Pico and I had a fantastic time at the Dock Dogs World Championships, held in Hayward Wisconsin this weekend! There’s lots to report and hopefully I won’t forget anything!

Pico was on her game from the minute she stepped onto the site! I was pleased because this was not the case last year. However, all the training at Ledgewood Kennel helped and she hammered out one great practice jump after another.

Competition started the next day with two elite jumps from Pico, which were only enough for 4th place in that wave. Country the greyhound and Henry the chesapeake won that wave to earn a trip straight to semi-finals.

The next day Pico jumped in wave #2 and earned her spot by winning the wave with a 25′5″! I was pleased as this sent her straight to semi-finals and also upped her average. Little did I know Pico had much better things planned!

Because we could relax a bit before semi-finals I got to really enjoy the lumberjack events, the company of the great people involved in Dock Dogs, and the friendliness of the spectators, who seemed to be genuinely interested in and awed by Pico, and who asked for her “pawtograph” and to have their pictures taken with her. Pico was happy to oblige.

In her first jump of semi-final Pico pulled out all the stops and flew so far she had the crowd screaming! I’m very glad they enjoyed it, because all I get to see of Pico’s jumps is her furry butt. I cant gauge distance very well, particularly in a pond, so I almost fell over in shock when Pico’s distance was announced 27 FEET!!!! This will rank her as the #2 dog of all time in Dock Dogs competition, and she’s just turned three.

In finals we were up against Country, the world record holding greyhound. Country loves Hayward Wisconsin, his owners say the scenery reminds him of his water racing days. He was bouncing out of his skin, barking, leaping and cavorting happily all weekend. He flew to victory, and I was very happy to see it, as his owners are truly the nicest people in the sport. Granite and Pico particularly like them because they brought along Jif single serve peanut butter cups for as treats for the two tervs! Kevin, Country’s owner, also gave me a lucky indian arrowhead found on his property. He gave it to me right before Pico’s 27 foot jump. I think I will be keeping close tabs on that lucky charm!!  

Pico has to shift gears fast and get into agility mode though. This weekend she will be competing in a DAM team tournament and it will likely be her last chance to qualify for usdaa nationals.