I am in the Waterford area and live on a lake that is how it all started, most small dogs detest the water but for some reason she kept dropping her ball off the steps to the lake and running in to get it. The competition was in Novi at the pet Expo, it's put on by Ultimate Air Dog, in the summer they have a set up in Shelby township where they have weekly dive sessions. Over Memorial Day weekend there is dock diving at the big pet expo in Frankenmuth. My advice would be to be to first see how he feels about the water, go somewhere shallow and play with the ball in the water, let him float on a small raft and push the ball off and see if he will go in after it. I think to get a dog to do this is they have to be EXTREMELY toy driven, Lola would run through fire to get to a toy that squeaks, so with her I think it's more about wanting the toy than wanting to dive. But diving does not phase her so that's why we do it. Small dogs also get hypothermia more easily than a big dog does so don't keep him in to long if the water is cold, and make sure to get him dry. That is why I bring lots of towels and a hairdryer to these events because Lola will start to shiver pretty bad if I don't. Last year I let her stay in the lake to long and I could tell it took a long time to warm her up. You are also welcome to bring him here next year, I am assuming you are a good hours drive based on your zip code. |