Practice for Dock Jumping in Michigan--new, need help!!

Hi! Loved the Outdoor show in Novi and we would like to get our dog jumping. We live in south central Michigan and are looking for help on training. Is there anyone out there who could get us going and is there any place to practice indoor or out? Would appreciate any help at all on getting started

Thanks!

Where exactly do you live? I don't know of any place indoor, but I'm from Coldwater and there's a great training dock that I've used for a few years now (assuming your dog can learn to ignore geese and doesn't mind being approached/stared by throngs of people during training haha) I just checked the water last weekend and of course it's thawed and deserted, so we're going to start jumping as soon as the little dog gets her courage up enough to make the plunge....it'll be freeeeezing. Let me know if Coldwater is anywhere near you....it's a pretty nice dock. There's also a dog park across the street.
And in Kalamazoo, I know of plenty dog-friendly swimming holes, so to speak, but not very many docks. Nice places to swim though!

Labwake wrote:being approached/stared by throngs of people

If you read that too fast you might think that said "people in thongs".

I've been reading stuff that isn't there lately. Maybe I need to have my eyes checked.

Hahaha I think the coon hound would be even more frightened of THAT than the children that always want to pet her

You can go to Currey's Family Pet Center in Romulus for dock training when they open the outdoor pond. It's a nice facility and they are a great help to newbies. I don't know what the rates are for this year though.

Did your dog jump at Novi or did you just see it there? What kind of dog do you have? Do they like water? How about toys? These are a few things you need before you try your dog for dock jumping. Now that spring is coming there will be places to do outdoor training. Pretty much anywhere you can get access to a dock and water without having the property owner or police getting after you is a good place to practice.

Did your dog jump at Novi or did you just see it there? What kind of dog do you have? Do they like water? How about toys? These are a few things you need before you try your dog for dock jumping. Now that spring is coming there will be places to do outdoor training. Pretty much anywhere you can get access to a dock and water without having the property owner or police getting after you is a good place to practice.

We went to Novi specifically to see the dogs jump. We saw them last year but at that time we were down to our last dog who was a 12 year old coonhound. We since have gotten a german shorthair pointer for pheasant hunting. My husband is training him for that now and he jut turned a year old. He is a high energy dog who likes the water and loves to jump over things so I though it would be fun to try dock jumping with him.
We have not tried anything yet so what's the best way to get started? Any ideas?

He likes ropes alot and a rubber ball that he's had since he was a puppy. He is used to dummies for bird training so that is also a possibility.

We live about an hour away from Currey's so thanks for that information. We will check them out as soon as the weather breaks.

Thanks!

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quote="Labwake"]Where exactly do you live? I don't know of any place indoor, but I'm from Coldwater and there's a great training dock that I've used for a few years now (assuming your dog can learn to ignore geese and doesn't mind being approached/stared by throngs of people during training haha) I just checked the water last weekend and of course it's thawed and deserted, so we're going to start jumping as soon as the little dog gets her courage up enough to make the plunge....it'll be freeeeezing. Let me know if Coldwater is anywhere near you....it's a pretty nice dock. There's also a dog park across the street. quote]

Coldwater is about 1 hour from us so it wouldn't be bad to try a few times. Our dog has never tried dock jumping so we need to get him going before we send him in to the freezing water .

Thanks for your help!

Are you close to the MI / IN border?

Not too far, about 1 hour.

Any place in North west OH??

LabWake,

I too am trying to get my 2-yr-old Black Lab/Irish Setter mix into jumping. We live between Battle Creek & Ka-Zoo, but there aren't any dog-friendly places to take her. Where is the Coldwater Dock?

Hi, sorry it's taken me so long to reply- I live on a glacier for 6 out of every 8 days, so I don't have interenet too often! Anyway, the dock in Coldwater is right on US 12; it's called Rotary Park.
If you're coming from Kzoo, I'd suggest taking 94 to 69, then take the exit AFTER Jonesville Rd. I think it's number 13....Jonesville is exit 16. Anyway, that'll dump you off right on US 12. Take a right off the highway. You'll follow that alllll the way through town. You'll go through 4 stop lights or so (6 tops) and you'll be headed out of town. At the last stop light is a Shell station on your right. About a mile past that, there will be a car dealership on your left. Just after the dealership is the entrance to the park. It's on the left. Let me know if you need better directions.

I just joined the forum and I live in Traverse City. I have a 3 year old Irish Jack Russell that is a jumper for sure! It looks like I am too late for the Cherry Festival and am bummed, because I think SONNY! would be a natural. I have done agility and some carting with him and he is definitely on or off. If one thing is for certain, we make people laugh! I love to keep him busy! Is there a club in TVC that I could join? or a place people practice?

jaklean wrote:I just joined the forum and I live in Traverse City. I have a 3 year old Irish Jack Russell that is a jumper for sure! It looks like I am too late for the Cherry Festival and am bummed, because I think SONNY! would be a natural. I have done agility and some carting with him and he is definitely on or off. If one thing is for certain, we make people laugh! I love to keep him busy! Is there a club in TVC that I could join? or a place people practice?

hey just come up to the event and they will let you try out the pool for a small fee. it is the best way to try it out

As luck would have it, I am able to get SONNY! in a Splash at the Cherry Festival. I am excited to let him try out the sport. Like I said, he is a jumper for sure, it will be fun to see him attempt the jumping. I am just happy that if he won't do it, that will be just fine as well......
Jackie

I visited the Curry Family Pet Center Today. They do have a jumping club and it looks like a pulling club. Pat curry gave me a schedule of practices and club meetings. He told me to email him and he'd send me more info. I'll be happy to share it with anyone interested. Carole