Laurie's Blogs.
Aug 2015
Distance in Dock Diving
Hello,
I am seeing a new patient who is a 7 yr old Cockapoo dock diver. He is in great shape, but his owner is looking to get a little more distance out of his jumps. He is jumping about 20ft and owner has a goal of 23-25ft.
I have never worked with a dock diver specifically before, but I was wondering if you could point me in a good direction for some recommendations on exercises to improve these jumps.
Thank you in advance!
EW
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Hmmmmmmmmm...
So my first thought is "Get a labrador if you want more distance!"
But I'm going to put this out to a Canine Conditioning group that I'm on on Facebook to see what others have to say.
Off the top of my head, I wonder about training broad jumps on the ground and/or a bar jump at the edge of the platform (if they have a location where they are practicing dock diving)... and simply SEE what it gets. I don't have a magical solution for this one.
My other though is simply build more leg strength...
POWER training by destination jumping UP or OVER, walking and then trotting up hills or stairs...
Maybe tug of war.
I had thought of 'pulling' (i.e. tie a tire to a harness... (or something cockapoo appropriate) - like they do with the pit bulls and other dogs that do pulling exercises... but I don't know that it would result in that same strength in a 'burst' scenario)... could be good conditioning however.
I'll see what the Conditioning Group comes up with... could be an interesting discussion!
Cheers,
Laurie
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Ideas from 'actual dock diving folks'
LL - Lots of pieces to a great dock jump --
Motivation is a crucial piece.
Gaining speed with the run down the dock. And taking off close to the end of the dock.
Proper throw of chase object by human -- timing of release based on where dog is on the run as well as good trajectory and good landing location.
Some folks say the dog needs to feel it can get the chase object.
Like other athletes, good technique is essential.
In addition to raw talent the dog should have both strong shoulders and rear legs as well as good back and core muscles.
Interesting question.
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SH - Totally agree about motivation being very important. Having a dog that can track a toy in the air and really really want to stretch out to get it will definitely get you some extra distance. That of course also requires a pretty good, consistent throw.
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RS - Set point jumps (dry land) -it's a Susan Garrett/Susan Salo jump grid training session. I also use FitPaws balance discs/planks on FitPaws peanut/Donut. I also do hill training (up & down & parallel. Also working on squats (sit pretty) to a stretch (stand tall) & stretching ha s (my girls are tight)
My girl already has the motivation to get her squeaky ball!!
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LL - Sit to kick-back Stand (front feet stay in same place) is what Susan Salo (agility jumping guru) recommends for building rear leg jumping muscles.
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JG - I quite like the cavaletti for strength & balance
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JG - Push ups (down - stand - down - stand), preferably with feet staying in the same place. Can advance to being done on wobble pillows (one for rear one for front) then paw pods.
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JG - Reversing up some stairs or reversing onto a wobble pillow, progressing onto a peanut.
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JG - Each leg awareness - teach each leg a name (mine paw - other for front and man - boy for rear) and teach them to lift each one so stood on 3 legs. You can then use this to teach them to do side balances with both paws from one side raised on a peanut or sofa. Don't forget to do each side
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RS - Here is one from a lap dog
I am trying to find footage from a couple weekends ago-we have a junior handler that has almost perfect timing & getting some BIG air!
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RS - This is a decent little article from FitPaws' blog:
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SB - Thinking out loud here.... The reach back/ hind limb target exercises will help strengthen the more loaded front end and teach rear awareness, with some hamstring strength, but they are open chain exs. I'm thinking that for distance you really need explosive forward going strength, so need to strengthen closed chain? Doggy squats, pretty to stand, jump grids and training, destination jumping up and forward, and how about a reverse of Rob Porters kick back bridge - start four feet on one peanut and ask to jump front feet forward onto other peanut, gradually increase distance between them? This will give strength to push front half of body forward, and also give you extension because the back feet stay where they are? Progress to running, jumping onto peanut and then into forward bridge?
I can't throw accurately to save my life, so I'd be a hopeless dock jumping handler!!
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RB - I like the squats using a balance disk to increase the challenge. I also use a peanut on end for the front paws to touch going up. That allows assistance in the balance so that I can ask for a lot of power in the movement from sit pretty to stand tall. It also results in a more controlled movement from the stand tall to the sit pretty, really working the eccentric glute/hamstring motion.
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JD - Speed and power are equally important in dock jumping as well as timing of the throw and the dog stretching to catch the toy. I sit my dog in front of my bed on the floor, throw a toy up and slightly over the bed. Eventually the dog can explode from the sit, grab the toy and land on the bed. In the beginning they may jump on the bed first then grab the toy. I do other conditioning as well but this teaches the "pop" at the end.
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Laurie Edge-Hughes Thanks guys... The general conditioning stuff is a given... but the ideas regarding the jump onto the bed - JD, & rear leg squats (with touch on peanut ball) - RB are great. And I agree with your thinking SB, and all of the videos are fabulous... thanks everyone. Now to compile the info and add in my own thoughts & brain storming - I'll keep everyone posted!
Found this cool slow mo video... some jumps really do show how the 'throw' can be critical to the success. Also very interesting to watch the digging in and push off of the fronts. So one thing I"m thinking is that some 'up hill' jumping over an obstacle could be beneficial in order to mimic the take off needed and build power.
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JD - You can see in the video that some of the dogs do not have a lot of "pop" and consequently don't go as far. With my BC we are still playing around with where to start on the dock for max speed and strides so there are no short strides or taking off before the edge.
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Laurie Edge-Hughes: Exactly JD!! Lots to figure out for the individual dog. I would also wonder if the 'colour' of the throw toy could make a difference and/or whether a different coloured strip at the end of the runway would make a difference (vision being a factor in knowing where to take off). I would love to see a subsequent jump with your own dog but with you throwing just past his current distance to know if that could make a short term improvement in distance. There's likely an optimal throw distance for all dogs - just beyond their current ability in order to gain more reach & stretch. I also wondered if training with a low 'bar jump' at the very end of the platform would train a proper jump (instead of a 'running off the edge' like some of the dogs in the slow mo video.)
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JD - Adding a strip or a jump at the end tends to cause them to leave early- measurement starts at the edge of the dock. My young dog is getting better so i need to throw a tad higher and farther now- he was turning in the air on that jump. Some people just throw the toy up and some throw out like i do. And finding the optimal starting spot on the dock so max speed and long even strides are achieved is good. Some adjust striding for the end some don't and leave early.
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Now back to the original question & answer:
Wow!! This is fantastic! It also makes me feel out of my league here. I am fascinated by canine athletes, but I have found myself becoming more known as the geriatric train wreck rehabber and acupuncturist in my area so I don't get these healthy guys much. I want to learn more about them though.
Thank you so much for gathering this information. I truly appreciate it.
A couple questions...what are reach backs and jump grids?
Thank you again and to all those who volunteered information. Very helpful!
EW
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The geriatrics are pretty sweet to work with, I would have to say too!
The dock diving stuff was interesting... I don't think that everyone was quite understanding the gist of the question...
Jump grids are simply a line of jumps designed to get the dog to jump, land, jump again... etc... I don't know if it would help the dock diving dog.
The reach backs would be the dog with the front feet on a stool or ball and then you ask / teach the dog to step or 'jump back' to put the rear feet onto another ball. Again - I don't see the value as a specific exercise for dock diving.
You can have some fun with planning things for this dog now!
Might as well go into it with an open mind.
Cheers,
Laurie
