• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

A jumping doggone good time

July 5, 2022 By Mike Camunas

These dogs aren’t sitting on the dock.

Nope.

Rusty, a 5-year-old chocolate Labrador, jumps and reaches for the air to retrieve apparatus at the pool at Courteous Canine, a dog training and boarding facility in Lutz. Rusty is the No. 2-ranked Labrador in the United States, according to statistics from North American Diving Dogs, the sanctioning body over the sport of dock diving. (Mike Camunas)

They’re running down it and jumping right off — with no hesitation.

After a huge splash, most dogs are back up on the dock before the water has even settled.

“Some dogs love it; I think most dogs love it,” said Diving Dog Instructor Joe Souza. “We get little old ladies with chihuahuas that jump, to Great Danes that jump, to everything in between.

“To be honest, there are worse ways to spend your day than with dogs at the pool.”

Dog dock jumping at Courteous Canine, a dog training and boarding facility in Lutz, is quite popular. Any dog, of any size, can come and learn to dock dive.

The diving can be just for fun or for competitions governed and sanctioned by North American Diving Dogs (NADD).

Three-year-old black lab Rylee runs up the ramp at the pool at Courteous Canine, in Lutz, so he can jump back in the pool as soon as possible.

In fact, the NADD limits the number of dock diving facilities, so they can be no closer than within 100 miles of each other.

“Some people train here, some people show up for competitions and some people just bring their dogs so they can jump off the dock,” said Souza, who has four dogs that dock jump. “When it comes to (my dog) Rusty, if he had to choose between breathing, eating and dock diving, he’s choosing dock diving.”

Rusty, a 5-year-old chocolate Labrador, is actually nationally ranked as the No. 2 Labrador at dock diving, according to NADD.

His personal best jump is 30 feet. The world record is 36 feet, 11 inches, and held by a whippet.

Courteous Canine Diving Dog Instructor Joe Souza sends Rusty high into the air after a toy, at the facility’s pool in Lutz.

Souza says dogs are usually competing against themselves, in that they’re just trying to get a personal best in each level. Levels are determined by length. Novice is up to 10 feet, while the top jumpers are in the premiere level, which is 28 feet or longer.

Courteous Canine also hosts competitions.

Souza says the facility has dogs, and owners, who take those very seriously. They’ll compete throughout the year, including at nationals, which is held in St. Louis.

Ashley Gandees, of Wesley Chapel, is an owner who does everything for her Great Danes. Her 2-year-old, Dazzle, competes in several types of competitions, and Gandees didn’t hesitate when she found the dock jumping facility a few miles away.

“She was jumping off the dock by the second lesson with Joe,” Gandees recalls. “I never thought she would be so good at it. She’s holding her own at competitions, getting up to about 20 feet. Really it was just something else I wanted the dogs to be able to do and be more well-rounded dogs.

“She definitely loves doing it.”

Courteous Canine
Where:
3414 Melissa Country Way, Lutz
Details: A dog training and boarding facility that also specializes in swimming and dog dock jumping lessons. The dock jumping sport and competitions are under the sanctioning body North American Diving Dogs (NADD).
Info: Visit CourteousCanine.com, or call 813-949-1465. For more information on NADD, visit NorthAmericaDivingDogs.com.

Published July 06, 2022

Chip, a black Labrador, waits, somewhat patiently, to be let back into the diving area at the pool, at Courteous Canine.
River, left, and Rusty, right, tug over a floating toy in the pool at Courteous Canine, in Lutz.
Dazzle, a 1-year-old Great Dane, leaps after a toy at Courteous Canine, in Lutz. Her owner, Ashley Gandees, of Wesley Chapel, brings Dazzle to weekly dock jumping sessions and has entered her in competitions, as well. (Courtesy of Joe Souza)
Rusty gladly returns his floating toy, so he can once again jump off the dock into the pool at Courteous Canine and retrieve it.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

September 5, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

August 29, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Time is running out on your chance to live at Del Webb Bexley. We’ve built the ideal active adult community to suit your … [Read More...] about Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

09/29/2023 – Teacup Fairy Garden

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., will host a thrifty craft project for adults on Sept. 29 at 9:30 a.m. Participants can make a teacup fairy garden. Registration is required. Call 813-780-0064 for more information. … [Read More...] about 09/29/2023 – Teacup Fairy Garden

09/29/2023 – Worship Concert

The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Center will present “The Wonder of Worship Concert” on Sept. 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Road. Admission is free. For information, call 813-943-9773, or visit TheCathedralOfWP.com. … [Read More...] about 09/29/2023 – Worship Concert

09/30/2023 – Great Discoveries

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host Charles Zidar, executive director of MAPS, for a lunch adventure, on Sept. 30 at noon. Participants can hear a talk on ancient Greek and Roman cultures, while museum artifacts are brought to your table as you eat. There will be a second session on Oct. 7 at noon to discuss ancient Mayan culture. Tickets are $28 plus taxes and fees, which includes lunch and the presentation. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/45yx47C. … [Read More...] about 09/30/2023 – Great Discoveries

10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Drawing Workshop: Exquisite Corpse, on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as part of its Museum + Art Series. Participants can learn about the exquisite corpse drawing method and create a drawing inspired by surrealist artists. Registration is required; call 727-815-7126. To learn more, visit MOMA.org/collection/terms/exquisite-corpse. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host Teen Halloween Games and Crafts on Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 13 to 17. Supplies will be provided. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a porch book sale on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring all genres of books including novels, nonfiction, biographies, sewing, cooking, self-help, and more. The porch sale takes place every Tuesday. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: