b'Serena credits Mako, a Belgian Malinois, for introduc- jumpers advancing to the finals. ing her and husband Nick to the remarkably diverse world The goal in the second category, Air Retrieve, is to alsoof competitive dog sports. They began training and com- jumpthefarthestwhilealsoknockinglosethebumperspeting when Mako was one year old. It did not take long attachedtoarighoistedtwofeetabovethepool.for Serena and Mako to become addicted to dock diving, as Each team has five attempts to complete three incrementalthey both share a drive to always be better, and the desire to distances.Inbothcategories,divesaremeasuredfromplease one another.In the years Ive been training and where the dogs tail first makes contact with the water. Thecompeting with Mako, Ive developed a keener sense of lis- average dive ranges from 15 to over 25 feet. Makos person-tening, watching, and learning more about dogs and the al best for distance is 29 feet/3 inches and for air retrieve itsrelationship they have with people, she said. 23feet.ThoseareofficialscoresthroughtheNorthEarlier this year, the American Council of Diving Dogs American Diving Dog (NADD) organization.Premier Cup, an invitational canine competition, assem- Dogs who enjoy the thrill of the fetch, big air and abled a variety of athletic dogs who possessed the perfect dive in the pool are good candidates for the sport. Nearlyblend of speed, reaction time and an amazing jumping abil- every breed was represented at the May event, including sixity. The WorldEquestrianCenterinOcala,Floridawas All-American Dogs, five Labrador Retrievers, four Germantransformed into the ideal pristine long jump course for the Shorthaired Pointer, three Border Collies, and 13 differentinvitational in May.There were two distinct categories in single entry breeds, including Kora, the Giant Schnauzerthe Diving Cup: Distance and Air Retrieve.and Mako. IntheDistance,handlersrevuptheirdogstorun Some teams had just one handler and the dog. Otherdown a 40 foot runway in pursuit of their favorite toy. The teams included two handlers, one to restrain the dog, theaim in distance is not to catch the toy, but to see how far other to provide direction. Serena and Nick team up without the dogs can dive. As the dogs launch into the air, they NickholdingMakoback.OnceNickreleasedMako,splash down safely into a 40 foot long pool. Each team Serena provided a little bit of direction without making anymakes two attempts in the semi-finals with the 10 longest eye contact. DOUBLE THE FUNSerena recentlyintroduced the familysGerman Shepherd puppyJuice, who is sevenmonths old,to dock diving. He lovesit! said Serena.24 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'