These dogs can fly!

I attended a Dock Dog competition this past weekend and here are a few highlights. I have seen this on TV before but it was so much fun in person. There is a 40 foot long ramp that the dogs run down and then they launch themselves out and into a swimming pool in pursuit of their toy or duck decoy. The competition is open to anyone and their dog so there was lots of 1st timers there. They were fun to watch to see if they would even make the jump. And then there was the pros. These dogs jumped so high and far it was amazing! The longest jump I saw was 23 feet and I guess the record is over 26 feet. And they measure to where their butt touches the water not the nose. There are more images here. http://www.pbase.com/d​edsen/dock_dogs&page=1

Number 2 doesnt look so sure of himself.

Yea Click, that is a 6 month old pup just getting started. I think it was trying to slam on the brakes but still went over the edge. I enjoyed the expression of the Rot handler. She is funny as you watch the progression of the full series of her dog.

Wow, lovely looking time they were having! I love dog pictures! Good shots! I have a rottador (lab/rottie mix) he looks like that last dog as far as form goes, he jumps in the pool like that! Thanks for sharing!
Oh I was checking out the gallery.. very nice!

No 2 is humorous. Nice pics...

The dog looks fine, it's the handler that looks not so sure of herself.

Great action shots.

Some of those handlers look like they should be the ones running down the ramp...

Nice series. Love #2 with the dog slamming on the brakes in mid air. Put a cape on the Rot and you have Superdog

Thanks for all the comments. I am going to go back next year and try to do better on the focus. The camrea had a harder time locking in on the all black dogs. Not enough contrast I guess. There were a couple of border collies that were mostly black but with some white spots and it locked on them fine. I still got some good expression with these using AI Servo and 8fps drive. I just had to remember to turn and duck when they hit the water to avoid the big splash.

Dale -- love the shots. I was just up on the Dock Dogs site the other day trying to see if they had any events in the Chicago area. I would love to go and photograph them. Great shots.

These really made me smile today. My boy Mack would have jumped like that for his ball.

neat shots. thanks!