Class Descriptions
Dock Starters
Dock Starters are dogs who love to retrieve and are pretty sure they love to swim but who aren’t too sure about pools, docks, or even what the heck the whole point of this is!! We will take beginner swimmers in this class as well as senior dogs who have retired out but still want to come to class and do some fun stuff, just at a slower speed. This class is perfect for a puppy who wants to be a future dock star – 6 months+ is preferred but each puppy will be considered on an individual basis so contact us if you’re interested but not sure!
Dock Huggers
Dock Huggers are dogs who love to swim, adore retrieving, and really, really want to jump off the dock…but just aren’t sure yet. This class will give them the confidence to take the plunge! A solid foundation is key to any sport and the goal here is to set you up for success by making you and your dog comfortable in a pool and dock environment. In addition to getting your dog jumping, we will discuss the basics of the sport, how to get started in competition and titling, and what to expect down the road. Reactive dogs are welcome as there is no group play in class and dogs are kept leashed and separated. In SOME cases, multi-dog play is helpful to boost confidence but those instances will be taken on a class-by-class basis.
Ability to swim is a must. If your dog isn’t a confident swimmer yet, consider our Dock Starters Class or contact us for a private lesson and we will get your dog paddling in no time!
Dock Jumpers
Dock Jumpers class covers a wide range of experience levels. Some dogs are Huggers graduates looking to get things rocking, some have been jumping for years and want to hone their skills, and the rest fall everywhere in between! Basically, if your dog jumps off a dock and you want to compete and/or title your dog in dock jumping, this is the class for you.
- Does your dog hesitate or lose speed? We can clean that up.
- Time to switch to one handler? No problem.
- Are you struggling with early take-off? We can fix that.
- Want to work on that crazy throw? Easy.
- Want to build your dog’s speed on the dock? Got it.
We will work on whatever each team brings to class so bring your dog, bring your goals and let’s tackle them!
Dog MUST be already jumping, even if it’s with hesitancy. If your dog is still unsure and refusing more often than not, please enter Dock Huggers Class instead.
Mish Mash (Hugger & Jumpers Mixed Class)
This class is for any jumping dogs that are looking to play and learn in a group class environment. We will cater each class to the registered dogs – if your dog is a Hugger, he will get help with gaining confidence; if your dog needs Air Retrieve practice each week, we can make that happen too. The only limits here are no non-swimmers or dogs that need extra assistance, moderate to advanced skill level is expected. See
Dock Huggers and
Dock Jumpers descriptions for more information.
Reactive dogs are welcome as there is no group play in class and dogs are kept leashed and separated. In SOME cases, multi-dog play is helpful to boost confidence but those instances will be taken on a class-by-class basis.