Sport Breakdown - Conditioning the Dock Diving Dog

Ferris owned by Sarah Anthon

​There's a saying that the most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog and I'm sure dock diving competitors would agree! Dock diving is a fast-growing sport that has become even more popular in this year of required social distancing. As trainers and dog owners we may find ourselves at a bit of a loss on how we can best prepare our dogs for the sports they do. One way we can help our dogs perform their best and reduce their risks of injury is to understand the physical demands of the sport our dogs participate in.

For many dock diving competitors, one of the biggest challenges of the sport is its short training and competition season. In Canada, a dock diving season may only have 12 weeks of good weather. This means that competitors in dock diving will need to keep up a consistent conditioning routine during their off-season so their dogs are prepared to return to the sport. In this week's blog, we'll take a deep dive (pun, fully intended!) into the sport of dock diving!

What is Dock Diving? 

Macca, owned by Allison and Jack Green

​First introduced to the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in 1997, dock diving is a relatively new sport. A typical event has a handler and their dog on a 36-foot dock, 2 ft up and adjacent to a 45-foot-long swimming pool. The dock is usually covered with artificial turf, carpet, or rubber mats to provide better traction for the dogs. The handler may use as much or as little of the dock as they wish as a starting point for their dog. 

The jump distance is measured, by most organizations, from the lateral midpoint of the end of the dock to the point at which the base of the dog's tail (where the tail meets the body) breaks the water's surface. Each dog takes two jumps in a round-robin format. The longer of the dog's two jumps is the score for that competition. 

There are several different dock events your dog can compete in during the course of a competition.  These events may have several jumps, called splashes, for the dog to perform.  To keep things fair, competition is divided into categories that allow dogs to compete with canines of comparable size and ability.

Some of the events you may see in dock diving are ...
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• Big Air - essentially a long jump for dogs. Distance jumped is measured to where the BASE of the dog's tail breaks the water. In club competitions, this is measured manually by two certified judges and in National competition, this is measured electronically.  The current record is held by a Whippet named Sounders (owned by Laurel Behnke) who jumped 36 ft 2 in!!! 
• Extreme Vertical - a high jump competition for dogs. The bumper is suspended above the water eight feet out with the lowest starting height set at four foot, six inches high, measured from the dock to the bumper. Dogs are required to “grab” or knock down the bumper from the extended arm to obtain an official score. 
• Speed Retrieve - is like drag racing for dogs. At the far end of the pool, a bumper toy is suspended 2” above the water with a starting indicator light above it. The dog is then placed at the 20’ white starting mark on the dock. When the light turns green the handler releases the dog, the timer stops when the dog has pulled the toy from the bracket. 
• Iron ​Dog Challenge - The Iron Dog Challenge was invented in an attempt to incorporate all three events (Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve). The team with the overall best score wins.
• Air Retrieve -The bumper is suspended 2ft above the dock. Each round, the bumper is moved out in 1ft increments. The dog's turn does not end until they have two consecutive misses.​ Sounders, the Whippet, also holds the current record of 28 ft with the North American Diving Dogs (NADD) association. 

An ideal jump from the dock will have the dog launching from the very edge of the dock. An early take-off from the dock will shorten the dog's distance over the water. A dog's stride will greatly affect their starting point of the jump.  Handlers will often adjust the dog's starting position on the dock so that their dogs can get into a stride that brings them right to the edge. 

There are generally two different techniques employed by handlers to set their dogs up for leaving the dock.

• The Place and Send
  • The handler will walk to the end of the dock with their dog and a toy. Once they throw the toy into the water, the handler and dog return to their preferred starting point on the dock. The handler then releases their dog to run the length of the dock and retrieve the toy. This is effective for dogs that are not trained to wait and stay on the dock, especially if they have a lot of speed and can compensate for the lack of lift at the end of the dock.
• The Chase
  • The handler has their dog sit and wait at the preferred starting point while the handler walks to the dock's edge. The dog is then called, as the dog approaches the launch point the handler will throw the toy into the pool, often attempting to get more lift The goal is to use this method to get the dog at the optimum launch angle to increase distance by getting him to jump up, instead of just out or flat, as with place and send​

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The Physical Challenges of Dock Diving 

Macca runs down the dock (owned by Allison and Jack Green)

Dock diving can look deceptively easy. Unlike a sport like agility, which has numerous pieces of equipment and a long training period to prepare for competition, dock diving relies heavily on a dog's natural instinct to retrieve. As a result, it's not uncommon for dogs to progress quickly from "just learning" to competition. However, despite appearances dock diving has a number of physiological challenges and it's vital that we understand the areas of sport performance that place the most demand on our dog's body. 

From a physiological standpoint, let's break down a dog’s splash performance.  

• Leaving the Dock 
  • To dock dive our dogs have to sprint to the end of the dock, collect themselves and then explode from the rear to properly propel themselves into the air. To accelerate quickly the dog will need to engage their hind end muscles and core to propel themselves forward.​ The powerhouse for the dog is their hind end. The stronger this is, the quicker they can accelerate and minimize excessive strides to cover ground more efficiently and quickly.
• The Jump
  • ​As the dog approaches the end of the dock they will need to start "collecting" to optimize their body position, speed and momentum.  In dock diving, dogs are often asked to "pop" as they jump so that they can achieve maximum distance. To get the desired lift, your dog will need explosive forward momentum, powering not just from the rear but also lifting their front limbs. Our dog's chest needs to lift to shift the centre of gravity and bring their front paws in so that they can power from the rear.  As they jump, your dog is transferring explosive energy into forwards AND upward momentum. 
• The Water Impact
  • The impact of landing in the water from a great height may seem more like something that "happens" to your dog during competition rather than a key part of their performance. It's easy to underestimate the effect of impact into the water has on your dog.  If you've ever experienced a belly flop as a child you'll know that sometimes the wrong landing into water can hurt! Poor throws of a toy into the water can cause a dog to contort their body into an odd position and lead to a less optimal landing in the water. 
  • Some breeds may be better suited to handle the impact of hitting the water than others. For example, many retrieving breeds have developed thicker sternums. Some speculate that this could be to help absorb the impact into the water. For leaner breeds, like sighthounds, border collies, or small breeds, their body may have a harder time absorbing the water's impact. 
• The Return 
  • The dog will then have to turn in the water and swim back to the dock ramp to return to the handler. Although the return to the dock may seem like the easiest part of the dock diving performance remember that water offers natural resistance which will challenge the dog's muscles. The dog's tail will have to act as a rudder to turn the dog in the water and help buoyancy. Research has shown that dogs swim with a gait that was similar to a familiar trot on land. When a dog trots diagonal pairs of legs move together. When swimming, a dog's legs move in a similar fashion, but at a faster pace than a trot, and the legs move beyond the range of motion for a trot. This means that when swimming dogs are using a basic movement but with some modification. ​

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Introducing Puppies to Dock Diving

There are a few considerations that should be taken into account when considering starting a puppy in dock diving. It's when our dogs are learning something new that they're at the most risk of injury so introducing your pup to dock diving (or any sport) should be done carefully and in a manner that's appropriate for their age and development. While their growth plates are open your puppy is vulnerable to impact injuries and repetitive strain injuries. I would recommend that puppies with open growth plates focus on learning to swim and become familiar and comfortable entering and leaving the pool via the ramp. Remember that puppies are often uncoordinated and lack hind end awareness so jumping from a slippery dock is an unnecessary risk when they're young. Additionally, the force of hitting the water impacts the cervical spine and can lead to injuries to the disks.  Jumping from the dock is something only dogs with a mature skeletal structure should do. 

Potential injuries that can occur...

As with any sport, injury can occur and dock diving is no exception. There are a number of potential injuries that can occur that owners and competitors should be aware of when participating in dock diving. ​

• Sprains or Strains  - After a couple jumps the dock can become quite slippery and slips and falls can occur to either the front or hind end of the dog. As a result, a variety of soft tissue injuries can occur. A slip and fall from the dock could cause our dogs to contort their body oddly or clip the dock or side of the pool resulting in scrapes and bruises. 
• Repetitive Strain Injuries - Is the gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves from repetitive motions and activities. During a competition, a dog could be asked to jump 6-10 times throughout the day - depending on the events entered this could be greater. During a  training session, they may be asked to do the same amount of jumping in the span of an hour.  Fatigued muscles lead not just to poor jumping form but without adequate rest can also result in an injury. Strain injuries can occur when fatigued muscles are asked to perform beyond their ability for a prolonged period. Muscles will need adequate rest in order to recover.  
• Impact Injuries - A poor landing or repetitive jumping can cause neck extension strains. Remember as the dog leaves the dock we are often asking them to "pop" up and reach for a toy, extending their neck out. As they hit the water their neck will extend up to keep their head above water. Over time, compression of the cervical spine (the vertebrae of the neck) could cause pain or lead to a herniated disc. 
• Acute caudal myopathy  - sometimes called swimmer's tail. To read more on the conditioning and the roles of tails in performance check out my recent blog on "The Importance of Tails in Performance"
• Iliopsoas Injuries - The iliopsoas is a muscle group which functions as a hip flexor. Dogs who participate in sports or activities that involve a lot of jumping or movements with great hip extensions can aggravate the iliopsoas. A slip when jumping, when the hip flexors are extended, can cause an injury to the iliopsoas. An improper landing, with legs extended as they hit the water, can also cause injury to this muscle group. To read more about iliopsoas check out my blog on the topic! 
• Water intoxication - Also known as water poisoning, hyperhydration, overhydration, or water toxaemia. It is a relatively rare but potentially fatal condition that is most commonly seen in dogs that love to play in the water. Excessive amounts of water cause the body to lose sodium. The body’s cells begin to fill with water and swell. If the cells in the brain swell, it can affect the central nervous system. 
• Bloat - There is a lot of speculation when it comes to the underlying cause of bloat. Hot food, cold food, big kibble, little kibble, too much food, too much exercise, too many carbohydrates, and stress have all been touted as causes of bloat. Bloat can affect breeds of all sizes but is more common with large deep-chested dogs. Bloat can happen when a dog's stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. This is a serious medical condition and requires immediate medical intervention. Because there is much debate on the underlying causes of bloat I recommend all owners familiarize themselves to bloat symptoms so they can act quickly should bloat occur.

A key part in preventing injury is to monitor for signs of fatigue. For the dock diving dog, I would suggest monitoring their jump and swim performance. A dog showing a poor jumping form, decreased jumping distance, or sluggishness in the return swim could be showing signs of fatigue Our working dogs are often eager to please and will often try to "power through" fatigue. As handlers, it's important that we enforce breaks in both training and performance. For more information on recognizing the signs of fatigue click here. A great way to prevent injury is to also implement a proper warm-up and cool down routine. Given the explosive nature and jumping effort in this sport, warmed up muscles will help to contribute to a better overall performance. For more information on the importance of the warm-up and cool down make sure to check out my e-book - you can find it here! 

Conditioning the Dock Diver

Little dog, big air! Kevlar owned by Michelle McDonald

When I talk to people about canine conditioning there is often a misconception that it's something we do when our dogs have an injury and are in rehab. This couldn't be further from the truth! In fact, as a PT I encourage a proactive approach and not a reactive approach to canine conditioning. Meaning, I'd rather prevent an injury in the first place over managing an injury. Conditioning should be part of our sporting dog's regular training schedule! Through conditioning work, we can help our dogs prepare for the demands of their sport, improve their performance, and lower their risk of injury. If an injury does occur, conditioning work gives our dogs a quicker recovery time. 

Now that we know the physical challenges present in the sport of dock diving we can plan a conditioning program to suit. Conditioning of the dock diving dog will not only reduce their risk of injury but will also improve the distance and height they can jump and increase their overall endurance. There are a few key areas the dock dogs should focus on...

• Power / Explosive Strength
  • Working on improving power and explosive strength will help your dog achieve greater speed when running on the dock and improve the distance they jump. Plyometric training, exercises in which muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, is ideal for building power. 
  • Conditioning Exercise Example: Destination Jumping (i.e. jumping up unto a couch from a seated position on the floor)
• Hind End Strength
  • The greater the hind end strength the better the jump. With a strong hind your dog will be able to propel themselves higher and get bigger air. Increased strength in the hind end will also mean your dog runs down the dock faster and will have a quicker return swim. 
  • Conditioning Exercise Example: Sit to Stand with Front Elevated 
• Core Strength 
  • A strong core means that our dog's overall body is better supported which means less stress on the joints and better balance when working. Core strength helps keep limbs in the air, improved control when jumping, and will result in a straighter jump and landing meaning our dog is less likely to contort oddly mid-air and land hard in the water.  
  • Conditioning Exercise Example: Backing Up
• Endurance 
  • Endurance will be crucial in preparing your dog for the task of multiple jumps over the course of a competition. 
  • Conditioning Exercise Example: Straight Cavalettis

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When compared to other dog sports, dock diving may appear to present less of a physical challenge to our dogs. However, after taking a closer look at the sport performance we can see that dock dogs have unique physical challenges that require their own exercise considerations. Because the handlers and dogs can progress quickly from training to competition it's important to assess our dogs to ensure they're ready for the demands of dock diving.  During competition season it's equally important to regularly assess our dogs to ensure they're not displaying any signs of discomfort or pain. Remember, that our working dogs are driven and swimming is an inherently rewarding activity so our dogs are likely to push themselves beyond their limits. 

I strongly believe dock diving dogs in particular can benefit from a consistent conditioning program. Unlike other sports which can move indoors during the colder months dock diving is still largely constrained by seasonal competition and training. This results in dock dogs having longer off-season then other sporting dogs. By having a consistent conditioning program we give our dock dogs a helping hand in preparing them for the challenges of the sport and reduce their chances of injury. 

Sources

Special thanks to Kelly Beres, Shianna Fairley, Angie Kenney, Amanda Mercanti, Heather Parsons, and Kayla Swanberg for their help and insight on the sport of dock diving! 

​Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB). "How dogs do the 'dog paddle': An evolutionary look at swimming." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140105102502.htm (accessed September 4, 2020).