The "Sit" Command.....how I learned it

So many of y'all seemed to enjoy my video of how I retrieved as a little puppy. Well, here's another one for you. (And as you know, when my mom makes a video, she has to make an entire production, but it's very entertaining!)

As you all know, a good solid "sit" is important to be an accomplished dock diver. You need to sit and stay back there on the dock in order to get the benefit of a full dock run when you are released.

Although my mom didn't know when I was a little puppy that I was going to be a dock diver, she did her best to teach me all the standard commands. One of those commands, of course, was "sit."

I swear, I don't know why we dogs don't all think our names are "sit." It's always "sit, stay," and "sit, settle," "sit, wait." The "sit" commands never stop.

Well, this video shows how it all got started with us. I was 8-9 weeks old and about as interested in learning how to sit as Hoppy is in learning how to dock dive. But my mom thought it absolutely necessary that I know how to sit when told.

Enjoy!

Click To Play

There ya go, Ceasar Milan and Victoria Stillwell.....take that!

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

How did Spud get on TV?????? (and not me!)

I know my mom and dad have been hiding this from me. But it didn't work. I saw the video clip over my mom's shoulder today.

Obviously, when we were over in Charleston, SC, at the DockDogs event, the television news people interviewed my mom and dad. That's fine.

But who did they have with them for the interview? SPUD!!! I'm still in shock.

Now, Spud looked great for the interview. Spud looks great for everything. And I love my brother and like it when he does well.

But let's take a look at the facts....just the facts, m'am. Just who is the CAPTAIN of Team 3 Dawg Flite? Who is the founding member of Dixie Dock Dogs? Who is the boss of this outfit? Ya darn tootin'! ME!

Okay, here's the clip of the interview.

Click To Play

Now, I ask you. Wouldn't it have been better with me there...maybe with Spud....or even instead of Spud?

Sheesh! Today a local TV interview...tomorrow Letterman.

See you on the dock,
Sally, the Captain (forever!) of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

How I Learned to Retrieve….well, kinda

I added the “well, kinda” to the title because I never technically learned to retrieve. I was born knowing how to retrieve. I bet that when I came out of the womb, I was retrieving bits of paper or cloth or some of my 12 siblings’ tails or something.

When my mom and dad got home with me, their little chocolate puppy, the first thing they did (after they pulled me out from behind the house plants) was throw a tennis ball for me to retrieve. And retrieve I did.

I remember that day. It was the first time I had ever seen a tennis ball, and to a little 7-week-old puppy it looked H-U-G-E! But I didn’t care. They threw it out across the kitchen floor, and I took off after it. It took me a little while to wrangle it so I could pick it up in my little 7-week-old mouth, but I brought it back to them!

Fee, I’f gah ih in mah mouf!

My mom and dad were really impressed with me. They just ooed and aahed and laughed and acted like I had just retrieved the Crown Jewels.

That was fine with me, because they kept throwing stuff for me to retrieve, just so they could keep saying things to me like, “Good girl, Sally,” “Way to go, Sally,” and “What a dog!”

They are so low maintenance.

Then they would say things to each other like, “Isn’t she cute,” and “Boy, she sure loves retrieving.” Well….yeah. That’s a no-brainer.

Anyway, my point is that it wasn’t long before my mom had her video camera out shooting footage of me retrieving.

This particular video even has my granddaddy in it. He loved to play with me, but he passed away last year. I was very sad.

But on with the show! Little Sally retrieving.

Feel free to ooh and aah like my mom and dad did. I’m used to it now!

Click To Play

See you on the dock,

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: labrador retrievers,retrieving,dogs

Teaching your dog to dock dive: Part 2 (Form and Distance)

Once again, I’m turning my blog post over to my mom to finish her series on How to Teach Your Dog to Dock Dive. Take it away once more, Mom.

Thanks once again, Sally.

Before giving any exercises or steps, let me emphasize the goal of all dock diving: Having FUN with your dog! You can have fun whether your dog jumps 3 feet or 25 feet…whether your throw is right on target or 6 feet off. So while these steps should help you and your dog improve on the dock, they are not necessary to have a great time enjoying being with your dog!

So now, if you’ve gone through the steps in Part 1, your dog should be comfortable going off the dock. He’s jumping a short distance, probably right around 10 feet. But, of course, you would like to see improvement.

First, you need to understand the two different type throws. One is called “Place and Send.” This is usually for the dogs who do not have a good sit/stay. Some dogs, however, jump better for this type throw even though they sit/stay quite well.

For the Place and Send method, the handler throws the toy out into the pool. They then take the dog to the back of the dock and release him to jump for the toy.

Pros of the Place and Send method:

--Dog does not need a good sit/stay

--Handler does not need a good throw

Cons of the Place and Send method:

--Dog does not get much height to his jump.

--Often jumps are shorter because there is no height (called a flat jump). There are, however, many dogs who jump awesomely using this method.

Here’s a photo of one of Spud’s very first jumps. It is a typical flat jump. (This was when he was just beginning to dock dive.)

The other method of throwing is what most handlers use. It’s called the “Chase.” In doing the Chase, the handler puts the dog in a sit/stay at the back of the dock. He then walks up to the edge of the dock, releases the dog to run down for the toy. When the dog is about 4-5 feet from the toy, the handler throws the toy out over the water, and the dog jumps out for the toy. In other words, the dog literally “chases” the toy.

Pros of the Chase method:

--Dog gets more height to the jump. (Height adds distance.) Therefore, jumps are often bigger.

Cons of the Chase method:

--Handler must have a good throw. A bad throw can cause a bad jump.

--Sometimes it’s difficult to get the dog to sit/stay.

Here is a series of photos from one of Sally’s jumps in Easton, Maryland. It shows the Chase method done properly.

Notice that during the entire jump, Sally is totally focused on that object and stretching for it the whole time. When she leaves the dock, she is jumping up and out, not just out over the water. That’s because I threw the object up and out. Sally getting that height (also called pop) gave her extra distance.

The key to the Chase method: the dog has to try and catch it. No need to actually catch it, but he has to think he’s going to catch that object. If the dog is just jumping for it, that won’t work. He has to literally chase it, trying to catch it.

Here are some exercises that I have done or now do with Sally to get the Chase method working for us. You’ll notice, ironically, most of these dock diving exercises are done on land, not on the dock!

Gaining Distance and Height: Land Training

1. Play with your dog by throwing object to him to catch. Do this all the time…around the house, during training sessions, while on a walk. Get your dog totally focused on what you are holding and ready to catch it.

2. Work on a good sit/stay. The length of a competition dock is 40 ft., so your goal should be the dog sitting/staying 40 ft. from you. You should be able to get all excited and shake the toy all around while the dog becomes excited, but remains in the sit/stay. Sometimes the excitement is so great the dog will cheat by inching his way up the dock before being released. If your dog does that, go back and reset him.

3. Once your dog sits and stays, start releasing him to run to you and grab the toy from your hand. You want your dog to be comfortable with sitting/staying, being released, and going straight for that toy.

4. Start gently tossing the toy up in the air as the dog approaches you. Don’t throw it way up in the air so the dog has to jump high to get it. You just want him to learn to grab it while 1) the toy is in the air, and 2) he’s moving towards it.

5. Get a hurdle (or make one) with an adjustable bar. Hold the object over and slightly behind the bar so the dog has to jump up and clear the bar to grab the object. Start low, maybe only a foot high and work up in increments. I wouldn’t take the bar any higher than 24 inches. This is a good exercise even after your dog is jumping well. I still do this with Sally occasionally.

6. Practice your throws. I can’t emphasize this enough. The better your throw…the better you can keep that object right in front of your dog’s nose while giving it the perfect trajectory, the better your dog’s jump.

Gaining Height and Distance: On the Dock

1. Up on the dock, when you release your dog, throw the object very short so the dog will catch it. You will be tempted to toss it way out there trying for a big jump. But at this point, you do not want a big jump; you want your dog catching the object. Keep his focus on the object. So as your dog jumps, toss the object very short so he will stay focused on it and actually catch it. Do this type throw many times until your dog equates jumping off the dock with catching (or trying to catch) that object.

2. Gradually, toss the object farther and father, along with a little higher, each time. Remember, you want your dog to stay focused on the object and trying to catch it.

3. If you have the means and ability, rig up something to hang the object out over the water. People have used broom sticks, hockey sticks, boat paddles, PVC pipes. Use your imagination. What you want is the object suspended about 10 feet out over the water and about 4-5 feet high. (You can always adjust it as you see necessary.) Either you hold it or have someone else hold it so the object is hanging out over the water. Make sure your dog sees the object (the first time this is really important), release him to jump up and out for the object.

Now, it’s all up to YOU to throw that object where you want your dog to jump. If you throw it low, the dog is going to jump low. If you throw it off to the side, the dog will jump off to the side. If you throw it short, your dog will jump short. If you throw it flat, your dog will jump flat.

Remember, once you’ve trained your dog to chase that bumper, that’s exactly what he will do…no matter where it is thrown!

So, if you throw it right out in front of his nose and at the perfect angle, your dog will have a great jump with a lot of pop!

Here are some photos of Sally’s and Spud’s jumps with bad throws. You can readily see how a bad throw negatively affects the jump.

Throw is short and behind her. Sally is putting on the brakes in mid-air.

Throw is short and too low. Sally is bending over in a ball to catch it.

Throw is low and flat, and Sally’s jump is low and flat.

Throw is off to the side. Sally is trying to stop and turning to the side.

Throw is good, but Spud is not focusing on it…not even looking at it. Jump is flat.

Throw is too far. Sally stops stretching for it and goes straight in the water, giving up about 8-10 inches.

Throw is off to the side. Sally stops stretching and turns to watch the object.

Now, here are some photos of good throws. Notice the difference in the jumps. Sally and Spud are reaching, stretching, and getting good height and distance. Notice the pop!

Again, let me emphasize that the main goal of dock diving is to have FUN with your dog. In order to have fun, you do not need a perfect throw nor does your dog need a perfect jump.

So get up there on the dock….start throwing…and start jumping. No matter how it turns out, you will be successful because you will have had a great time with your dog, and the bond between the two of you will be even stronger.

See you on the dock

Nancy (the Trainer of Team 3 Dawg Flite)

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: labrador retrievers,dogs,dock diving,dock jumping,training

Teaching your dog to dock dive (Part 1)

So, you’ve decided you want to try dock diving. Now what do you do? Just how do you teach your dog to dock dive? Can your dog dock dive like Spud and me?

To answer these questions, I’m again turning this post over to my mom. She did pretty good with that post last week. Take it away, again, Mom!

Thanks, again, Sally.

First, let’s clarify one thing. For some reason, some people think they can take their dog up on the dock for their first time ever, and, and because their dog enjoys water and loves retrieving, the dog is going to jump like the seasoned dogs like Sally and Spud. Their thinking goes something like this: "My dog loves water, swims all the time and loves to retrieve. He's can easily do this." And the truth is, the dog probably will make a good dock diver.

But first, the dog has to learn that skill. Many folk, unfortunately, do not see dock diving as a learning experience.

You wouldn't take your dog to try agility and just put them out with the hurdles and ramps and say "Jump over the hurdle," or "Go up the ramp." The dog would just stand there, of course.

Well, that's exactly what happens on the dock. Someone who is certain their dog will be a great dock diver takes their dog up on the dock, throws the toy out there, and says, "Get it, boy." The dog runs to the end of the dock and stops with no earthly idea what he's supposed to do. The toy is left floating untouched out in the pool or lake and the handler is left frustrated.

Let me add here that yes, occasionally, a dog readily jumps the very first time like he’s done it all his life. Sally was like that. The first time she tried dock diving, she flew off the dock like she had been doing it all her life. But those scenarios are rare.

Just as you have to teach a dog other sports such as agility, you need to teach your dog to dock dive. For some dogs, the learning curve is small, so the teaching process only takes one day. For other dogs, the learning curve is a little greater, so the teaching process might take days or even weeks, maybe months.

One more word of advice before the "How To" steps. It is very important that your dog have a good recall before you go to practices. Most of the practices are at a pond or lake or river, so when your dog exits, he need to know to come immediately to you. If your dog runs off with the toy expecting you to play a game of chase, that could be not only an inconvenience for those waiting for their turn on the dock, but also dangerous for your dog and others. At an event, it's not as important because there is only one exit ramp, and you will be waiting for him at the top of that ramp. But most practices are more wide open spaces.

Now, the following tips should help most people get their dog to jump for the first time.

The First Jump

Step #1

Get your dog used to going in the water to retrieve objects, not from the dock, but just from the edge of the pool or lake. In other words, get your dog comfortable and enjoying retrieving in water.

Step #2
After your dog is comfortable retrieving objects in water, take your dog up to the very edge of the dock. Do NOT put your dog at the far end of the dock and throw an object like you see the seasoned teams doing. Start up at the edge of the dock. Drop the toy right under your dog's nose. Do not throw the toy out into the pool; just drop it right under the dog's nose and encourage him to retrieve/get it/fetch, whatever term you use. If your dog balks, get down with him. Point out the toy; splash water on it; act as crazy and excited as you can to get him revved up and wanting that toy. Here are some photos of some people doing just that as they try to get their dogs off the dock.

And of course, here’s me with Hoppy!

This part of the process might take just a few minutes, a day or two, weeks, or occasionally, months. It all depends on the dog. But eventually, your dog will go off that dock!

Even if your dog has jumped off a dock at the lake, jumping into a pool (like a competition pool) is a totally different experience. The water is clear, and often the dog cannot see the water. For all they know, they are jumping onto a big blue thing.

Here are a few photos of dogs and their first jumps (if you want to call them jumps). Often, it’s more like sliding off into the water!

Maybe not the best form in the world, but when your dog makes that first splash, it will seem like an Olympic moment to you!

Here’s a video of a dog from the Buckeye DockDog club going in for his very first time. This is quite typical…and really cute!

Step #3

After your dog does make that first jump, it’s up to you to praise, praise, praise your dog! Act like he’s just won some Grand Championship! Then get him right back up on the dock and do the exact same thing. But still, do not throw the toy way out into the water expecting him to jump for it. At this point, your dog might only be jumping 1-2 feet, if that far. That’s fine! You goal at this stage should be to let you dog become familiar with just going from the dock into the water. Distance is not a factor…yet.

Step #4

Once your dog is comfortable going from the dock into the water, start throwing the toy a little farther out there…not 20 feet yet, but maybe 7-8 feet. The dog should still be jumping from the end of the dock, but now the dog should be getting a little distance.

Step #5

As your dog becomes more comfortable jumping from the end of the dock, begin moving your dog farther back on the dock to start the jump. Maybe start the dog 6 feet back, then 10 feet back, etc. Make sure the dog is successful before moving him back any farther. Soon, you will be starting your dog all the way back on the dock!

If your dog runs down the dock, but hesitates at the end before jumping, that’s okay. It might take a while for him to gain the confidence to jump without hesitating and thinking about it first. Once that confidence factor is okay, the hesitation at the end of the dock will disappear.

Now, your dog is a dock diving dog for sure. How long will it take for your dog to reach this stage? Who knows? Some dogs become a dock diver in just one day, while other might take weeks or months. But it will happen!

Your next step is to improve on your dog’s distance and form. I’m sure Sally will be posting some tips for that endeavor in one of next week’s posts.

***NOTE*** Steps 3-5 are for the newbies whose dog jumps for the first time like the dogs in these photos…the ones who very hesitantly make that first splunge. If, the first time on the dock, your dog readily jumps out into the water, you can skip steps 3-5. Your dog is ready for Sally’s Part 2 post coming next week.

Let me say “Thank You” to Sally for allowing me to be a guest writer, again, in her blog. It’s always such an honor to partner up with such a great literary talent.

See you on the dock,

Nancy (the Trainer of Team 3 Dawg Flite)

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Thanks to the following people for contributing photos or video for this post: Whitney (Chicagoland DockDogs Club), April (Rocky Mountain DockDogs Club), Cindy (Mokan DockDogs Club), Ron (Puget Sound DockDogs Club), Christy (Puget Sound DockDogs Club), Sue (Club 3D), Kris (Club 3D)

Technorati Tags: labrador retrievers,dogs,dock diving,dock dogs,dock jumping

The Great Cuz Fight….a new video

My mom enjoys getting video footage of us playing. Although she has tapes full of it, we dogs are like the cobbler’s children who have holes in their shoes. We have all this footage on tapes, but no videos, even though my mom makes her living producing videos!

Oh well, when she does finally manage to crank one out, it’s usually really good, and this video is no exception.

Spud, Hoppy and I have lots of cool toys, but one of our favorites is our Cuz. Okay, Hoppy and I love the Cuz. Spud only really likes tennis balls.

The Cuz is a rubbery round ball-like thing with feet. And it makes an awesome squeaky sound. Hoppy is crazy over it. He’ll just walk all around the house with that thing in his mouth squeaking it….and squeaking it….and squeaking it….and squeaking it!

This morning my mom got some good footage of us playing with the cuz, and this time, she actually turned it into a video!

It’s pretty cool. Enjoy!

Click To Play

See you on the dock,

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: dogs,labrador retrievers,dock diving,dock jumping,playing,cuz

I’ll never understand humans

During our dock diving events, we dogs spend a lot of time in our crates, which to be perfectly honest, can be boring. So to pass the time, I enjoy lying there and watching everyone.

It’s fun checking out all the people and their dogs walking by. There is always someone with food…always some dog misbehaving…always some dog shaking water all over everyone. What a blast!

This extended crate time also gives me ample opportunity to think. I’m sure humans wonder just to what extent our cognitive skills take us canines, but we can analyze, evaluate, draw conclusions, predict, etc., and often times, better than humans. Trust me, I’m a master at analyzing my mom’s thoughts and actions to get exactly what I want. Yep, with my canine cognitive skills, I can play her like a fiddle.

But I digress…back on topic. At our last event in Charleston, while sitting in my crate, watching and thinking, my mind turned to a most valuable subject…our potty habits. It was then that I came to realize that I will never, ever completely understand humans, or at least my mom.

Let me explain. At the Charleston event, this was our bathroom.

Yep, that’s right. They expect us dogs to do our business out there in the wide open spaces…right in front of god and everyone. We have to put our little tushies right down there in the pine needles, grass, dirt, leaves, sticks, it doesn’t matter. We have no privacy, no toilet tissue, no doors to close, no seats, no fragrances to help with foul odors. It’s rough.

While sitting in my crate contemplating my next trip to the potty a la alfresco, I see my mom coming back from her own potty trip. She is whining and complaining about “these horrid bathroom facilities,” and how she hates going in “these things.”

What is she talking about? Is she NUTS? Her bathrooms are private, a pretty green color, and they have doors.

If she thinks going in those green boxes is bad, she should try putting her tushie down there on the ground with the pine needles, sticks, and chiggers!

What a wimp!

See you on the dock,

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: dogs,labrador retrievers,bathroom,dock diving,dock jumping,dock dogs

Dock Diving FAQs.....another guest writer. :)

My mom and I get a lot of people asking about trying dock diving with their dogs. They want to know where they can go try it, what they need, what type dog can do it, and many others.

I like questions about dock diving, because it gives me a chance to talk about my most favorite activity. But to answer these questions, I'm going to turn today's blog post over to my mom. (I don't think she can do much harm in just one post.)

So....take it away, Mom!

Thanks, Sally. Sally's right about people asking how to get their dog started in dock diving. I get these questions on almost a daily basis. So, here's a run-down of some of the most frequently asked questions and the answers.

1. Do you think my dog can dock dive? Potentially, any dog can dock dive. In order to be a successful dock diver, your dog needs at least these two qualities: 1) a strong toy drive or drive to retrieve, and 2) a love of water. Having both qualities almost assures that your dog will be successful. That's why Hoppy isn't a dock diver. He has neither a drive to retrieve nor a toy drive, and he doesn't like the water. But we're working on it!

2. Where can I find a place to dock dive? That is a good question. Our local dock diving club, Dixie Dock Dogs, is affiliated with DockDogs national organization which has local clubs around the country. Check with dockdogs.com by going to the forums and see if there's a club near you. If not, then just find a dock on a lake, pond, or river and start jumping!

3. What do I need to dock dive? Technically, all you need is an object to throw for your dog to retrieve. Depending on where you are jumping, you will probably need a leash to contain your dog when not on the dock.

4. Can I throw any type toy? What about food? The DockDogs rules say the object has to be floatable, non-edible, and not live or has never been live. That's all. But that pertains to events. I've seen people use all types of things at practices to get their dog off the dock. The use of treats at practice is certainly acceptable in order to lure your dog off the dock. But once your dog is jumping, then you should adhere to the event rules to get them used to the proper procedure.

5. Should I take my dog to an event or wait until he can go off a dock? Do not wait! Go to an event as soon as you can. There will be people to help you get your dog to jump. A dock diving event is definitely the perfect time to let your dog have his first dock experience.

6. Can I push my dog in the water if he won't jump? The DockDogs rules say no. So do our club's rules. I'm not sure about other clubs' rules. If you're jumping on your own, you know your dog better than anyone. I definitely wouldn't throw a dog in. That can be traumatizing, and he'll be turned off to any dock diving.

7. Can I get in the water to coax my dog in? The DockDogs rules say no, so at events, definitely not. But people in our club have gone in at practice to get their dogs in. I'm planning on going in the water to coax Hoppy in (after the water warms up).

8. Does my dog have to have a good sit/stay? No, not at all. There are two methods of throwing an object. The first is The Chase. That's where the dog sits and stays while you go to the end of the dock. release your dog, throw the object out over the water, and the dog jumps for the object. For The Chase, your dog does need a good sit/stay. The other method is Place and Send. That's where you throw the object out into the water and then release your dog from wherever you want on the dock. The dog jumps out into the water for the object which is floating in the water. Your dog does not need a sit/stay for the Place and Send method.

9. Does your dog have to be pure-bred or registered in order to be a dock dog? Absolutely not! DockDogs accepts any breed, any mixed breed, any size, any age, any color. Many of the very best dock diving dogs are rescues. It is a very open sport that welcomes all dogs.

10. Where can I find these rules you keep talking about? The rules for the DockDogs national organization can be found on their website. Practice rules for each individual club you can get from each club.

11. How did your dogs get their titles? In order for your dog to be titled, you have to first be a member of the DockDogs national organization. Then five jumps at national events within any title's range gives your dog that title. For example, the Junior Title range is 10'-14'11". Five jumps within that range at any of national events will earn your dog a Junior Title. It does not have to happen at one event. The five jumps can be at several different national events. (There are also Regional Titles which are earned the same way, but at regional events.)

12. I would like for me dog to do this, but he's too old. Not so! DockDogs has a Veteran's class for dogs eight years and older. These dogs have their own awards, their own titles, and their own rankings. They can also participate in the regular events and jumps as well.

If anyone out there in reader land has additional questions, please let me or Sally know. We'll gladly respond. I have a feeling there are a lot of great dock dogs out there waiting to be discovered.

Remember, your dog will never be a dock dog if you never give it a try. He'll never jump off the dock if he never gets up on the dock first!

Sally is preparing a "How To" post for those of you who want to actually give it a try. She'll probably post that next week, complete with some very entertaining photos of people trying to get their dogs to make that first jump. So, stay tuned!

Filling in for Sally (although I could never fill her shoes, or paws),
Nancy, the Trainer of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs
Dixie Dock Dogs video

White, wet cold stuff. Could it be......SNOW?

I've heard my mom and dad talking at times about the "Blizzard of '83." Now, I'm not sure if they are talking about 1983 or 1883. They're not all that old, so I'm assuming it's 1983. They said we got 7 inches of snow one day.

Snow. I've never seen it. Well, there was that icy stuff up in Louisville, but that wasn't snow. My mom has showed me photos and videos of dogs playing in snow....running, frolicking, playing happily. It looks like so much fun.

Well, we finally got our chance. Sunday, it started snowing, and it snowed....and it snowed....and it snowed....and then it snowed some more. By Monday morning, we had S-I-X WHOLE INCHES!

When my dad took us out Monday morning, I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything was white...not just a few blades of grass and some leaves like our usual snow. Our whole yard, the neighbors' yards, the streets, the driveway, all the trees, all the branches, our mailbox, our shrubs....everything was a bright white. It was actual, real, northern-type snow!

At first Spud, Hoppy and I just sniffed. All of our leaves, dirt, blades of grass...everything smelled so different with snow on it. But then my mom got out the Jolly Ball and the wubba, and the race was on. We had a blast!

Here's a video my mom made. Enjoy!

Click To Play

See you on the dock (or snow pile),
Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs
Dixie Dock Dogs video