T minus 5 hours and counting

Well, this weekend is the DockDogs National Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio. Team 4 Dawg Flite is almost ready to go. Our dad will be home around 2:00, and we leave then!

I am so excited. Spud is excited. My mom and dad are excited. Even Hoppy is excited. He has no idea why, but he’s still excited.

Badger, on the other hand, has no idea what’s going on. He really doesn’t get excited about anything very much anyway, but I can’t wait to see his face when he sees a dock diving event for the first time.

And speaking of Badger, my poor mom and dad have had their hands full. You see, Badger was a kennel dog, so they had to train him to be an indoor dog. WOW! I had no idea that would be so tough.

I kept telling him, “Daddy B (that’s that I call him), you don’t poop in the house. You poop outside! You are going to make Mom M-A-D if you keep pooping in the house.” But he didn’t listen to me.

He is getting better with the potty stuff.

Then there was the chewing and pacing and panting. My mom finally realized Daddy B was an OCD dog, especially with the chewing. They got him some medicine, and now he takes this big pill every morning. He is a lot better.

Now, back to our trip to the National Championships. We have something new…something really, really cool. You see, after we got Daddy B, I told my dad, “ We just aren’t going to have room back there in the truck for everybody and everything now. Believe me, I am the one in charge of the back, and I know there just won’t be room.”

So my dad went out and bought an equipment trailer. I thought, “Cool, now we dogs will have the entire back to ourselves. No crates to get in our way. No equipment cases. No ice chests. No tents. No chairs.”

But it was even better. My mom and dad had it wrapped with pictures of us. It looks AWESOME!

There is one side with photos of me:

There is one side with photos of Spud:

And then all four of us, plus our logo, are on the back:

Don’t you just love it!!

Now, it’s all packed with our equipment and stuff, and we are ready to roll. Keep your fingers crossed for Spud and me to jump BIG!

My mom wanted to let y’all know that she will update our results on Facebook, and if you would like to keep up with us in Cincinnati, you can “friend” her: Nancy Tillis Akin.

See you on the dock…or all FOUR DOCKS!

Sally, the Captain of Team 4 Dawg Flites

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

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

Happy Trails to You…Missouri, here we come!

I knew it. I knew it! When I saw the equipment case come out, I knew it was pack-up-to-go-to another-event time!

And this time, we are going to the Lincoln County Fair in Troy, Missouri. My mom said that this is an event hosted by the Gateway DockDog Club. What’s so cool about this club is that we’ve only been to events in the Southeast. But this time, we are venturing out west…crossing the Mighty Mississippi River!

Maybe she’ll stop and let me jump in the Mississippi River. Ya think so?

My dad and Spud are staying here. My dad has to save his days at work for our event next month in Milledgeville. And he doesn’t want to stay home alone, so he’s keeping Spud with him.

It didn’t take long yesterday evening for my mom to pack the car.

There’s our stuff. From L-R: rolly cart, gray travel box (and carton of water), equipment case top, equipment case bottom, EZ Up tent with chair, banners, and water sitting on top of it. Everything is sitting on our two crates.

Oops, she hasn’t packed her own bag yet. There’s no room for my mom’s clothes. That’s okay. We don’t have any clothes so why should she!

Usually, we take my dad’s truck. But since this time it’s just my mom and Hoppy and me, we are taking her SUV.

Okay. My mom said, “Come on Sally and Hoppy, Time to go.”

Of course, being the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite, I jumped up in the driver’s seat. Ready for take-off!

Then I had to check everything out. Make sure we were all cleared for take-off.

I told Hoppy to get in. He jumped up into his place back there by the equipment.

Then I noticed something.

Poor Spud. There he was sitting waiting for me to tell him to get in the car.

I said to him, “Spud, you went on the last dock diving trip with Dad up to Ohio. It’s our turn now. You stay here.”

But it didn’t help. He kept saying, “Hey, what about me?”

Then my mom came out and saw me in the driver’s seat!

“Sally!” “Get your little chocolate #^*% our of my seat and back there where you belong!”

You know, it’s funny. When she’s happy with me and talking all nice and sweet, I’m her “little chocolate dawg,” or I’ve got those “little chocolate paws,” or it’s “move your little chocolate bootie,” or it’s my “little chocolate nose.”

But when I’ve done something wrong…when I’m into something I shouldn’t be into…it’s always my “chocolate #^*%.” Go figure.

So it was back there with Hoppy where I am supposed to ride. Dang!

At least I can still be the navigator and supervise her as she drives.

Keep your fingers and paws crossed for me in Missouri that I jump big. I only need two more Master jumps to get my Master Title, so I could get it this weekend.

Well, we’re off. Can’t wait to see the Mississippi River. I am ready to JUMP!

See you on the dock,

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: dogs,labrador retriever,dock diving,dock jumping,dock dogs. mississippi river,travel

Virginia Beach, here comes Team 3 Dawg Flite!

Oh boy! We’re going on another dock diving trip this weekend. There’s a big event up at Virginia Beach, and we’re leaving as soon as my dad gets home from work tomorrow. Yippee and Yee-Haw!!!!!

Today is packing day, or at least start packing day. And it’s my job to make sure my mom doesn’t forget everything. I know she has a packing list, but it’s the Captain’s responsibility to make sure the flight is smooth and problem-free. So today, I’ll be following my mom around making sure everything is ready and packed.

Let me add right here…for those of you thinking about taking your dog to a dock diving event, you do NOT need all of this stuff. All you actually need is a leash and a throw toy. But because we travel so much, we take all of these things to keep us…especially our mom and dad…more comfortable and make things easier.

Okay, let’s see, we need…

shamwows (to dry us off)

old sheets and blankets (to put over our crates if needed)

my Power Bones (energy bars)

our treats

box with any meds we might need

Oxyfresh (add to our water for Hoppy’s bad breath!)

our competition vests

water dishes for our crates and food bowls for our meals

various bandanas so we can be “cute”

poopy bags for….well, you know

leashes and extra collars

our crates

the E-Z Up tent (2 in this pic, but we only take 1)

chairs for our mom and dad (we, of course, have those comfortable crates!)

our throw objects: (L-R Flappie, DFT/duck, bumper, Wubba)

Spud’s tennis ball (our dad decided he wants to try throwing this for Spud)

travel water dish and jug of water for us

Dixie Dock Dogs and 3 Dawg Flite banners to hang on our tent

ice chest full of drinks and snacks (for our mom and dad)

equipment case to carry all our “stuff” from hotel to event

cart to carry our crates, chairs, etc. from our truck down to the crating area

cart unfolds to look like this. cool, huh?

enough food for all three dogs for all the days we will be gone

Nylabones to keep us calm in the hotel room (good luck!)

old towels and lots of plastic bags because everything gets wet at dock diving events

our e-collar chargers and power strip (also for their cell phones and computer)

We wear the e-collars while traveling since we are in unfamiliar territory and stop at so many roadside places.

Whew! That’s a lot of stuff. And that’s just the stuff for us. It doesn’t even include my mom and dad’s stuff.

But when they start getting all of this stuff out, it sure gets me all excited. And I’ve followed my mom around all day today making sure she didn’t miss a thing.

I’m happy to report…..we are ready to goooooo!

Virginia Beach…..here comes Team 3 Dawg Flite!

Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite

Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

Technorati Tags: dogs,labrador retriever,dock dogs,dock diving,dock jumping,travel

Pack it up. We're off to Destin

Spud and I are going to Destin this weekend, to the SanDestin Resort, for a dock diving event. We are so excited! My mom began packing last night. I always know we are going on a dock diving trip when she gets out this big red box and starts putting stuff out on the table. And when that black and yellow equipment case comes out.....yippee!


Mom puts all the good stuff in the equipment case, because that's what goes to the event with us. (The red storage box stays in the motel room.) See what I mean? She puts bumpers and ducks and treats and all kinds of good stuff in that equipment case.

Sometimes Spud and I help her.

And then, once she gets everything packed, she loads the car. Boy, that is a job. She has to load crates, the ice chest, equipment box, storage box, her chair, water, her bag, and lots of other stuff.

Spud and I always supervise to make sure she doesn't forget anything. "Don't forget the chuck-it and tennis balls, Mom, so we can stop and play on the ride down there."

We think she did a pretty good job.

We will be back late Sunday night (or early Monday morning!). The only bad thing about this trip is that our dad can't go with us. He has to shoot some football or soccer or some type games up in North Georgia.

Wish us luck to jump big! Spud and I and our mom are very, very excited!!!

See ya on the dock,
Sally
The Fire of Team Fire and Ice
Dixie Dock Dogs

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