Aug 30, Hip Dysplasia In Golden Retrievers -- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers is a disorder that can range from mildly uncomfortable to totally debilitating.

Active sporting dogs, such as Goldens, are more prone to this disease than smaller, less active dogs. It's actually one of the most common inherited conditions in large breed dogs.

The word dysplasia means abnormal development, and was first diagnosed in the 1930s.

Hip dysplasia is caused by looseness in the hip joint that prevents the ball at the top of the thighbone from fitting tightly into the socket in the hip.

The loose fit of the ball-and-socket joint causes the ball to move in and out of the socket, which is a form of trauma.

This trauma causes inflammation and further damage to the joint.

Because the hip joint doesn't work correctly, it's prone to develop arthritis.

It also tends to worsen with age and excessive weight gain.

Hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers can affect one or both sides of a dog.

It can be aggravated by rapid growth, excessive nutritional supplementation, and obesity.

Extra stress on the joints during a dog's developmental stages (often caused by lots of jumping and running on slick floors or concrete) can also worsen the problem.

The condition covers a broad range of severity that includes mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia.

A severe case can make it difficult for a dog just to get outside to relieve himself.

Even mild hip dysplasia can cause painful arthritis in a sedentary companion animal, although some dysplastic dogs manage to live normal, active lives.

You can't always spot hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers by watching them walk. In fact, some affected dogs don't show any symptoms until they're several years old.

Signs of the disorder don't generally appear at all until a dog is at least five months old.

Some common symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs are: Difficulty walking Difficulty getting up from lying down or sitting Difficulty going up and down stairs Looks like he's swaying when he runs Difficulty jumping Doesn't like having his rear legs and hip area touched Tends to sit with both legs together on one side of his body Moves both rear legs together in the characteristic "bunny hop" when running (to keep the pressure off the weak joint)
Hip dysplasia can only be properly diagnosed by x-ray. The best age for a definite diagnosis is between 12 and 18 months.

If x-rays do confirm hip dysplasia, there are several options you can discuss with your veterinarian.

The treatment he'll recommend will depend on the severity of the symptoms.

In mild cases, weight control, moderate exercise, and pain relievers as needed may be enough to keep symptoms under control.

In more severe cases, surgery to correct hip dysplasia can be performed, which will repair some of the damage. And in very serious cases, the hips can actually be replaced with Teflon hips.

Most mild and moderate hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers can be properly managed to allow the affected dogs to lead relatively normal lives. Here are some ways to make a dysplastic dog more comfortable: Keep your dog at a healthy weight to avoid putting stress and strain on a joint that's already compromised. Avoid rapid growth spurts during adolescence by working with your vet to monitor your young dog's size and weight. Help your dog get reasonable amounts of moderate exercise--especially swimming--to help keep him mobile and limber. Don't be afraid to ask your vet for pain relievers if your dog is in obvious discomfort. It's all about quality of life, after all.

Avoid extreme physical stress from sports involving lots of jumping or jarring, like disk catching or flyball.

Those workouts wouldn't be a problem for a dog with normal hips, but hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers can sideline an athletic-minded dog in a hurry.

It's always a good idea to have your dog checked out by a vet before starting any new sport or activity, anyway.

And if your Golden Retriever is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, you'll want to switch gears to pursue more gentle activities, like walking and swimming.

Our Goldens are precious--treat them with lots of tender, loving care!

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Newborn Golden Retriever puppies

Source: Wikimedia

3 in a row

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Sep 4, Obesity Diseases In Dogs and How To Avoid Them

Obesity diseases in dogs are on the rise and pose a major health concern for your furry friend.

Resisting those big pleading Golden eyes can be difficult, but don't give in!

Overfeeding causes obesity, which directly affects your dog's quality of life.

Quite simply, obesity will shorten your Golden Retriever's life.

Unless you have a finicky pooch (not likely with a Golden!), your dog is probably overweight.

A 2006 article in The Journal of Nutrition reported that an estimated 25 to 40 percent of American household pets are obese.

That number could possibly be as high as 70 percent.

Current research on obesity indicates those figures are continuing to rise.

A common definition of obesity is when a dog's weight is at least 20 percent higher than his ideal body weight.

Here's another way to think of it: An extra 10 pounds on your should-be-65-pound overweight Golden Retriever would be comparable to an extra 20 pounds on a woman who should weigh 120.

How do you tell if Chunky Charlie is fat? These tests can help you determine if your dog is fighting (and losing) the battle of the bulge: Put your hands on his back with your fingers curled around his rib cage. You should be able to feel his ribs (using very light pressure), even under a lot of hair. When you stand over him and look down, your dog should have a defined waistline behind his rib cage and in front of his hind legs. You should see a curve in his body where his "waist" would be.
Now that you've determined your dog has a weight problem, let's look at some obesity diseases that could be lurking in his future.

You can easily see that your dog is pudgier than he should be. But what you can't see is the layers of fat piling up deep inside of him.

One of the greatest dangers to your dog arrives in the form of a heart muscle that's been weakened by accumulated fat deposits (just like with people).

Equally dangerous is a liver that can't purify your dog's body of toxins because of all the fat deposits in and around it, or a pancreas that can't produce vital enzymes and hormones because of fat interference.

Some of the most common canine obesity diseases include the following:

Diabetes in dogs occurs more frequently when they're overweight. Packing around extra pounds can damage your pooch's tendons and ligaments. Canine osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in dogs, is worse in fat dogs due to stress on their joints. Elbow and hip dysplasia can be triggered or aggravated by excess weight. Bodyfold dermatitis causes redness, oozing and itching in those skin folds on your dog that shouldn't be there (like his "love handles"). Obesity can cause a herniated disc or increase the pain of an existing one, and could even result in your dog's partial or total paralysis.The causes of obesity are pretty straightforward. Ruling out any possible health issues (such as thyroid imbalance), it's simply a matter of too many calories in and too few calories used.

Dividing your dog?s rations into smaller, more frequent meals (three or four times a day instead of once or twice a day) should make him feel fuller.

The next step is to decrease the total amount you're feeding him by at least one-third.

Consider weaning your dog onto an overweight dog food. It has the same balanced nutritional requirements, minus the extra calories and fat, plus extra fiber. Eating high fiber dog foods will help your dog will feel fuller and more satisfied.

You should consult your veterinarian before putting your dog on a weight-loss program. He'll want to check for other medical problems first, and record your dog's starting weight on his medical chart.

He can also offer some valuable advice as to the best diet for a dog needing to pare a few pounds. He'll want to see your dog periodically to evaluate his progress and adjust his diet as necessary.

Most veterinarians are happy to have you bring your dog in for a free monthly weigh-in, where the staff can keep track of his weight on a chart in his medical record. Our vet has this great free service, with the scales located conveniently just inside the front door.

Food and water are only part of the weight loss equation. Exercise has a lot to do with it, too.

Dogs can become sedentary in their middle years, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain and related obesity diseases. This is a time when they should be enjoying life, not turning into four-legged couch potatoes.

Getting involved in dog sports such as agility, musical freestyle, and flyball can make a big difference in your dog's quality of life, contributing to both physical and mental health.

Or you might just go for a daily walk or two, which is certainly better than no exercise at all.

Scientists have recently discovered that if you exercise with your dog, you both lose weight! Amazing logic, isn't it?

One simple way to help your dog avoid the obesity diseases caused by weight gain is to limit his consumption of commercial treats, which are usually high in fat.

Raw, washed vegetables are actually a good snack for your dog (and you, too!). In fact, carrots have the added benefit of giving him chewing exercise.

When your dog comes around with that begging look in his big brown eyes, don't just toss him a biscuit or refill his food dish.

He isn't looking for food as much as he's craving your attention. (OK, maybe he wants both!)

Instead of sharing fattening snacks, share yourself with your dog--play fetch, practice a dog sport, or go for a walk.

There are more ways to a Golden's heart than through his stomach!

Wouldn't you like your Chunky Charlie to live longer and avoid a whole laundry list of obesity diseases? Then cut back on the kibble and hit the road!

Kept lean, your Golden Retriever will stay active and healthy well into his senior years.

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Jul 26, A Guardian Dog

by Carmen
(El Salvador)

Honey

My dog, Honey, is a guardian dog. He barks at strangers in the night. And he protects me!!!!

Nancy's Notes: Honey is beautiful, Carmen! I love how dogs are so helpful in letting us know when people are around. Most Golden Retrievers aren't what you'd think of as "guard dogs" because they're usually so friendly, but they're at least often very helpful to alert us when people are nearby. Thanks for sharing!

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Jun 20, Senior Dog Adoption -- Perfect For a Slower Lifestyle

Have you ever thought about senior dog adoption?

Here are some reasons why you should seriously consider it.

Many families looking for dogs to adopt tend to look first at puppies or young adult dogs.

But it's not uncommon for them to fall head-over-heels for a Golden Oldie (eight years of age or older).

And no wonder--they're sweet, loving, and totally charming!

Are you a Golden owner thinking about adopting a second dog, but you're afraid another young Golden would just be "too much"?

Are you a senior citizen yourself and need a canine companion that will match your slowed-down lifestyle?

Adopting a dog in his senior years may be just what you need!

Most Golden Oldies still enjoy going for walks, retrieving, and swimming.

They just prefer doing so at a slower pace and for a shorter period of time.

Senior Goldens are also a great choice for individuals or families with busy schedules.

A quiet, gentle walk in the morning and evening, and a restful day spent snoozing and waiting for their owners to return, are often all an older dog desires.

Golden Retrievers mellow as they age (if they weren't already mellow to begin with!).

They're gentle with children (as my nephew found out when he petted Peaches in this photo).

Most of them even like cats, other dogs, delivery people, and neighbors strolling on the sidewalk.

They're also a terrific example for younger dogs in the household.

I think Peaches helped Molly, our white Husky mix, grow up with a calmer approach to life.

When you adopt a senior Golden Retriever, his size, personality, temperament and behavior in various circumstances are clear and present for all to see. No surprises. What you see is what you get!

Senior Golden Retrievers are almost always housebroken. Just show them the door and where to go potty, and they'll figure it out in no time. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep--unlike puppies! Golden Oldies will keep you laughing with their mature, yet playful, Golden sense of humor. Senior dogs are not like teething puppies. They're content to gnaw on a chew toy or rawhide and ignore everything else.

They know how to get along beautifully with everybody in the family, including other pets. Peaches and Molly liked to be together, as this picture shows. You can teach an old dog new tricks! Seniors have a much longer attention span than puppies, and they've often had some obedience training, too. Senior dogs have learned what "no" means. In fact, you'll probably have fun learning how extensive their vocabulary actually is. Seniors are economical. Most dog adoption centers carry out full medical evaluations, heartworm tests and any other testing that might be required, as well as making sure every dog is spayed or neutered. Even after all that, the fees for senior dog adoptions are usually considerably less than for a puppy. They also don't eat as much as young dogs--another cost savings! Senior dog adoption means instant companionship. Your new buddy is ready for hiking, car trips, and just about anything else you like to do. He probably already knows how to walk politely on a leash and enjoy a car ride.

But senior dogs will also allow you time to yourself, not demanding your undivided attention like an energetic young dog. In her senior years, Peaches (shown here) was content to snooze at my feet while I worked at my desk. One of the strongest Golden Retriever traits is loyalty. Senior dogs may miss their old owners, but they're quite adaptable and will quickly transfer their loyalty to their adoptive family. It won't be long before you'll feel like they've always been there.

Golden retrievers can live as long as 15 years with proper care and veterinary support. They may still have several good years left when they find themselves at animal shelters.

How did they get there in the first place? Perhaps they were cast off by families who wanted a livelier playmate.

More likely, their devoted owners either passed away or had to move to a place that didn't allow dogs.

Many senior rescue dogs have often known the heartbreak of loss, the fear of abandonment, and the anxiety caused by pain or hunger.

But what they know best of all is how to make you feel totally loved.

All they want is the chance to be your friend. Peaches (pictured here with my daughter Tracy) was that, and much more, to our whole family.

The sense of satisfaction and joy that senior dog adoption brings is unequalled.

Although you may not have as many years with your Golden Oldie as you'd like, those years will be full of loving companionship and sweet memories.

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Aug 28, Guide Dogs -- New Eyes For The Blind

Guide dogs are probably the most familiar type of service dogs.

They're trained to assist blind or visually impaired people.

These dogs basically serve as the eyes for their owner.

They help them navigate them through traffic, stairs and sidewalks while avoiding all obstacles that could cause injury.

They create a bridge between the sighted and blind worlds. They help blind people lead more independent, productive lives.

These specially-trained dogs help blind people go just about anywhere sighted people can go.

In fact, they are so important and so special that they're protected by law in the United States.

No one may prevent a seeing eye dog and his owner from entering any public place, even if regular dogs aren't allowed there.

Seeing eye dogs have many responsibilities.

They lead their owners on sidewalks, across streets, down stairs, and onto transportation systems.

They even keep track of obstacles like doorways, curbs, and low-hanging light fixtures. It's no wonder everyone thinks these dogs are nothing short of amazing!

A person who wants to own one of these amazing dogs must have: A vision impairment severe enough for the dog to be of real benefit to them (legally blind) A desire to use the dog as a working dog A sense of orientation--the ability to find their way about Adequate balance The confidence and physical fitness to manage the dog Sufficient hearing or vision to recognize traffic and the direction it's coming from A welcoming home--because a dog won't work well if he lives in a tense or unhappy place
We're all drawn to these special dogs, but there are some etiquette rules you should follow in order to be courteous and thoughtful.

Most importantly, you should never pet one when he's on duty. You can ask if it's all right to say hello to a dog who isn't working at the moment--one lying under a table in a restaurant, for example.

But the job has to come first, and confusing the dog--or the person--could be dangerous. So don't be offended if the person says no.

Here are some other things to remember when you meet one of these special dogs: Never offer him any food. Don't talk to him when he's working. Keep your own dog on a leash and close beside you. Don't whistle at the on-duty dog. You'll draw his attention away from his work.
The only difference between a "guide dog" and a "seeing eye dog" is in name only.

A guide dog is the generic term for any service dog formally trained to help the blind get around. A "seeing eye dog" is a specific trademark of the Seeing Eye, Inc. organization.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, however.

Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are the most popular guide dog breeds today, along with Lab-Golden mixes.

German Shepherd Dogs were the favored breed when guide dog training was in its infancy, and many are still used today.

Seeing eye dogs must be intelligent, patient, and tireless workers.

They also need to be large enough to wear heavy harnesses on their backs.

But at the same time, they need to be small enough not to get in the way in stores, classrooms, restaurants and other crowded places.

Most Golden Retrievers fit these guidelines.

Goldens are loving and affectionate, with an eagerness to please.

A Golden Retriever also creates a good impression as he goes about his work. Everybody loves a friendly, happy Golden!

Their natural friendliness and lack of aggression helps them work well in crowds of people.

Most of the guide dog organizations use Golden Retrievers in their programs. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) in the U.K. uses Goldens because the breed has "a high level of initiative and concentration, and an affable and gentle disposition." The Golden also has an excellent memory for routes.

The Guide Dogs of America organization has been running since 1948, and about one-third of its dogs are Goldens. They chose the breed because "they love to work and are so devoted to their masters."

The steady, patient Golden temperament helps them remain quiet and inconspicuous in the office, classroom or restaurant, and then become instantly alert and working when needed.

The idea of using a dog to lead the blind is far from new. A Germanic king is said to have been the first to do so, somewhere around 100 B.C.

For many centuries, blind people have followed their dogs on familiar routes. Illustrations from the Middle Ages show leashed dogs leading the way. In the 1700s a few organizations trained dogs for the job, but the teaching methods were crude and each dog learned only one or two routes.

During the First World War, many soldiers lost their sight due to eye injuries or poison gas. German military dog trainers had seen first-hand how much a dog could do, and decided to help dogs learn to guide the blind veterans. A guide dog school based on professional training methods was started in Germany, and gradually the idea spread to other countries.

Today there are more than seventy such schools around the world. Although these schools each have their minor differences, they all have a common goal: to provide a vision-impaired person with independence through the use of a trained seeing eye dog.

Dogs and owners remain partners for about eight to ten years.

By then, it's time for the owner's faithful companion to retire and let a younger dog take over his duties.

Retired guide dogs go to live with carefully chosen families who have often been on a waiting list for a long time.

After all, with or without a harness, these are very special dogs!

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Everything you need to know about Golden Retrievers

Written by Gina Read, Golden Retrievers is a useful tool for any Golden Retriever owner and for anyone considering getting one.

The book answers every question you might ask right from choosing your puppy to training it and keeping it healthy. The book is written in an easy to understand and informative style. While its main goal is to teach you how to care for your Golden Retriever, you will find yourself reading it just for pleasure.

The Golden Retrievers e-book covers the following areas answering all your questions about the breed.

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Find out some secrets to training your Goldie

A very interesting e-book about the most important questions of dog training. It will help you how to teach your dog what is right and wrong (and how to separate the two!) and much more.

The book gives you the solution for 25 dog behavior problems, with techniques that have been proven to work on 217 458 dogs so far..

The package includes the e-book, a 30-minute video program, and unlimited dog behavior consultations with the Secrets to Dog Training team in the Members’ Area Forum.

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Jul 20, Dog Obedience -- For Fun and Competition

Dog obedience competition is a sport in which a dog completes a set of tasks as directed by his handler. The real purpose of these trials, however, is to demonstrate how well the dogs have been trained to behave in the home, in public, and around other dogs.

All-breed obedience trials are the most common type of trials.

They offer competitions for more than 150 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Specialty trials are restricted to dogs of a specific breed.

AKC obedience competitions are offered at three levels: Novice, Open, and Utility.

A dog must complete the requirements at each level before moving on to the next.

The Novice Class demonstrates good canine companion skills.

These include heeling (both with and without a leash), coming when called, standing for a simple physical examination, and staying in both a sit and a down position with a group of dogs.

The Open Class is more challenging, as all exercises are done off leash.

These include a heeling pattern and figure eight, drop on recall, retrieve on the flat, retrieve over a high jump and a broad jump, and group exercises (three-minute sit-stay and five minute down-stay) with the handler out of the ring.

The Utility Class is the most challenging level of competition.

The dog must do a complex heeling pattern off lead that includes a hand signal exercise and a more rigorous stand for examination.

He must respond to hand signals (only) that direct him to go down, sit, come, and return to heel.

He uses scent discrimination to find two articles handled by his owner out of a pile of several items.

His handler then directs him to retrieve one of three gloves placed in the ring. He's also required to clear a high jump and a bar jump at the handler's direction.

Why would you want to bother with obedience training?

Here are a few reasons: Dog training for obedience competition provides an opportunity for you and your dog to work as a team. It provides mental stimulation and physical activity for a bored pet. It provides you with a fun and challenging hobby. It strengthens the bond between you and your dog. It helps your dog realize his full potential. Obedience has useful applications in everyday life with your dog. Training for competitions builds on basic dog obedience training. Your family, neighborhood and community all appreciate a well-trained dog. It allows you to enjoy the fun and excitement of competing in various dog sports. Your veterinarian will be glad you taught your dog to stand quietly for examination. Obedience training is the foundation upon which all dog activities are based, whether conformation, agility, tracking, search and rescue, service dogs, fieldwork, etc.Any dog registered with the AKC can enter AKC obedience trials, regardless of conformation.

Unregistered purebred dogs can also compete in AKC events if they obtain an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) number.

To qualify, a dog must look like an AKC-recognized breed, be spayed or neutered, and be at least six months old.

The ILP is a great help to those who adopt dogs from animal shelters or rescues or who purchase purebred dogs without registration papers.

If your precious pooch is a Heinz 57 mutt, he can still enter obedience events sponsored by the organizations listed in the next section.

Titles are awarded through several organizations. In the United States, these include the American Kennel Club (AKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), Mixed Breed Dog Club of America (MBDCA), American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry (AMBOR), and Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Despite its name, the ASCA allows all breeds and mixed breed dogs into their non-conformation activities.

When a dog earns a title, an abbreviation is permanently affixed as either a prefix or suffix to the dog's registered name. The titles given by different organizations vary a bit, but most are similar to "CD" (Companion Dog), "CDX" (Companion Dog Excellent), "UD" (Utility Dog), "UDX" (Utility Dog Excellent), and "OTCh" (Obedience Trial Champion).

The sport of dog obedience competition in the U.S. dates back to 1933 when the first obedience trial was held to demonstrate how well dogs and owners could work together.

The sport has grown by leaps and bounds since then, and today there are over 2,000 trials held in the U.S. every year, with more than 100,000 dogs competing.

Goldens have been a major presence at obedience trials since the beginning.

When the Obedience Trial Champion title was added in 1977, the first three dogs of any breed to attain it were Golden Retrievers.

Since then, more Goldens have earned the title than any other breed.

Why are they so good at this sport?

Well, obedience trials are designed to demonstrate the teamwork of a dog and his handler, as well as the trainability of the dog.

Those are two areas in which Goldens excel, because they love to be with their owners and they enjoy doing whatever makes their partners happy.

A Golden Retriever from any background (field, show or pet) can do well because it doesn't matter what he looks like. The important thing is how he focuses on your directions and how happily he responds.

If your Golden constantly watches you, waiting for your next signal, he'll do very well in this sport. Teaching him what you want him to do is easy and fun with positive methods like clicker training.

In recent years, a new form of dog obedience competition, known as Rally Obedience, has become very popular.

It's designed to be a "bridge" or casual step between the Canine Good Citizen certification and the more formal obedience trials.

Perhaps adding a little music to your training session might reveal your dog's natural flair for the fun sport of canine freestyle.

Even if you just want to use dog obedience training to help your pooch be a better pet, the relationship you share with your furry friend will be strengthened by working together.

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How much socialization does a Golden Rertiever need?

It’s common sense that Golden Retrievers love people and get on well with other pets too. It’s in their basic characteristics, but in case they aren’t socialized well, there can be surprises. To avoid this, we have to pay enough attention from  early puppyhood, to learn the proper behavior skills.
We have to introduce the pup to people and animals step by step: the close family first, and gradually more and more people and pets. It is very important to do this step by step, otherwise the pup can get too shy or too aggressive. If we give enough love and attention to a Goldie, it’s sure to get back much more than the energy we have put in.

Avoid unnecessary vet bills! Do your dog’s basic health check!

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Sep 22, Dock Dogs -- Splashing Into Dock Diving Fun

Dock diving is a fast-paced, high-flying water sport in which dock dogs of all breeds compete to see who can jump the furthest from a raised platform into the water. Also called dock jumping, it's quickly becoming one of the most popular dog sports in the U.S.

This fun sport actually has three separate disciplines. Your dock diving dog may participate in one, two, or all three of these events.

Big Air is the most popular discipline, and is what most people think of when they hear the term dock diving.

It's the canine equivalent of the long jump, where the longest jump wins.

These enthusiastic dock dogs race down a 40-foot dock and launch themselves into a body of water to retrieve a toy the handler threw as the dog jumped.

Jump distances are digitally measured from the end of the dock to where the base of the dog's tail hits the water. The current world record is 28'10".

Extreme Vertical is based on the high jump, where a dog springs upward from the end of the dock, trying to jump as high as possible.

After knocking down a bumper suspended over the water about eight feet out from the dock, the dog splashes down into the pool.

The bumper is moved up slowly until there is finally only one dog able to hit it. The current world record is 7'10".

In the Speed Retrieve event, a dog runs to the water, jumps in, and swims to retrieve a toy held on a pole 38 feet past the end of the dock.

The timer starts at the 20-foot mark on the dock and ends when the dog snatches the toy from the pole.

The dog with the fastest time takes the prize.

Iron Dog competition is the newest discipline of the sport. It combines all of the above three competitions, as each dog competes for points.

The dogs are broken up into divisions according to their jumping distances and compete with the other dogs in that division only.

That gives every dog a fair chance to become a winner.

Even small dogs (under 17" tall) have their own "lap dogs" division.

Older dogs (8 years and older) are placed in the "veteran" division.

Dock diving competitions take place worldwide with sanctioning bodies on several different continents.

In 2008, the United Kennel Club recognized dock jumping as a sport, so UKC dogs can obtain titles in either Air or Vertical competition.

Any dog over the age of 6 months can participate in dock diving. Both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome.

Some of the best dock dogs actually come from animal shelters.

They were just a little too full of energy for their previous owners.

(Maybe they liked puddles a little too much, too!)

This sport was originally dominated by gun dogs such as the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Now, many other dog breeds are involved, too.

Actually, any dog with a strong toy drive and a love of the water can do quite well.

Dock jumping is a great sport for dog owners to get into for many reasons: You'll always find helpful and friendly staff and competitors at events, happy to answer questions, help teach your dog to jump, or just hang out and chat. It's one of the safest dog sports, as there's no real pressure on the joints since the dogs are landing in water. That's especially good for older dogs. It's a great way to have a fun time with your dog and meet a lot of fellow dog lovers. Your dock dog does not have to be purebred. Dock diving allows dogs to unwind and have fun. Competitions are held all over the U.S. and other countries. It's one of the most exciting, fun, dog-oriented family activities you can find. Dock jumping helps to build confidence, helping a shy dog become less timid. It's great exercise for dogs in the summer to keep them cool, and can be continued in indoor pools during cold weather. It's a great way to ease into dog sports, helping your dog get used to the other aspects of dog competitions -- noise, people, dogs and smells. It requires very little training. While some people are very competitive and do lots of dog training and conditioning, many others just do it for fun. It's relatively inexpensive compared to other sports. Costs range from free (using a public lake with a dock) to about $15 an hour for use of competition facilities. You develop a great sense of teamwork between you and your dog, and camaraderie with other participants and their dock dogs.
The sport began in 1997 when Purina needed another event to add to their Incredible Dog Challenge program. It increased in popularity in 2000 when ESPN added it to their Great Outdoor Games lineup.

Dock Dogs was incorporated in 2001 as the governing and sanctioning body for regional, national, and international dock jumping events.

They establish the rules and standards of the sport, and track results and records.

With affiliate clubs in most areas of the United States and in some other countries, they schedule over 180 sanctioned events worldwide every year.

There are two other major dock diving organizations in the U.S.: Ultimate Air Dogs (UAD) holds events in the South, Midwest, and Northeast. Splash Dogs holds competitions primarily in California.

The sport was launched the UK under the name of Jetty Dogs in 2007, and it's continuing to grow throughout Europe.

Dock diving is one of the few dog sports that focuses on fun!

No one is there to make sure your dog looks a certain way or goes through an obstacle course in the right order.

It's a competition for regular people and their regular dogs.

There are a number of clubs in the U.S. that promote dock jumping, holding training sessions and competitions for aspiring dock dogs.

So if your Golden Retriever loves to fetch and is crazy about the water, this may be the sport for you!

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