Keystone DockDogs Cabela’s End of Summer Splash, Hamburg, Pennsylvania

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

Cello participated in Keystone DockDogs End of Summer Splash dock diving event held at Cabela’s in Hamburg, Pa.

Cabela’s is an amazing store on its own – but add dock diving, and it’s THE coolest!

We even got to camp right at Cabela’s with some of our other fellow Keystone members.

Best of all, Cello earned her Elite title at the “club” level, AND won first place overall in the Masters Division finals!!

Here are the weekend’s results:

Saturday:

21′ 11″ 22’4″ First Place Medal

21′ 8″ 22′ 2″ Second Place Medal

20′ 1 21′ 0″ did not place

Sunday:

18′ 11″ 21′ 00″ did not place

22′ 10 21′ 11″ First Place Medal

Finals:

22′ 8″ 23′ 4″ First Place Masters Division

Brian volunteered to do some announcing at this event!

During this event, Keystone DockDogs was challenged to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! Check out the video below! (Brian is in the yellow shirt all the way to the right):

What a great weekend!

North Eastern Regionals, Somerville, MA

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

This past weekend, Cello competed in the DockDogs North Eastern Regionals, hosted by DockDogs WorldWide. This National DockDogs event was held in Somerville, MA, at the new Assembly Row, a new waterfront shopping area. Check it out HERE! The dock was set up with a pretty back-drop of the Mystic River.

We entered Cello in this competition because if a dog places 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their division (Cello currently holds both Club and National level titles in the Masters Division), they will earn an invitation to the DockDogs World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa in November.

We had a great time hanging out with some great people and friends we have met throughout Cello’s dock diving adventures, and were lucky enough to get a spot to set up right next to them! This was Hooch’s first dock diving event!

In Slo-Mo:

Although this was an exciting event, Cello did not perform well. She did not seem very excited to get on the dock, as she normally does, and she didn’t have her usual” lightning speed take-off” either. She did not place in either of her two jumps, nor did she make the finals. However, we are still very proud of her, and were excited to be a part of a National Regional event!

Cello did have a few great mid-air catches during this event:

Here are Cello’s results from The North Eastern Regionals:

Friday:

19’4″ 18’4″ Did not place

Saturday:

20’2″ 20’3″ Did not place

Brian tried his best to adjust his throws, and get Cello to leave the dock where she was supposed to. Even though there was improvement in her distance, it was not enough to place in the final round.

Please don’t be disappointed, Daddy:

Hooch did his best “cute puppy” act while hanging out under the Team Cello tent:

Dock diving friends we spent the weekend with all made it to finals – and all placed in the final round, earning their invite to the World Championship! Great job, guys!

Cello is registered in 4 more events this season, and still has a chance to be invited to finals if her overall average “makes the grade” toward the end of the season… (Fingers crossed!!)

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!!

Codorus State Park and Campground, Hanover, PA

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

For Cello’s Codorus Blast Dock Diving Event, we camped at Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA. Located in York County, this park boasts a gorgeous 1,275 acre lake, where many come to fish and picnic. Codorus State Park also offers many other recreational activities such as horseback riding, swimming, scuba diving, boating, hunting, and disc golf.

This park was big, clean, gorgeous, and the staff was more than friendly. The sites were level and spacious, and included a fire ring. The facilities were very clean, and within walking distance to our site.

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″

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

After Cello got done both of her waves at the Dover Days Festival Dock Diving event, we decided to visit Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. What a cool place! The atmosphere was laid-back, and the people were friendly…best of all?… they are dog-friendly! Cello was allowed on the grounds, inside at the bar, and in the store!

Brian and I have never been to a brewery for a beer tasting – Boy were we missing out! We also had a blast at the bar with Cello while we did our beer tasting.

Outside there were Bocce Ball courts, a bean bag toss, and an incredible metal tree house.

Cello wants IN!

Cello loved all the attention she got at the Brewery, and even bellied-up to the bar!

They had a sign that read “Off centered people look up,” and the ceiling was covered with unique pictures.

Brian picked up a new hat in the store.

We would definitely like to visit here again!

La Quinta Inn and Suites, Harrisburg/Hershey Location, Harrisburg, PA

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

Cello’s First Hotel Stay!

Cello participated in a dock-diving contest this past weekend. What was planned as a camping trip in our travel trailer, wound up as a hotel stay due to yet another nasty snow storm that was predicted to hit both PA and NJ Sunday-into-Monday. After a search of dog-friendly hotels in the area, we narrowed our choices down to three. Two hotels were more “high-end”, and the third, was more middle-of-the-road, but also recently built. So, we went with the newest built hotel, and “reluctantly” booked a room at La Quinta Inn and Suites Harrisburg/Hershey, in Harrisburg, PA.

I say “reluctantly” because Brian and I hadn’t stayed in a hotel since the weekend we got engaged in Boston, MA, in 2006!! After our engagement, we began staying in bed and breakfasts for all our trips. We continued choosing bed and breakfasts until 2009, when we bought our dream home (a log cabin on a lake) that wasn’t quite in dream-home condition. So, we gave up traveling to begin renovating our cabin. In 2011, we gave tent camping a shot…a last-minute decision trip that wound up being the start of a new love for us. We tent camped with Cello until August of 2012, and then upgraded to “Glamping” and bought a Jayco travel trailer to continue our camping adventures. Since we bought our travel trailer in October of 2012, our thought has been “if we can’t camp there, we don’t go there.” …UNTIL it meant “scratching” a dock diving event that we had already signed Cello up for.

Leading up to this hotel stay, I was very, VERY nervous – about not sleeping in our own bed, about Cello and how she would react… about all aspects of our upcoming hotel stay!…and I have to say, I was quite pleased…with EVERYthing. The hotel was just recently built, so it was very clean – still very new looking and smelling, and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, pleasant, and dog-friendly. Each time we entered the hotel, Cello was greeted by the front desk staff with hugs, kisses, and dog treats!

Cello took her first ride in an elevator and wasn’t scared at all!

When we got to our room, Cello made herself right at home, and was SO well-behaved during our entire stay!

Cello was a diva and did not pack lightly…here are is Cello’s spot on the bathroom counter for all her toiletries 🙂

And here are some pictures of the hotel and our room…

Front Desk

Lobby

Breakfast Area

Our Room

Overall, it was a very pleasant experience – although we did all still miss camping in our travel trailer!

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: