Splash Dogs day 2 (more pics for Annmarie)

[seazr]

I just typed a hugh Splash dog post, clipped a key at the end and lost everything, so here goes again . . .

Splash dogs today was about lessons learned. first lesson, there is a good reason why experienced people bring a cart to tote an ice chech, beach chaira and A CRATE!!!!!! Please try to put noise to the following pics of an uncrated Dakota baout to explode with excitment!!!! Have you ever heard that excited shirk of a bark-howl that actually hurts your ears?? Well, Dakota was working on perfecting that today!!!!!



So, off we are to Lowes to buy the cart to tote the crate that will give us a chance at sanity between jumps!!!!!!

Second lesson, when it's not broke, don't fix it! My husband almost always is the handler for Dakota--even when we practice at home--and I take the photos. well, today for some reason he wanted us to switch roles. I did ok at the toss, but Dakota fell well short of his distance of yesterday--by about 3 feet in fact. We DO know that his style is wrong so we have formulateld a training program ivolving a fishing pole, a tennis ball and velcro. You definately need pics for this one so I'll get back to you tomorrow!!!! And, I though I set the camera up to be pretty fool proof but all the pics are blurred. So back to our intended roles we will go. In all honesty, if we showed up tomorrow, we Dakota could probably jump in the finals, but we all leared that none of us are totally ready. the next splash Dogs we will attend is mid May so we'll be extra ready for that one!!!!!

The highlight of the day include one poor lady that decided to run the 40 foot dock alongside her dog, she tripped and fell flat on her face--yikes--nothing hurt but ego!! And one fellow got a bit to over excited and followed his dog off the dock into the pool!!!!! The day belonged to a pretty lab that lost her leg last year due to cancer. Nothing will slow her life down; she jumped 16 feet!!!!

For as hard as Dakota is to control when he is waiting for his turn--I hold his collar while down on one knee with my other foot bracing me, , he is a real pro when he hits the dock. He runs to the top of the stairs but always stops and waits for me; and I walk him to the back and put him in a sit-stay. He quivers like jello but does not break until I release him for his jump!!

The Splash dog pool and audience area. The pool is 40 foot and the dock is 40 foot. you can use as little or as much of the dock as you wish.


The announcer had some very nice words for Dakota and Labradoodles in general. She praised his pretty coat, commented on his excited enthusiasm and said anyone with allergies should consider a Labradoodle!!! And Dakota got loads of attention before, during and after the jump from people wanting to know what he was . . . "Is that a sheepdog??!!"
Sit-stay, Dakota!


Go, go, go, go, go, Dakota!!!!!!! (This was almost a good picture, it's just the camera wasn't set-up for "panning" Dakota . . .)

[tuffystar]

Way to go!!! Thanks for letting us share your day and the fun!

[Lucky Me]

Way to go Dakota!!!!!
You did us labradoodles proud!
We want to try Tuesday at this as she loves the water & fetching... but it is a 2 hr. drive to the lake that they do try-outs at.
Still might try it at least once this year when they invite the public to try.
My girl friend worked with her dog at Whiskeytown Lake where they practice, but when they got to Sac., her dog froze-up when she came up to the edge of the pool at the competition. She couldn't get her dog into that pool for nothing! Something was fishy...the water didn't look the same!

[seazr]

Originally Posted by Lucky Me

Way to go Dakota!!!!!
You did us labradoodles proud!
We want to try Tuesday at this as she loves the water & fetching... but it is a 2 hr. drive to the lake that they do try-outs at.
Still might try it at least once this year when they invite the public to try.
My girl friend worked with her dog at Whiskeytown Lake where they practice, but when they got to Sac., her dog froze-up when she came up to the edge of the pool at the competition. She couldn't get her dog into that pool for nothing! Something was fishy...the water didn't look the same!

You should have come to Sacramento!!!! DO come to an event! The lake is really no preparation--the event is totally different. It is a lot of work but even more fun! Is Auburn possible for you? We will be there. If not, check the event calendar for splash dogs--maybe there is one closer to you. Do try Auburn if you can; it would be great to have a "partner" there and I can "coach" you and Tueday with our experiences!!!!

[Lucky Me]

The lake is really no preparation--the event is totally different

Even off of a boat dock????
I would love to go to go an event.....I noticed the 6 week classes start in April here.
Tuesday has alot of FC lab in her so any day is a good day if fetching is involved!!!
She had a "HOT DATE" with a red haired guy last week so we will see.
There is a little question if I caught her in time.
If Tuesday didn't take, I think I will give it a shot. If she did, we will have to wait till later......in Summer, as I am sure she will be a bit worn-out!

I checked-out the results page.....they listed Dakota as a "Labrador Retriever". , at least he was not listed as "other".
He did good!!! Looks like he was at the top for his division!!! Way to go Dakota!!

[Lucee&Rusty]

Hooray for Dakota! Well Done again!
And yes we have heard the bark howl from Rusty.....makes your ears ring

[gene]

Diane....thanks again for sharing....I'm grinning ear to ear!! Way to give it your best Dakota!! I'm glad it wasn't you who hurt their pride in a spill on the runway!!

[lmtoth2]

Thanks for sharing. it sounds like he did great especially for his first time.

I'm cracking up at your story between Dakota not wanting to wait and the people falling into the pool w/their dog

[pringle's mom]

How FUN!!!!! Way to go Dakota!

[MaxandMe]

that's it?????? come on MORE PICS PLEASE!!!!

Diane.....i really love this post totally great from advice to YES I fully KNOW that shrill sound hahaaaaaaaaa
and i laughed pretty hard when i read the part of the guy falling in the pool hahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

What a great Sunday morning read here!!!!! sounds like regardless of lessons learned everyone had a BLAST!!!!
how neat they mentioned Dakota and LD's!!!

way to go ........can't wait for MORE pics (thanks)

[Calimom]

Your descriptions are great, I could just see and hear it all. Thanks for sharing. Way to go Dakota, Diane and Gene!

[annieG]

What a great experience for all of you. I hope we can find something similar in SC. Not for competing but I would just love to watch. Dakota, thanks for showing the crowd how great doodles are..you're the best. Can't wait for your next competition

[blueteal]

Dakota you rock!!!!!!!!!!
It looks like so much fun...........

Love, love the description!!!! How did you get Dakota to know what to do the FIRST time? This looks like the coolest competition, and I especially love that Dakota loves it sooo much! Great photos!

[Maddjaxx]

Your stories and pics are always great. But shots at these events are very cool. Looks like so much fun. Dakota did a great job. One day I would love to have Marley try that. Thanks for sharing.