Natural History

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged dock diving dogs, dock diving golden retrievers, golden retrievers | 6 Comments

6 Responses

1. on August 20, 2009 at 3:08 am flattie-n-Labbie

   I’m as much a chicken with my dogs as with myself, I suppose–I’m suppose both dogs could get the hang of it and enjoy it, but when you’ve got a dog that might be entering water with objects hidden below the surface (logs, tree stumps), a big flying water entry isn’t as safe as a good plow into the water, so I’d hate to encourage it.

   I’d also be afraid of my dogs slipping. The little one is still a bit, um, well–I guess I just see a lot of room for unintended consequences.

   I wish I weren’t so overly cautious–I’m sure it’s fun. I like to watch other folks’ dogs that have big water entries.

   
   
   • on August 20, 2009 at 3:19 am retrieverman

     Oh, to me, what separates a retriever from “just another water dog” is water entry.

     Our first dog learned water entry of a dock, leaping into a trout pond. And she got really good.

     
     
   • on August 20, 2009 at 3:21 am retrieverman

     My current dog won’t go into any water in which she has to swim, so that tells you a lot!

     
     
2. on August 20, 2009 at 10:28 pm Miki

   There’s a woman in Minnesota with three standard poodles who love to dock dive and water retrieve, which proves to me that the water & retrieving instincts are still to be found in the breed in spite of the ridiculousness of the breed ring. (Her dogs are “just” pets – who lead incredibly charmed lives.) This link will take you (I hope) to a bunch of pages of pictures (and a few videos) of the fun: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=46377332%40N00&q=dock&m=text#page=0

   
   
   • on August 21, 2009 at 3:08 am retrieverman

     That was really good.

     Check out this youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/helenmel

     
     
     • on August 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm Miki

       I looooove Helen and Mel and their Poodle Pack (+ Crush the BC)! Her SP Isabella and my SP Tucker are prime examples of the idiocy of, among other things, the popular sire syndrome and the breed ring. Interestingly, Helen’s Isabella is from a “good” breeder and my Tucker is a rescue from a bad breeder – talk about widespread problems…..

       You want to talk structure and functional conformation? Talk to Helen!

       
       

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