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Questions about Ultimate Air Dogs and the sport of Dock Jumping? You've come to the right place. Click the link below that best describes you:
How does this work if we've never done this... do I just show up at an event? My dog jumps off a dock all the time but I've never been to a Ultimate Air Dogs event What is a Splash and How does the Finals Work? And Please don't forget to read the rules!
Note: Your dog must be at least 6 months old, and you may be asked for proof if your dog looks too young. There are special circumstances like if you happen to have an experienced swimmer that is only 4 months old, the event judge can test the pup's swimming ability and it is up to him/her if they will allow your dog in. Please be sure to read the rules.
How does this work if we've never done this... do I just show up at an event? There is a $25 practice fee per dog/per day at OUTDOOR mobile dock events. You are able to practice in between our Splashes *IF* time allows... so there is no guarantee that if you come to an event, you will be able to practice. The earlier you get there, the more likely you will be able to try. It just depends on the event. Indoor events are absolutely the worst place to teach a new dog... they are extremely louder than normal, which can be quite intimidating to a new dog trying to learn. The last thing you want to do is scare your dog, so best thing is to look for an outdoor event - which most of our events are. Find an outdoor event near you and look at the schedule for that event, where it says "check-in and practice" is where we have practice. Now, just an FYI... there is NEVER any guarantee - meaning, if there are 100 dogs at an event that are all competing, most likely we won't take any outside practice dogs because the practice time will be used up by competitors participating in the event. 90% of the time that isn't the case, but you need to know that just in case. I looked at your Events page and I can't see the schedule for the event that I want to go to... What does TBA mean? To Be Announced. We typically don't open events for registration until it's 4-6 weeks out. There are some occasions where we will get a last minute event and we'll list the event with TBA just to get the word out. No need to email us - just keep watching the schedule page for that "TBA" to change to "REGISTER/INFO". This sport looks interesting but I don't know if my dog swims, OR my dog has been in the lake or river a few times: The thing is, one of our rules is that your dog has to be an above average swimmer before even "trying" this out, so you'll have to get him/her to that level first. You have to get them better acquainted with water and swimming - your dog must be past the "splashing around haphazardly" stage. We have this rule in place as a safety measure for you and your dog. We do not allow dogs that are not at the above average level of swimming. It can be horrifying to a dog who's never swam, and then gets put into the pool… If he/she isn't sure about it, it can ruin their chance of ever swimming! Events can be extremely intimidating to some dogs...loud music, loud crowds, lots of other dogs, etc. Definitely not a good place for their intro to swimming!!! So this is what you do next: If your breed of dog is one that typically wears a swim vest when they swim, go out and get one. The other thing to get on the way to the swim hole is a "dock only" toy. Bring your dog to the nearest pet store and let your dog pick it out. Make it a rule that this toy is only available to your dog during their swimming lessons, and then later on at the dock. This will bring excitement the next time your dog goes swimming. Your best bet is to try to take your dog somewhere where you can get in the water with him/her if you had to. We always suggest a river or lake with a gradual decline. You bring your dogs favorite toy, and toss it in short - making it as easy for your dog to bend just a little bit to retrieve it. Praise your dog as soon as he/she gets it. Slowly, toss it farther and farther away. Your dogs confidence builds each time they have to get the toy and you praise him/her. Eventually, your dog will have to swim to get it. REMEMBER, this is a gradual process. Don't do too much in one day. You can go again the next day. Have the swim vest on hand in case you think that he/she needs it, and be ready to jump in too...allot of times a dog will learn to swim on the fly if their owner jumps in first! Once you get your dog swimming like a fish, just bring him/her out to an event to try our "Practice Time". My dog jumps off a dock all the time but I've never been to a Ultimate Air Dogs event: First of all, and most importantly, we do not tolerate abuse of any of our rules so please make sure that you read them. We have "practice" time at most of our events… you pay a $25 per dog / per day practice fee, and you can practice all day in between competition rounds. You'll get in line with everyone else, take 2 jumps, then get back in line. If you're brand spankin' new, we can help you get started, as long as it's not a crazy full event. When you get to the event, just find the event secretary's tent and ask her if there is availability. You will be asked for your name and signature for the liability waiver, & anyone else that will be going on the dock with you must do the same. NOTE: You do not have to be a registered competitor to come out and practice, but your dog must be an above average swimmer! Make sure to let the secretary know that this is your first time, and please try not to be intimidated… we were all in your shoes at one time or another, and before you know it, you'll know everyone's name and hopefully you'll be coming to as many events as you can because you and your dog will be hooked! 3 things to note: A) Not all events have practice times, that's why on every schedule posted on our Web site you will see *Schedule subject to change. Please be kind to the event secretary, it's not her fault that you didn't get there before everyone else! B) Even though you paid $20 to practice, competitors have priority on the dock. There could be a point where you're standing in line and you get cut off because we need to get an event going, and if this happens to you, just sit back and watch the show, then when the competition ends, get in line again. The $20 is for all day, which is pretty un-heard of. C) At these busy events, most of our own dogs (UAD Staff) sit in their crates and mope most of the day because we're too busy to let them jump. In that case you may have to wait a little bit after a competition so that staff can run their dogs. What you'll do the very first time: Get in the practice line, and when it's your turn, have your toy ready, and take your dog (on leash) to the ramp. It's important to try to remain calm and don't get anxious because you think people are watching you…no one is judging, in fact, we're all here to help you. So guide your dog up the ramp making sure that your dog feels comfortable and try to keep him/her stable. Most dogs on the first time out may struggle a bit because it's not familiar, so just be patient, keep your cool, and relax. Your dog can feel everything that you feel, so let him/her feel the confidence that you have in him/her. Now when you get to the top, take the leash off while getting the toy out, and toss the toy about 4 or 5 feet out. Your goal is to get your dog to swim out and get the toy and bring it back, exiting the pool via the ramp, and being comfortable doing it. Some dogs take more practice than others, so if you have to do it twice, go for it. If your dog still struggles on the second time, no worries. Stay calm, bring your dog down the ramp, and get back in line. Make sure to constantly praise your dog for doing something he's never done before. Even though you may not think it, you're making great progress and are headed in exactly the right direction. There's a little thing called jealousy… and it helps in training because your dog will want what the other dogs have. While you're in line waiting for your next turn, your dog will see the other dogs jump and swim, and get out of the pool via the ramp, and your dog will want to do the same. When it's your turn, go back to the ramp and try it again - never stress, always praise. When your dog is comfy on the exit strategy, you're ready for the dock. If your dog still isn't comfortable, you are welcome to get back in line and keep trying, but your dog might not do it. What should I bring with me? How do I know when it's "practice time"? How many people can be on the dock? What does Club Event mean? How does an event work? What is a Splash, Catch-It, Fetch-It, or Chase-It? Ultimate Air (Distance jumping) is the main feature of our events. Dogs run down a dock and fly into a pool - the distance is judged from the end of the dock nearest the waters' edge, to the base of the dog’s tail. It is showcased in different rounds called “SPLASHES”. At a typical event, we usually host anywhere from 2 to 15 Splashes - culminating at the end of the event with our Divisional Finals. Our National event Judges are all certified UAD & ASCA Dock Jumping Judges, and all have at least 10 or more years experience judging and/or competing. Judges are trained by the President (Milt Wilcox), and/or his son (Brian Wilcox), who have judged over hundreds of thousands of dogs for more than 15 years. Mainstream dock jumping events are judged one of two ways - by camera or by human eye. The only way of getting an accurate jump distance by camera, is if there are multiple camera's setup at several points on the pool, with an additional camera in an aerial position. On the average, most dock jumping pools are not shorter than 40ft, and dogs jump anywhere from 1ft to 30ft, so it's scientifically impossible to make a correct call from only 2 camera angles, let alone some only use 1. The dogs that jump directly at the mounted position of the camera will have an accurate call, but all others will be off. Besides that, once the camera captures the image, it is then read by a human that wasn't watching the jump live. UAD events are judged the most accurate way possible, which is by eye. Our Judges are trained to move with the dog so they are actually standing right in line with the dog when they land. Our Judges are the most experienced Judges in Dock Jumping, and they are also known to be the most fair. Not to mention they are very entertaining!!!
SPLASH Within each Splash, dog-handler teams get 2 jumps. Ultimate Air Dogs runs a format unique to other Dock Jumping organizations where dogs jump back-to-back in our Splashes. This means no extra fatigue for you or your dog from standing and waiting in line until your next jump. Once you’ve made your 2 jumps, you may exit the pool area and go praise your dog for the awesome sportsmanship!!! The best score [of those two jumps] is then recorded for the Bubble. What is The Bubble? The Bubble holds the key to the Finals - it breaks down the dogs into our pre-determined divisions, allowing teams to track their progress throughout the event. How does that work? After each Splash, the secretary enters the scores into the computer, which then places the dogs into their corresponding divisions, according to their best distances jumped. It also tracks the second best jump in case of ties. If your dog's best jump is 14'3", but it's tied with another dog in the Bubble, our software system looks at all previous jumps and then ranks in order of 2nd best jump. If both of those tie (it's not as likely but does happen), both dogs remain in the same position in the ranking of the Bubble. The Bubble is typically printed out after each Splash and kept at the secretary's desk. How many Splashes should you register for? Your best odds to make the Finals is to register for as many as you can. You can do one, or you can do all of them... But the thing to note is that the more you do, the better your dog gets used to the whole experience, and will get more confident, which equates to progression in the sport! I bet you're still wondering how the Finals work right? Well wonder no more... Immediately following the last Splash of the event, the final Bubble is compiled, a “roll call”* is taken, and once it’s determined, the top 3 dogs in each Division are announced and invited** back to compete in the Divisional Finals. Medals are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place dogs in each division. Dog and handler teams also earn annual titles on the Ultimate Air Dogs database by participating in SPLASHES. **When we announce that we need everyone to check in for Finals, please come to the secretary desk and tell us your dogs name(s) so that the secretary can check off who is on site, and who is not. At that time, the secretary will not know who is in the Finals… in other words, please don’t ask! We will make an announcement of each team that will be in the Finals as soon as the information is available to us. As stated in the rules, you must be checked in 30 minutes prior to each Splash to be included in the running order, and this especially applies to the Finals because if you don't check in, we have to move to the next dog until we have 5 in the division. If you show up after check-in, please do not assume that you are in the Finals. If you need to leave before we call for Finals check-in and you know that you won't be back in time for the proper check-in, please alert the secretary and they will check you in. ***There is no charge for the Finals Please read the full rules here. FETCH-IT “FETCH-IT” is a sport that was developed by Milt Wilcox & Bill Richardson in 2008, and is only found at Ultimate Air Dogs. It is the horizontal version of a sport called "vertical”. The rigs look very similar, but the outcome is completely opposite, whereby the dogs jump out, and not up... In other words, a very safe alternative, as well as an excellent training tool for distance jumping. Unlike the other "vertical" sports, dogs will not hit the bottom of the pool (risking serious injury) in the game of Fetch-It. UAD has done "vertical" in the past, but when we saw the horrifying footage taken from the underwater camera that we placed at the bottom of the pool specifically out of curiosity to view how the dogs were landing, we immediately cancelled the sport indefinitely, and developed Fetch-It. In Fetch-It, a bumper is suspended 2ft off the top of the dock, and starting at a minimum distance of 5ft, and 3ft for Featherweights. Dogs will have a total of 4 attempts or 2 misses (whichever comes first), to get the furthest score that they can. Dogs may move backwards or forwards - meaning if a dog starts their 1st attempt at 10ft and misses, they may move backwards to 9ft. The dog must knock the bumper out of it’s hold for it to be a Fetch. Each dog stays on the dock and does all of their attempts until they are done. The dog that knocks the bumper off at the furthest distance with the least amount of misses wins. It is not only a sport of endurance and skill, it also helps your dog to jump further in our regular Splashes as it trains their muscle memory and improves speed on the dock. While there may be others trying to imitate it, Fetch-It is only found at Ultimate Air Dogs, and now as seen on TV at the ProPlan Incredible Dog Challenge. It's immediate gratification for the dogs, and the crowds just love it!!! ****We will need volunteers at each event where Fetch-It is played… volunteers will help with moving the rig and hanging the bumper**** Please read the full rules here. CATCH-IT “CATCH-IT” was invented by our founder Milt Wilcox, and is only played at Ultimate Air Dogs!!! Catch-It is new twist on the Ultimate Distance game (Splash). The winning team is so connected, that if the dog were a person, they would finish each others sentences! It runs the same way as a SPLASH, where two jumps for each dog are judged by 2 distance points, however the dog MUST catch the object thrown for the jump to count, as opposed to SPLASHES, where only the best jump is the score. If the dog makes the catch, two distances are recorded: where the dog makes the catch, as well as where the dogs tail lands in the water. Not only is it an added challenge for the dog to catch the throw object while in mid-air, it also requires intense concentration, spot-on timing, and strategy from the handler. Catch-It is played by the most highly skilled teams. It is extremely fun to watch, and highly addicting!!! ****We will need a volunteer at each event where Catch-It is played… this volunteer will watch for hand-offs.**** Please read the full rules here. CATCH-IT PRO “CATCH-IT PRO” was adopted from Catch-It by Cathi Wilcox, and is only played at Ultimate Air Dogs!!! Catch-It Pro is the game that separates the veterans from the rookies! Catch-It Pro is a real trial by fire if you know what I mean… THIS IS IT! And it’s all about the connection between a handler and their K9… this bond is EVERYTHING in Catch-It Pro, because timing and trust is crucial. Unlike Catch-It, there is no Jump score… Catch-It Pro is only about… you guessed it… THE CATCH!! What you will see in this game is the crème de la crème... the very best of the best... PURE COMPETITION! ****We will need a volunteer at each event where Catch-It Pro is played… this volunteer will watch for hand-offs.**** Please read the full rules here. CHASE-IT “CHASE-IT” - is a timed swimming race that ultimately gives bragging rights to the events FASTEST DOG!!! Chase-It is another Ultimate Air Dogs exclusive, that really gets the crowds cheering for the dogs! In Chase-It, most handlers use a second handler to hold their dog... The "Main Handler", who should be the person that the dog responds to the most (as this person will be at the far end of the pool, waving and cheering the dog to the Finish line); and "The 2nd Handler", who should be the person that will be on the dock with the dog at the starting line. By starting all dogs in the same position (at the front of the dock nearest the waters edge), it allows for a level playing field. Each dog competes on their own, meaning this is not side-by-side racing. Each dog gets 2 back-to-back chances at their best time. Chase-It has been dubbed by the press as “drag racing for dogs”! Please read the full rules here.
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