Practice Makes Perfect!

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 4 Comments

On Sunday, Cello attended Chesapeake DockDog’s practice at Detour Winery in Keymar, MD in preparation for her Regional Competition coming up in August!

Hooch came along to cheer Cello on, and to (hopefully!!) watch how dock diving is done!

Cello practiced her Big Air distance and did really well!

Brian decided to try Cello at Extreme Vertical … and she did awesome for her first time! She grabbed the bumper at 5’4″ !

Here is a video of Cello doing Extreme Vertical for the first time!

Cello will be competing August 1 – 3 in the North Eastern Regionals in Somerville, MA, in hopes to earn an invitation to the DockDogs Worlds Championships in November! GO CELLO!

Cello now has a profile on Chesapeake DockDogs website! Check it out HERE!

Overall, it was a gorgeous day spent with lots of great people and pups!

Codorus Blast, Hosted by Keystone DockDogs, Hanover, PA

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

This weekend Cello participated in Codorus Blast dock diving event, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, hosted by Keystone DockDogs. This event was held in Codorus State Park.

This dock was set up right in the Lake Marburg!

This was an especially exciting event for us! Cello set a new personal best – not once, but THREE times this weekend as she soared 23′ 1″ then 23′ 6″ then 23′ 7″ !! How awesome is that?! These were all Elite jumps (one division higher than her current Master division title). Elite jumpers jump between 23′ and 24’11”. She even qualified for the Elite Division Finals, and finished 4th against some HUGE jumping dogs! We are so proud of her! Brian and I were recapping our weekend, and we were just amazed at Cello’s improvement since her first-ever dock diving event just 9 months ago.

We had a great weekend hanging out in our little “tent city” with great people we have met through dock diving! Lots of members of Chesapeake DockDogs and Keystone Dockdogs were in attendance.

Uncle Johnny and Aunt Joyce even came to cheer on Cello!

Cello in Slo-Mo!

Cello’s results from Codorus Blast:

Friday:

20′ 4″ 23′ 6″ First Place Division Elite Medal **Her FIRST Elite Division Medal and new personal best!!!

Saturday:

21′ 3″ 23′ 1″ First Place Division Elite Medal

23′ 6” 22’11” First Place Division Elite Medal

23′ 0 23′ 7″ First Place Division Elite Medal **New personal best!!

Sunday:

22′ 8″ 22′ 9″ Third Place Masters Division Medal

22′ 0″ 22′ 0″ First Place Masters Division Medal

Finals: Cello was in her first Elite Division Finals!!

22′ 8″ 22′ 3″ Fourth Place Elite Division Ribbon

Cello and her Codorus Blast Bling:

Although we missed them dearly at this event, our friends Lisa, Ryan, Millie, and Addison had an amazing weekend as well! They attended an event in Maine, were Millie (Marvelous Millie, as I like to call her!) not only won 1st place in the Elite Division finals with a HUGE jump of 24’7 – but Millie and Ryan also got an invitation for the World Championship in Iowa in November! We are SO happy for them, and so very proud of them both!!

What a fun and exciting weekend!!

Cello Earned her Masters at the National Level!

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

Cello had earned her Club Level Big Air Masters Title earlier this season. She has now earned her Big Air Masters Title at the National level!!

Celebrate Fairfax Festival, Hosted by DockDogs WorldWide Fairfax, VA

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Cello’s first National dock diving event was held this past weekend at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival in Fairfax, VA. Celebrate Fairfax is Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration. The festival was held at the 25 acre Fairfax County Government Center.

It was a great event! Lots of people we have met over the past year were also in attendance, and we had a blast hanging out together! Also, Cello jumped a NEW Personal Best of 23′ 2″ (YAY!!!) This jump placed her in the Pro Division Finals, jumping against some of the longest jumping dogs in DockDogs!!

Our Dock Diving Diva in action!

Here are Cello’s results from this event:

Saturday:

21′ 7″ 21’7″ First Place Masters Division medal

23′ 2″ 21′ Third Place Elite Division medal (***Cello’s new personal best and first Elite Division jump and medal!)

19′ 8″ 20′ 10” Second Place Masters Division medal

Cello with her first ever Elite Division Medal for her 23′ 2″ jump:

Sunday:

16′ 7″ 21′ 11 First Place Masters Division medal

21′ 1” 20′ 9″ First Place Masters Division medal

PRO Division Finals:

22′ 6″ 22′ 3″ Sixth Place Pro Division Medal

Cello with all her “bling:”

We are so proud of Cello!

Friends Jaycee and Duke, members of Chesapeake DockDogs, hung out with us throughout the weekend.

Cello gives “kisses” her new boyfriend, Phantom, a Dutch Shepherd:

Both Jaycee and Duke jumped Phantom this weekend.

Jaycee and Phantom:

Duke and Phantom:

We also got to hang out all weekend with Keystone DockDogs friends, Ryan and Lisa, and their dogs (Cello’s girlfriends), Millie and Addison. Addison may just be Cello’s new BFF! 😉

Addison and Cello’s shenanigans in between jumps:

Girlfriend Millie FLEW off the dock this weekend, and impressed us all:

Millie earned herself a new Personal Best this weekend of 24′ 8″ (WOW!!!). She placed 3rd in the Pro finals also! GO MILLIE!

We also had the pleasure of seeing fellow Delmarva DockDog members Joan and Dee this weekend! Here they are in action:

Joan and Georgi Girl:

Dee and LuLu:

We saw so many other DockDogs members that we got to know at the last event, and other past events – and even met more people at this event. We have met so many nice people since we have been involved with this sport! We are really excited to see everyone at future events!

PuppyPalooza, Detour Winery, Granite Hill Campground, and The Mason Dixon Line!

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Cello participated in the PuppyPalooza Dock Diving Contest Hosted by Chesapeake Dock Dogs at Detour Winery in Keymar, MD.

For this event, we stayed at Granite Hill Campground in Gettysburg, PA, as this was the closest full-hookup campground to the winery.

Granite Hill is located on a 150 acre Civil War Era farm.

The campground had a cute “Red Shed Cafe” that offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Cello crossed over the Mason Dixon Line to get to and from the PuppyPalooza dock diving event!

Detour Winery is located in Keymar, Md. We drove on some really beautiful country roads to get there. The winery provided free tastings of their wines for the dock dogs participants, and offered wine by the bottle or glass for sale. They were also selling a really cool wine “sippy cup” that I just HAD to have…!

This was the first contest that we have attended where the dock was set up into a pond instead of a pool.

Although it started out as NOT Cello’s weekend, she wrapped it up nicely with a spot in the finals, and earned Second Place in the Masters Division Finals with a jump of 22’8″, just one inch shy of her personal best.

Cello’s results from PuppyPalooza were as follows:

Day 1, Saturday, May 31

19′ 11″ 18′ 8″ Cello did not place in this wave.

17′ 7″ 19′ 6″ Cello did not place in this wave.

18′ 9″ 20′ 8″ 2nd place Masters Division ribbon

Day 2, Sunday, June 1

21′ 19′ 11″ 4th place Masters Division (no ribbon)

21′ 6″ 21′ 4″ 3rd place Masters Division ribbon

Masters Division Finals

22′ 22′ 8″ 2nd place Masters Division Finalist (ribbon, prize bucket, $50 cash prize)

Cello and her proud PaPa accepting their awards:

The Masters Finalists 6th place to first place, Left to right:

Congratulations, Cello and Brian!

2nd Place Masters Division Finalist, 21′ 8″

Dover Days Dip, Dover, Delaware

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

On May 3rd and 4th, Cello participated in her first outdoor dock diving event of the 2014 season at the Delmarva Dock Dogs Dover Days Dip, held at the Dover Days Festival in Dover, Delaware. Cello was the only German Shorthaired Pointer competing in this event!

This is the first year that Delmarva Dock Dogs set up a dock at this event. The weather was great, and the event had a nice turn-out. We saw many familiar faces, and even met some new ones. These events are so much fun…and truly filled with good-hearted, down-to-earth people. We have really enjoyed meeting so many great people and their pups!

We ordered team shirts for this year’s diving season!

Cello Jumped twice on Saturday, winning one first place medal.

Check out Cello in Slo-Mo:

One of Cello’s Instagram buddies, Dixie the GSP, saw a post that we were at this event, and sent us a message that they lived close by. Dixie and her family came to meet us, and to cheer Cello on! We were both honored, and excited!!

On Sunday, another two jumps earned her a second place medal, as well as another first place medal.

Cello’s longest jump of the 4 waves she competed in was 22’8″, placing her in the Masters Division Finals. During the finals, she was in first place with a jump of 22’9″ until another dog in her division leaped an amazing 23’3″ !! Cello earned a second place ribbon, money prize, and a bag of goodies! We were very proud of her!

RESULTS:

Saturday:

On the first wave, Cello did not win any medals. Her two jumps were:

18’4″

19’8″

On the second wave, Cello earned a first place medal. Her two jumps were:

22’8″

21’1″

Sunday:

On the first wave, Cello earned a second place medal. Her jumps were:

22’5″

19’5″

On the second wave, Cello earned a first place medal. Her jumps were:

21’6″

22’5″

Cello’s jump of 22’9″ earned a spot in the Masters Division Finals, where she wound up earning 2nd Place with a jump of 22’9′, tying her personal best. She was in First place until a lab leaped an amazing 23’3″!!! Her jumps during the finals were:

22’9″

22’3″

Cello Earned Her Masters!

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

As you know from previous posts, Cello is very involved in dock diving. She competes in the Dock Dogs Big Air competitions, which is like the doggie version of a long jump. The handler and dog have 60 seconds to complete the jump. Each team has two jumps per “wave,” with the greater of the jumps being used for the official score for that wave. The dog’s distance is measured from the base of the dog’s tail (the point at which the base of the dog’s tail hits the water).

On March 19, we received Cellos’ Big Air Club Title Master certificate from Dock Dogs!

Cello is a member of Delmarva Dock Dogs club, an affiliate club of the National/Worldwide DockDog Organization. To earn a club title, Cello had to reach 5 consecutive jumps in the same division. The divisions are as follows:

Novice 0 – 9’11″

Junior 10′ – 14’11”

Senior 15′ – 19’11”

Master 20′ – 22’11”

Elite 23′ – 24’11”

Super Elite 25′ +

Cello has earned her Masters title, which means she has jumped 5 consecutive times in the 20′ to 22’11” range.

2014 has already been an exciting season for us, as Cello and Brian competed in their first indoor dock diving competition, where Cello also earned her new personal best distance of 22’9″ !!

We have Cello registered for quite a few events this year, and are very excited for the next event on May 3rd and 4th in Dover, DE… Dover Days Dip, hosted by Delmarva Dock Dogs. Join us by registering your dog in the event, or come out to cheer Cello on, and see just how much fun dock diving is!!

In the words of the Delmarva Dock Dogs motto…

“Run Fast, Jump Big, Have Fun!!!”

Winter Meltdown, Hosted by Keystone DockDogs in Harrisburg, PA

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 5 Comments

This past weekend Cello participated in The National Pet Expo (hosted by Keystone DockDogs) Winter Meltdown event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. We were a bit nervous, as Cello has not gotten her full exercise regimen to meet the daily requirements of a German Shorthaired Pointer due to this brutal winter we’ve had in Southern NJ. We were also a bit anxious because Cello had never competed in an indoor event before. We planned for a camping trip to Harrisburg – however once again, a major snow storm was predicted to PA and NJ Sunday-into-Monday…so we decided to get a hotel room instead (Cello’s first hotel stay!).

On the first day, just as we expected, Cello did not jump her best, but still managed to win 2 medals with jumps of 20′ 8″ and 20′ 11.”

On the second day, Cello jumped even worse, and was so tired, she was falling asleep sitting up! This was WAY more activity and excitement than she has had this entire winter! She did not earn any medals on the 2nd day, but somehow found her way into the Masters Division Big Air Finals!

She jumped with all her might, and soared her furthest ever!!!! A leap of 22 feet, 9 inches got her a 2nd place in the finals! She even beat out other dogs who had been jumping further than her all weekend! Cello won a bucket full of prizes including dog treats and dog toys, $50 cash prize, and a big 2nd Place ribbon. It was a great surprise to end this fun-filled weekend!!

Results:

Saturday:

21’8″ third place masters medal
20’8″

21’11” second place masters medal
19’6″

Sunday:

18’3″
20’9″ no medals

20’1″
17’9″ no medals

FINALS RESULTS:

21’0″
22’9″ NEW PERSONAL BEST !

and 2nd Place in Big Air Masters Finals!

We are so proud of Limoncello!

2013 Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD, Hosted by Delmarva Dock Dogs

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

November 8-10, 2013

VERY exciting news…Cello won her first First Place Ribbon ever! She won a total of 1 Senior Division medal, and 2 in the Masters Division! She qualified for finals and won FIRST PLACE in the Masters Division Finals!!!!!! We were FLOORED! She won a big First Place ribbon, and gift basket, $50, and a $25 gift certificate to Cabela’s! WOOO HOOOOOOO!

We were very excited for this event! We were told at the last event (Decoy Show) that this is event has a big turn-out. We camped at Holiday Park Campground in Greensboro, MD. What a fun weekend we had! Although we did not get to see the “heart” of the Waterfowl festival, we got to visit St. Michael’s… and stopped at St. Michael’s Crab House for a celebratory beverage. Cello bellied-up to the bar and earned a free “drink” (water) from the bartender after giving lots of kisses! We also discovered a wonderful dog-friendly place called Ava’s Pizzeria and Wine Bar (also in St. Michael’s)… where they had a special menu just for dogs! (Hammy’s Dog Menu!) We were able to sit outside in the heated patio area with Cello, where we enjoyed a fresh Pizza, and Cello delighted in her Beef Stew.

We learned several lessons at the last 2 events: These events are long – bring a chair! …and Cello has such a thin coat, that she was cold in between jumps. We met another GSP dock diving contestant at the Decoy show (Bailey)…and Bailey’s “mom,” Annie, introduced me to an awesome dog coat that Bailey wears. (By the way – Annie’s blog (the little GSP) also inspired me to start this blog for Cell0… thanks, Annie!!) We bought a whole “set-up” to camp out at by the dive pool, and purchased Cello a coat like Bailey’s from Trover Coats overseas! We were prepared for this event!

Brian is happy with our new set-up for dock diving events…and Cello is nice and toasty in her new “Bone Dry” coat made by Trover Coats! …much better than standing around all day!

This event had the long dock set up, and Cello jumped in 4 waves. Here are Cello’s results:

20’6″
18’7″
Third Place Masters Division Medal

19’10’
19’4″
First Place Senior Division Medal

20’6″
21’3″
First Place Masters Division Medal

22’3″
22’6″
First Place Masters Division Medal

FINALS RESULTS:

22’4″
20’1″
First Place Masters Division Finals! ribbon, gift basket, $50, and $25 Cabela’s gift certificate!

Photo courtesy of Brandi

Cello’s Grandparents, Jan and Jim, and Friends, Brandi, Stan, and Payton all were there to cheer Cello to victory…thanks, guys!

2013 Ocean County Gunning and Decoy Festival, Tuckerton, NJ, Hosted by Delmarva Dock Dogs

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

September 28-29, 2013

Well, we’re hooked! Contest #2 was hosted by Delmarva Dock Dogs at the Ocean County Gunning and Decoy Festival in Tuckerton, NJ. We camped for the weekend at Atlantic City North Family Campground, just down the road… what a fun weekend we all had! Cello’s “boyfriend,” Nemo, a Boykin Spaniel, also competed in this event, and even camped overnight one night with us.

Brian and I recently signed up to volunteer for the GSP rescue of NJ. The organization had a booth set up at this event, so we were able to have Cello “work the crowd” in between dives, working as a donation dog. We were able to raise some money for the GSP Rescue of NJ… we were very happy!

Dock Dogs had their long dock set up for this event (40 ft in length). Dock Dogs Divisions are s follows:

Novice 0 – 9’11″
Junior 10′ – 14’11”
Senior 15′ – 19’11”
Master 20′ – 22’11”
Elite 23′ – 24’11”
Super Elite 25′ +

Dock Dogs awards a ribbon or medal for each “wave” of jumps (A wave consists of 2 jumps, and the best of the 2 jumps is compared to the other dogs’ best jumps). Cello won (2) Masters 3rd Place medals, (1) 2nd Place medal! Then she qualified for the finals, and placed 2nd in the Masters Division Finals, winning a big ribbon, gift basket, and $50!

Cello jumped in 4 waves… here are her results:

18’2″
18’2″

18’11
20’8″
3rd Place Masters Division Medal

21’4″
20’7″
3rd Place Masters Division Medal

18’3″
21’8″
2nd Place Masters Division Medal

FINALS RESULTS:

22’7″
22’2″
2nd Place Masters Division Ribbon, gift basket, and $50

Brian was VERY proud of his little girl!

Boyfriend Nemo competed in this event also, and did great!

Cello’s “Grandmom” Pat, “Grandmom” Jan, “Aunt” Dana, and “Cousin” Norm all came to cheer her on! Thanks so much for cheering Cello on!

How Cello Got Started in Dock Diving Contests

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

September 7 and 8, 2013 2A3P6234 From the very first day Cello laid eyes on our lake, she has always loved diving off the dock into our lake at our house ! When we brought her home as a puppy, we thought we’d have to coax her into the lake water…little did we know she is the ultimate water dog! We brought her to the edge of our property, and Cello dove right in like she had been doing it forever!! …she does this over and over again with no prompting…just for pure fun! Cello likes to show off for spectators and neighbors who are floating or paddling by on our lake. Then she will swim around to each person floating nearby to get a quick pat on the head before getting back on the dock to dive! Brian and I came across a dock diving contest Hosted by Ultimate Air Dogs, and held at Fido’s Festival in Woodstown, NJ. We are always looking for an excuse to go camping, so we decided it would be a fun camping weekend, and also an exciting event for Cello…we had no idea how addictive this sport was, or just how good Cello was! …so on September 6, 2013, we hooked up our travel trailer and headed to Salem County Fair Grounds to camp for the weekend and register Cello in the contest, which was being held September 7 and 8, 2013.

Cello wound up making the Finals, and took second place in the Senior Division Finals with a jump of 15′ 1″ !!! We were shocked!

Ultimate Air Dogs had their short dock set up (20 feet in length). The dogs are ranked in divisions by how far they jump.

Here is Ultimate Air Dogs Division Rankings:

NOVICE: up to 9’11”
JUNIOR: 10’ to 14’11”
SENIOR: 15’ to 17’5”
SENIOR ELITE: 17’6” to 19’11”
MASTER:20’ to 22’5”
MASTER!ELITE: 22’6” to 24’
ULTIMATE: 24’1” and over

Cello jumped in 4 Splashes…here are her results on the short (20′) dock:

12′ 8″
12’9″

12’8′
12′ 3″

11’10”
14’8″

12’6″
12’11”

CELLO’ S FINALS JUMP RESULTS:

14’7″
15’1″
Earned a Second Place Senior Division Ribbon

Cello’s “boyfriend” Nemo competed in this event also, and did very well!!

“Grandoms” Pat and Jan, “Aunt” Casey, 9 month old “Cousin” James, “boyfriend” Memphis, and ” human friends” Chris, Cindy, and Bill came out to cheer Cello on…thanks for your support!