Downingtown Canine Taking Part In 'Dock Dogs' Competition In Iowa
By John McDevitt
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A talented dog from Chester County hopes to make a splash this week at a four-day competition for jumping and diving canines, known as "dock dogs," starting tomorrow in Iowa.
Cali, a two-year-old Spanish water dog (top photo), has qualified to compete in the world championship of "Dock Dogs," in Dubuque.
Her owner, Sarah Spinler of Downingtown, says it's all about canine athleticism, including jumping.
"Well, her personal best is 20 feet, 10 inches," Spinler tells KYW Newsradio, "but she's unique in that she is considered a lapdog in dock dogs, which is a dog that is 17 inches high and under. She is a very small dog, so we are competing with a special group of dogs that are small for their size but can jump very far."
Handlers on a 40-foot dock throw a toy over a pool and the pooches dive to get it. In another contest, the dog jumps from the platform up to a toy suspended high above the pool. The distance is measured.
A third category is speed retrieval, where a dog fetching a toy in the water is timed as he gets the object and paddles back to the dock.
More than 400 dogs are lined up to take part. Each dog get two qualifying jumps. The top three dogs from each division will qualify for the finals.
