Possible Dock Jumping Club in West Michigan area

I was interested in the cost of a Dock like we used in Grand Rapids, and here's what I found out. A dock that we all could use would cost the west michigan UADer's 3500 dollars for a 40 foot dock on wheels that we could just roll into a lake somewhere with a truck or a 4 wheeler. Just so we could all get some practice throwing and keep our dogs in jumping shape while there are no jumps in the state. Any ideas? I think it would be awesome to start a club where we could put together a practice dock like Shari did on the East side of the state.

The cost would be very reasonable if we all pitched in a little. All we would need would be a location. Milt was telling me that a group in someplace like Virginia joined up with a veterinary clinic, and the jumpers bought the dock and the clinic put in a small lake that all the jumpers are able to use free of charge.

I think the west michigan people should put something together like this. Not that it would help us when its 10 degrees outside.

The hard thing is finding a lake that would allow it....I can't think of any honestly. We have a pond but it would get too shallow in the middle of the summer. I would be game if we could get it to work...

Just out of curiosity does any one have the info for the one on the east side of the state?

Laszlo's Botond wrote:Just out of curiosity does any one have the info for the one on the east side of the state?

It's not a club and I don't believe that it is a practice dock. She just happens to have a pond and dock in her back yard.

Yeah, she just built a dock in her pond. We did have an event there last year. You will have trouble finding a lake that will let you put your dock in it. Anywhere that has public access will have rules against not only putting in your dock (homeowners on lakes need to get permits sometimes to have a dock at their house) plus they will have restrictions about dogs. We looked at a lot of lakes around our house (I live in a sub with a private park on a lake) and couldn't find one that would let us use their dock. We finally asked my boss who lives on a lake to use his dock to practice on. He lives on a private lake with very little boat traffic so we are the big attraction when we have Rocky out there. The last time we practiced we had a couple boats out in the lake cheering for Rocky when he jumped. Might look for someone who has a pond that wouldn't mind if you used their pond with a limited number of other UAD'ers for some practice.

Just out of curiosity does any one have the info for the one on the east side of the state?

There is a training place in Romulus. It is a 40' dock into a man made pond. The dock is a bit high off the water (a bit more than two feet) but you can jump for about $10 an hour. We go fairly regularly during the summer months. We also have some other docks available to us (private) as well as a floating dock in Ann Arbor. I don't know where you are located, but I can pass on more information to you if you want.

Ann

With the number of inquiry's we had at in Grand Rapids this week I think someone has to either know someone or own property on a lake we could use. I know that there is a lake in Kent county here that has two public boat launches that are supposed to be closed down. Because if you heard anything about this lake it is called Cranberry lake and it is a real dangerous launch for cars in the winter because the road dead ends right into the lake. And several people died in that lake last summer. What is nice is this lake has very little motorboat traffic but has a lot of canoe and row boat traffic.

I think I can remember like 10 people looking to see if there dog would even jump in a lake off a dock that talked to me this weekend thats why I think a club would be cool. Not only for us UAD'ers to practice but to help future UAD'ers get involved, and know if there dog is going to jump before they pay the 15 dollars for a splash and they don't even have an interest in jumping.

Thanks i line in the Flint area. I do have use of a private pond. It has a railroad tie dock on it. However it is no where near 40' more like 15' Also if there is anyone in the area that would like to meet to practice there I am sure I can get use of it. My firend wont charge us but I do try to do something nice like give him a gift card somewhere from time to time for helping me with bo (hunt training) he is a hunt trainer and letting me use his land whenever i want. I just was looking for a place that might have a regulation dock.

I don't know where you could park a portable dock, but if we can find a decent place to practice, I'd love to join West Michigan club. We weren't able to make it to the GR event over the weekend, but Indy's already been in the river a few times since the ice broke up

Gosh, don't all these people who live on lakes know that they could make a fortune leasing their dock

Maybe, if we can talk someone into allowing the use of their private dock we could all chip in a few dollars per practice to compensate the owner. I don't know anyone with a dock, just saying that for some people, that might negate the inconvenience of having a bunch of strangers and dogs on their property.

A closed down boat launch would be great. Usually the docks are at least 4 ft wide and should be at least 25-30ft long. The area I live in has A TON of lakes and there aren't any that have secluded launches. We did teach Rocky to jump off the back of our boat and climb back in from the swim platform with very little help.

rocketdog wrote:A closed down boat launch would be great. Usually the docks are at least 4 ft wide and should be at least 25-30ft long. The area I live in has A TON of lakes and there aren't any that have secluded launches.

Well, in the Allegan State Game Area there are a number of very secluded lakes, including Ely Lake, which has a boat launch. I haven't been out there during what is probably high camping season, but when I have gone out, I'm the only person. The lady in the office is very helpful, she was the one that told me I could take my dog to the boat launch at Ely Lake because it's rarely used since they opened a campground and swimming area elsewhere. I'm not sure how much leeway they have but she might be willing to help work something out. It is a little out of the way for people who aren't in Allegan County, you'd have to take 131 and get off at either Martin or Plainwell, from there it's about ten minutes to Allegan and probably another 15 to the lake that I'm thinking of.

http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/sga/asga_foot.pdf

I agree it is hard to find a place to practice. I have considered starting a practice club on the east side, however, many of you know what my work schedule is like and there are also liability issues to consider. So at this time, Matt is correct, I just have a pond and a dock.

On the event note: many of you have asked and I am working on scheduling an event date. I'm home for awhile so I can compare the summer schedule to mine and see what we have left With any luck we will have vertical this year too!!!!! I think the event also needs a better name than the Pine River Pond Event. Any Suggestions??

I'll start a thread to get your event a new name.

Shari's Super Summer Splash (S4).

i have intentions of putting a dock in at my grandfathers pond this spring its about 90 min north east of muskegon. hes already told me that i can have people come over to jump on the weekends so that would be a place if any one was intrested in some weekend fun.