The Hot Dogs of Dallas Cool Off Dock Diving at Dallas Air Dogs
What is Dock Diving, also known as Diving Dogs? The American Kennel Club (AKC) tells us "Diving Dogs is a fun, exciting but easy to do sport with simple rules: You throw your dog’s favorite toy into a pool while he waits on a dock about 40 feet long. On your command, he runs along the dock, flings himself off the end of it, lands in the water and grabs his toy. The goal? To have the longest jump possible, which could be as short as two feet for beginners, but could be as much as 30 feet for those more experienced!"
Your dog doesn't need to jump far to have fun, I watched some plop off the platform while others looked like they were shot out of a cannon, but every one had a smile on their faces. Almost any dog can do it, as long as he loves water, knows how to swim, and has a natural passion for retrieving.
The North American Diving Dogs (NADD) website has a lot of good information for you to learn about the sport and where you can take lessons and compete for titles with your pup.
You Can Now Earn an AKC Dog Diving Title at Dallas Air Dogs
The pictures here were taken at Dallas Air Dogs which opened a second location with a portable dock and pool for lessons and open dock in 2022 located at 1538 Prater Rd. Dallas, TX 75217 in addition to their original location in Midlothian. Beginner classes are available to help introduce new dogs to the sport, the trainers even get in the water with them to help with confidence and ensure their safety.
This year they also announced that they will be hosting NADD/AKC sanctioned dock diving events throughout the summer. For those dogs who are pursuing titles for their dogs this is your chance to get your pup their AKC Dock Diving title as AKC will recognize your NADD title through their AKC Title Recognition Program. Your dog DOES NOT have to be an AKC registered dog to participate in a North America Diving Dogs trial, everyone is welcome, including "All American" dogs (also known as mixed-breeds, our lovable mutts).
I had such a blast spending an afternoon photographing these high-flying dogs and their dedicated owners who make the drive to Dallas Air Dogs from all over the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex so their pups can have some hot fun in the summertime. I'm all for people doing fun things with their dogs, whether it's hiking, biking, agility or one of the many other things you can do with your pup, but nothing beats the Texas heat better than dock diving!
All Around The Pet Photography Circle
This week in the pet photographer’s blog circle it’s all about hot spots for the summer so let’s head on over to Syracuse area Photographer Dog photographer Nancy Kieffer who shares some local dog friendly restaurants to enjoy with your dog and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each post until you land right back here and then you will have completed the circle.
Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy still holds out hope that her non-swimming border collie, Rooney, might still take to the water and add dock diving to his activities along with agility and freestyle disc.
Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.