Meet my other brother and my sister

Y’all thought I just had two brothers, didn’t you. Spud and Hoppy. Well, I actually have three brothers. One of them is a human brother. His name is Brian. He and his wife, Kim, came to visit me the other day. I really, really, REALLY like Brian because he plays with me…throws balls for me and is cool. Here is Brian with our mom.

Don’t they look just alike! And not only that, but they act a lot alike. Kim is always saying how much alike they are. (Kim and Brian have been married for five years.) Brian and Kim live in a town called Suwanee. It’s about 40 miles from us.

Brian and Kim have a Boxer named Heidi. I really like Heidi also, but sometimes when we are together, I get a little rough for Heidi. We Labs like to run and retrieve and play rough. But Heidi likes to play nicely with her toys. I don’t care I still love Heidi.

This is Heidi, Spud, and me back on Easter of 2008. Brian was playing with us.

This is back when we all went to Bark in the Park at an Atlanta Braves game. Brian and Kim and Heidi went with us. Here are Brian and Kim with Heidi sitting on Brian’s lap.

When Brian and Kim left to go back home the other day, I overheard him talking to my mom and saying that they would be back soon and we would all go to the park to play. COOL! YIPPEE!

Now, I want you to meet my sister, Bonny. She lives in New York City, so I don’t get to see her very often. Neither does my mom, and that sometimes makes her sad. Bonny has lived up in NYC for nine years. My mom still hopes that one day she will move back down here, but I’m not sure when or if that will happen.

Last week, my mom went up to visit Bonny. It made her very happy to see Bonny again. It had been a year since they had seen each other. Here’s a photo that they took of themselves up on Bonny’s apartment building overlooking the river and the city. (Bonny lives in New Jersey right on the river.)

Bonny is really cool, too. She likes to play with me also, especially when I was a little puppy. I remember when my mom and dad brought me home, it was December. I was just a little 8-9 week old puppy. Bonny came home that year (2006) for Christmas, and she played and played and played with me. I loved her to death and didn’t like it when she went back to New York. This is Bonny with me that Christmas.

Maybe one day Bonny will move back down here closer to us. I hope so. So does my mom.

Well, that’s my human brother and sister. Now you know my whole pack!

See you on the dock,

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: dog,new york city,boxer,labrador retriever,family

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

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

My mom's been busy, busy, busy!

You should see my mom's studio. It's small, but completely packed with computers, drives, printers, monitors, scanners, DVD players. You name it; if it's video-related, it's stuck somewhere in that small room. (This is just her working area. The storage area is another room.)

This is her editing corner. The photo is a couple of years old. There are a bajillion new drives over there now.

And this is her business corner. Again, an old photo. She's updated her computers and monitors, but it still shows all of her gadgets, or toys, as she calls them.


Lately, she's been on her business computer a lot.....a whole lot. I've wondered what she's been up to.

Well, she finally revealed it to us. She made a 3 Dawg Flite website!

Now, how cool is that!

I've been looking it over, and I must say, it's pretty thorough. Here's the link to it. What do you think?

Team 3 Dawg Flite Website

See you on the dock,
Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs
Dixie Dock Dogs video

And the new name is.....(drum roll, please)

....Team 3 Dawg Flite. Yep, that's our new name now that Hoppy is an official member of our team. He doesn't dock dive yet. Heck, he doesn't even retrieve or swim yet, but our mom and dad say he will. They are working on it.

Okay, back to the new team name. Our mom and dad are pretty excited about it and even have us a brand new logo. Notice the three colors of the dogs: chocolate for me, dark yellow for Hoppy and light yellow for Spud. Now, how cool is that!!!

So, now the problem becomes, how do I go about changing over this blog? I've changed the title and all the stuff actually on the blog. But the website address is still the same (teamfireandice.blogspot.com). My mom is going to have to help me change that.

Then we have to change all the places we've signed up for to promote my blog! Accckkkk! That is going to be a pain, because I'm not sure I kept a track of them all.

Oh well, in the words of my mom's immortal hero, Scarlett O'Hara, "I'm not going to think about this today. I'll just think about it tomorrow."

See you on the dock,
Sally, no longer the fire, but the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite!
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs
Dixie Dock Dogs video

"Dad, you're doing W-H-A-T??????"

Oh no, I didn't hear what I thought I heard. I can't believe it. No, no, it must be a mistake. Or I'm dreaming. Yeah, that's right. It's all a bad dream, and I'll wake up soon.

I would have sworn that I just overheard my mom and dad talking about Dad going to a dock diving event and taking just Spud! And not me! It can't be.

They were calling it something like a Super Retriever Series and that it was in some place called Huntsville, Alabama.

Stay tuned for this one. I've got to do some investigating.

See you on the dock,
Sally, the Fire in Team Fire and Ice
Dixie Dock Dogs
Dixie Dock Dogs video

Daddy, when are we going to get there!

I really like going places with my mom and dad, and of course, Spud. Sometimes when I go some place with just my mom, it's not always fun. Sometimes, it's just to a building where she drives up to some window and talks to a lady. (I think she calls it a bank.) Or we will ride down to some other big building with lots of cars and people and the letters K-R-O-G-E-R on the front. Then she always leaves me in the car while she goes in that big building. She never stays long, and I actually like looking all around at the people while she is in there.

Other times we go to this really neat store where I can go in with her and get our dog food. Sometimes we go to this place where she pulls up to a big tall thing and shuts off her car. She gets out and puts a big hose into the back of the car.

Going on these "errands" (that's what my mom calls these trips) with my mom is okay. But when my mom and dad take me and Spud in my dad's truck, it's ALWAYS for a fun time! We are either going dock diving or to play chuck-it at the ball field or somewhere really, really neat.

So when we are traveling together, I'm always very anxious to see what's up now. This is the way I let my dad know I want to get there NOW!

Usually, when I do this, he'll say something like, "Oh, Stinky!" (that's what he calls me) But if I get no response at all from him, I'll sigh really loud...right in his ear. That gets his attention. (hee-hee!)

I love my dad. But I'd love him even more if he would just hurry up and get Spud and me to the next fun time!!

See you on the dock,
Sally
The FIRE of Team Fire and Ice

Meet Spud: The Ice of Team Fire and Ice

Well, like I promised, I'd like you to meet my brother, Spud. He's a 1-year-old yellow lab and a very good-looking boy! We got Spud last January from my breeder, Sumo Labradors. My mom called my breeder, Patty, and told her they wanted another lab. But this time, they did not want a little puppy. She asked Patty if she had an older lab. Patty said, "You bet. I've got just the dog for you." And that dog turned out to be Spud!

At first I didn't like Spud very much. For about three days, I pouted and wouldn't play with him or even play with my mom and dad. I did not like that big yellow thing being in my home! But soon I realized that my mom and dad still loved me just as much and that Spud was actually fun to play with. Besides, I could boss him around!

Spud is very different from me. I'm all business, very intense about everything I do whether going for a walk or retrieving, or even just playing in the yard. Spud, on the other hand, is so mellow and laid-back. I don't even think that boy knows the meaning of the word "intense." My mom and dad are always saying how sweet and loving he is. That's true. Spud has the kind of face that just melts people's hearts. My mom is going to have him certified to be what she calls a Therapy Dog. I'm sure Spud will do quite well!!

My brother didn't like dock diving at first. As a matter of fact, he would sleep through all of my practices and even slept through one of my events one time. He had no interest at all. Here is a short video of my mom and dad trying to get him interested. You can see, he only wanted to run around and play.

Click To Play

But then, all of a sudden, one day Spud began acting like he wanted to go up on the dock. Then he wanted to jump in the water. And now he dock dives....just like me! As a matter of fact, he's gotten so good that he is jumping as far as me at times.

Here's a photo of my dad and Spud at his first event. He won a medal for participation. Doesn't he look handsome!!!



And here's another video of him jumping at a practice recently. (There's a little of me also!)

Click To Play

You can see how he's improved! As a matter of fact, at a recent event in Columbus, Georgia, Spud set a new personal best of 17'10" which is only 3 feet less than my personal best!! He also got his Senior Title. That's quite amazing, considering the fact that only 5 months ago, he was sleeping through all of my practices and events!

Here are some photos of Spud dock diving. This one was at the Nashville event.

These photos were from the Columbus, Georgia event. I especially like the first one. Spud has such a goofy smile on his face as he's going off the dock.

And here are a couple of photos of Spud at practice.

And here are a couple of my favorite photos of me and my brother, Spud!

So...now you know Spud, the Ice of Team Fire and Ice. He's a good boy and a great little brother. I think I'll keep him!

See you on the dock,

Sally, the FIRE of Team Fire and Ice

Sally: The Fire of Team Fire and Ice

Hi, my name is Sally, and I'm a dock diver. As a matter of fact, I'm a dock diving addict. I'd rather dock dive than anything....well, I do love belly rubs almost as much!

I'm a chocolate lab and a member of Dixie Dock Dogs, and we practice every weekend. My brother, Spud, is a yellow lab and together we make up Team Fire and Ice, a dock diving team.

I've been to several competitions and won medals, ribbons and certificates. Here are the first ribbons I ever won. It was at a competition in Jacksonville, Florida. I came in third place!!! It was so exciting for both me and my mom.

And here is a picture of me with my mom with the first medals I ever won. I won them at a competition in Columbus, Georgia. The big medal that looks like a star was for 2nd place in Speed Retrieve. Here's a link to some photos that show me doing one of my Speed Retrieve runs. Wow! Can you tell how intense I was and how much I wanted to win. So did my mom!! The other smaller medals were for a couple of second place finishes and one third place finish in the waves (qualifying rounds).

Take a look at this music video my mom made of me at practice one day. I think you can tell how much I LOVE DOCK DIVING!!

Click To Play

Here are some other photos of me dock diving. I hope you like looking at them. I certainly liked jumping way out there in the air! It's called "getting big air." Right now I can jump over 20 feet...when I really, really try. But I pretty consistently hit 17 - 20 feet all the time. These first photos are of me jumping at a competion I went to in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Here are a couple of photos of my very first competition. It was in Destin, Florida.

Here are a few from my practices. I'm trying to show you how acrobatic I can be!

Thank you for looking at my photos and video and reading my blog. Next time I'll introduce you to my brother, Spud. And I'll try to keep you updated on all the fun we're having dock diving...and doing other activities.

See you on the dock...

Sally, The Fire in Team Fire and Ice