a strong, confident swimmer and immediately located the exit ramp, even though it was on the opposite side of the pool. She didn’t add any distance to her jumps, but she made some huge strides in her dock work—especially by absolutely flying off the dock without slowing down.
Maybe she was feeling confident…or maybe it was hot and she just wanted to get into that water! 😂
Her second jump created another memorable moment. A soaking-wet, vest-free Vivian apparently has approximately the same grip level as a greased pig. She slipped away from Cathy, raced down the dock, and left Cathy with a complimentary Jack Russell claw tattoo—which later developed into a pretty impressive bruise. Poor Cathy! She is such a trooper.
Scarlett also reminded us why we are trying to expose the girls to as many different docks as possible before Regionals. On her first turn, she paused, searched for an alternative route to the bumper, squeezed through the fence bars, ran out to the ramp, and launched herself from there instead. Very creative—but unfortunately, also a zero. 🤦♀️
On her next jump, she paused only briefly, sidestepped, and then went off the dock. Every facility looks, sounds, and feels a little different. Since this is still the girls’ first season in the sport, each new dock helps them learn that the job remains the same even when their surroundings change. That experience is every bit as valuable as the distance on the score sheet.
By Friday, both girls had completed their remaining Distance splashes without any drama. Their jumps were still a little below their personal bests, which I expected at a new facility in the heat. Right now, the goal is to give them as much positive dock experience as possible before Regionals without overworking them.
During Friday’s open dock time, I decided to test the sit-stay work Vivian and I have been practicing at home. Instead of having someone hold her, I asked her to sit while I backed away down the dock.
She sat there trembling with excitement—and stayed.
Not once. Not twice. Four times in a row.
She waited until I threw the bumper before releasing, and I honestly had tears in my eyes walking down the exit ramp with her. I could not have been prouder of her. These practice attempts came after she had already completed two competition splashes, and Jack Russells often think a little more clearly once they have taken the edge off their excitement. We’ll try it again during the HDDS Alien Invasion event, and I’m feeling very hopeful!
You’ve already seen Scarlett’s incredible HydroDash run from Thursday. On Friday, her fastest run received a zero because of handler error—and yes, the handler was me. I released her after the bumper was set but before the judge gave us the official go-ahead. She still ran her next attempt like the little professional she is, although she was understandably a bit slower. Scarlett gives absolutely everything she has on every run, so each one takes a little more out of her.
Bailey Shark had a fantastic weekend too! She earned a new personal best of 7 feet, 4 inches on her very first day. She also took a couple of leisurely sightseeing cruises around the pool, but she listened to Cathy and returned without Cathy having to go all the way in after her—so no disqualifications! During open dock time, they also practiced several successful returns to the exit ramp. Way to go, Bailey and Cathy! 🎉
Neither Cathy nor I managed to get any photos of ourselves working with the girls on the dock, but we do have the event photographer’s contact information. We’re hoping there are some great action shots waiting for us, and we’ll share them as soon as we get to see them! 📸🐾
The drive out was easy, the drive home was uneventful, and our Airbnb was clean, comfortable, and had a secure fenced yard for the dogs.
It was hot, tiring, funny, occasionally chaotic, and absolutely worth it.
Another successful stop on our Road to Regionals! ❤️🐾
