Gail has given some fabulous advice...

diving did not start right away for Jackson, he never had huge toy drive. I had to build it in him. He still doesn't have EXTREME drive when it comes to toys, but for some reason he just LOVES going after a bumper in the water.

I think, for him, he always wants to be doing what I'm doing and where I am- so he saw me in the water and wanted to join. The lifejacket also gave him a lot of confidence when it came to jumping in. I never forced him in the water but would encourage him a lot, and also used treats to reward him when he got out.

He is now my swimming fool. I so wish Razzle could meet Jackson! I think they'd be an awesome pair!

Good luck to anyone else trying. I LOVE to see people doing things with their yorkies in general. Their little bodies and minds need to stay active and it's completely possible! It's just a matter of training, time and patience.

Brit for sure one day we and our boys shall meet! I agree you never force dogs to go in swimming; you entice them. It might take months, but who cares? My lovely late Zoey, who was in the water for 3 summers, it was only the last day of our vacation last summer that she actually, took her courage in hand, and swam after that toy, that Magic and Razzle always wanted to get!. She was a timid lass. But that last day in the water, Oh My she tried to outswim Magic, and even beat him once or twice to the toy!

oh gail thank you for all this advice I am going to try it this evening and then again tomorrow evening. I have both things going for me Lola loves the water and is over the top toy driven, so over the top about her toys that I am afraid she will get hurt because she is so intent on it that she does not pay attention to her surrounding.

Whenever we are near water, seems like she has to go in, we walk around the lake and Lola looks for this one spot she loves to swim at and just automatically runs down and starts leaping along the shore line, she really seems to love running in the water, then after some running she will swim out further. I have her on a retractable leash for the walk so she can not go as far as she would, but LOL one of these days I am going to fall on the rocks as I run along the shore with her.

Gail I am assuming you are near Toronto, I will be at Niagara on the Lake with Lola the third weekend in Sept. , Are any of the places you go to near there. Brit wish you were closer also, not only would Jackson and Lola play and swim together, you could help teach me about videos

The place I went to in Brantford, would be less than one hour away from Niagara on the Lake.

The name of the spot you can see in the poster on the pics I submitted here. Here is their website www.Carneysk9swimclub.com
Heather McCleod heather@ruffsport.ca organizes the dock jumping days. She has a facebook page but I don't know how to link it.

I'm not sure when her next day is. It is on thing I'm trying to find out. Not sure but she might be out of town this week.

It would be grand fun if we could meet each in Brantford!.

here is the first video we made, and I don't know how to edit it, so bear with me.
The filming was done by Hope an 11 year old girl I mentor and my husband is throwing the toy, LOL at his shorts he was working on our boat and those are his "work shorts."
We had trouble capturing everything, I guess we will have to move back further. I wanted to share it with you so you could get a good laugh out of my training technique The actual dive does not take place until half way through the video. Notice at the beginning of the clip how long her tail hangs down, I am thinking I might have to trim it soon

Lola is sooo freaking adorable. I just love a water dog. They are so much fun. She's doing fantastic diving! I wish I had a good dock to practice on.

Lola's tail is SO long!
Jackson does that thing too - sometimes he will just jump and jump over and over again. And then sometimes I'll throw it and be like "come ON Jackson! Why aren't you doing it?" typically it's when the camera comes out :rolleyes: Go figure!

I know we are lucky to be able to do this in our backyard, but you are lucky having a pool. unfortunately the season is to short. I want to do it again tonight, but I can't always get someone to help, it really takes two people to video and throw the toy, my husband is so busy working on one of our boats it's hard to even get him to walk in the backyard down to our dock

Loved your video. What fun it is to do this stuff with our dogs!:)

Okay so I can't believe I'm giving techie advice on shooting. LOL LOL. But get a tripod, place your video camera on it, and then press the record button, you can edit out any stuff you don't want later. The Dock Diving video I made called Magic and Razzle was mostly done this way; all by my lonesome; as hubby was fishing every day.

From what I've seen, you don't need to be in the water with your pup. She looks confident enough, plus she has a life vest on. Every day you do some dock jumping with her, start much closer to the end of the dock. Maybe 4/5 feet away, get her revved up with the toy, and then release her and throw the toy at the same time, using the command that you have trained her for to retreive or fetch.

I make like you a Big deal when they fetch the toy from the water, clapping, and oohing, and saying Well Done, Good Boy.

By the end of the summer your gal is going to be a Pro!

Thanks Gail, so are you saying that we should have the camera behind us on the dock, if that is the case I would be afraid that not only would I be in the video plus LOL my big but would block her from being seen. When we were shooting the sun was to the left side of the dock, so I thought we should stand with the sun to our back. My neighbor asked if I wanted to borrow his tripod and I said no because I thought I would have to be moving to follow the action, is that not what I need to do.

Oh gosh and golly gee. For the most part a tripod is great, you can set it up at what ever angle you need to get "most of the scene and action in" and yet still keep yourself mostly out of the video, (well for sure some parts of your anatomy;)) Where the camera should be placed depends on what kind of "shot" video you are looking for. behind both of you on the dock, will show the set up of the pup, the throw, the chase, and the entry into the water. I set up mine to the side, so as to get the videos of some of the running action, the lift off, the entry and splash, and some of the swim to retreive. This is of course for when you are alone, and when I used the tripod. If need be you can edit out the "bits of action" you don't want to include.

Now I got that GoPRO camera, cause it is waterproof, and I think it will be awesome to get a shot directly on to the pups face as he/she jumps for the toy. Of course that means the photographer has to be in the water for that:):) I also this vacation want to figure out someway to attach said camera to the pups when diving:D

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and may not be on line for a week or so.

Let me know if you want to meet up re: Niagara on the Lake. We could go to Balls Falls:D:D I kid you not that is truly the name of a Provincial Park here in Ontario that is very close to Niagara on the Lake.

I would love to meet up at NOL, I just went on the web site for Balls Falls it looks like a cool place is it a good place for dogs? We will be getting in on Friday night and leaving Monday, depending on weather one day we want to ride our bikes to the falls, I have a great basket for Lola and she loves riding in it. Of course we will be wine tasting. Do you work, if not maybe Monday would be good since it seems like it is toward the direction of going home. I will PM you my phone number and we can talk when you get back from your vacation, where are you going?

For sure PM me your phone number. We have never yet been to Balls Falls. Yes I do work, and Monday is a very busy day for me. Sunday would be the best day for me, or Saturday afternoon.

We shall keep in touch. Let's hope there will be dock diving in Brantford on Sunday!!!!!!!!

ohh this is exactly what i want jobi to start doing and rally-o. but i have to build his confidence up first and tolerance to noises and people moving and of course get rid of his hate for water lol. nothing a good push in the neighbours pool won't do Bwhahhahahaa. i think i might just invest in a walmart 5 foot pool this summer and get the dogs swimming and practice here.