Getting Started with Big Air

Contributed by Tom A. Dropik at Dockdogs.com 

There are many aspects to becoming a successful DockDog. Start with building a strong camaraderie between you and your dog. Develop a relationship that continues to build trust and confidence. Become a team. Teamwork, diet and conditioning are the foundation for a successful DockDog.

This article will focus on what it takes to get your dog to jump off a dock and the proper technique needed to jump off the end. At this time there are no public facilities available for training so we’ll assume you have a lake with a dock.

Remember to always keep it fun. This is something you want your dog to look forward to. Something your dog gets excited about. This is not a time for discipline. Discipline can be worked in to more advanced dock jumping, but for down stay away from discipline. Use this time for teaching and rewarding.

Start by playing with his favorite toy on dry land. Get him to chase it while still in your hand. Slowly begin holding the toy higher in the air continuing to have him chase it. Raise the toy high enough so he has to jump for it. Praise him when he jumps for it.

Now take it to the shoreline. Do exactly what you did on dry land only this time make sure he's playing in the water just deep enough to make some splash. Make sure to make plenty of splashes. Praise him when he jumps for it.
Now sit and make him stay a small distance from the shore on dry land. Stand a couple of inches in the water. Hold the toy high enough out in front of you so he has to jump to get it out of your hand. Release him. Because you are in the water, he will land in the water. Praise him. Your dog is now jumping in to the water. It’s just a matter of progression from there. Set him a little farther back and hold the toy a little higher. Once you feel confident with this practice, it’s time to bring him to the dock.

The key to getting your dog to jump off the dock is to start short and end long. Position him at the very end of the dock where he will jump and work back to the ultimate starting position. Start by tossing the toy close to the dock. If you toss the toy too long, the dog won’t jump thinking he can get the toy. If he sees the toy close to the dock, he’ll think he can get it and will have a better chance of jumping.

Once you’ve positioned him at the end of the dock where he will jump off, toss the toy about 5 feet from the end of the dock and release him. If he doesn’t jump, go back to the shore exercise. If he jumps you’ve done it. Congratulations. Now it’s just a matter of repetition. Toss the toy a little further and have him start a little further back each time.

Always keep an eye on his take off position on the dock. You want him jumping as close to the end as possible. If he starts to jump early, move his start position closer to the take off and start working him back again.

You may want to take advantage of the new DockDogs training seminars as well. Click here for more information.

Congratulations. Your dog is now a DockDog. Keep practicing and remember to praise him often and keep it fun.

Tom Dropik and his dog Tucker won the Bronze Medal at the 2001 Great Outdoor Games.  Tom has become an innovator in the sport, developing training techniques and devices for this new sport.  He can be reached at Tom at DockDogs