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Hooch’s First Dance !
Blogville Sadie Hawkins Dance PAWty!
Hooch was asked by the beautiful Paisley to the Blogville Sadie Hawkins Dance PAWty!
I have to admit he was super-excited – and what dog wouldn’t be – Hooch’s date was the prettiest gal at the dance!
To read the full story, visit our friends over at Barking From the Bayou and read the details about the dance!
Wondering who the heck Sadie Hawkins is and why she has a dance named after her? Today I Found Out has a great explanation:
Sadie Hawkins’ renown, which evolved into an American folk-holiday in some places, doesn’t really originate from a dance, but rather from a race, as we shall soon see. Sadie was the product of the fertile imagination of cartoonist Al Capp. She was a character in his popular cartoon Lil’ Abner, set in the hillbilly town of Dogpatch, that began its wildly successful 40 year run in 1934.
The way Al tells it, Sadie was the daughter of Hekzebiah Hawkins, one of the town’s first settlers, who had the dubious distinction of being the “homeliest gal in all them hills.” After waiting not-so-patiently for 15 years for a suitor to show up at her door, not a single prospective husband arrived to court her. With each passing year, Sadie became more and more panicky, as did her father, who did not relish the idea of supporting a spinster daughter for the rest of her days.
So, figuring he had nothing to lose, he called all the unmarried men of Dogpatch together and declared it Sadie Hawkins Day. In a reversal of Atalanta’s race in ancient Greek mythology, the race placed Sadie in hot pursuit of the town’s bachelors; the “lucky” chap she managed to catch became her lawful wedded husband. Or, as her Paw explained it, “When ah fires [my gun], all o’ yo’ kin start a-runnin! When ah fires agin—after givin’ yo’ a fair start—Sadie starts a runnin’. Th’ one she ketches’ll be her husbin.” Pure poetry.
The rest of the spinsters in Dogpatch thought the race was an excellent idea, and insisted upon making Sadie Hawkins Day a yearly and mandatory event, much to the horror of the bachelors in town, who apparently had no say in the matter. According to the strip, if a woman caught a man and dragged him, presumably kicking, screaming, and crying for mommy, over the finish line before the sun had set, by law he had to marry her. This had overtones of a caveman clubbing a woman and dragging her back to his cave, and was as close to women’s lib as you’d get at the time in popular entertainment.
This entire Sadie Hawkins Day story line was a plot device concocted by Al Capp for the romance between main characters Abner and Daisy Mae, which had a bit of a Ross and Rachel from “Friends” quality to it. Eventually, Capp put everyone out of their misery and allowed the two characters to finally marry.
The dance didn’t appear in the strip until a bit later. The Sadie Hawkins Dance took place on the evening before the race, and the spinster girls traditionally wore hob-nailed boots to “unintentionally” stomp on the feet of the single men in attendance, which unfortunately (for them) might adversely affect their ability to run the next day during the race.
Sadie Hawkins Day as a popular culture phenomenon was all the rage on college campuses by 1939. According to Lifemagazine, over 200 colleges were celebrating a Sadie Hawkins Day that year, and it was obvious that the tradition was quickly gaining in popularity with the nation’s young people.
The question is – why? One reason could be that as the nation was taking its first strides out of the Great Depression, a down-home low-cost activity like Sadie Hawkins Day was something that all could participate in, without the need to rent a tux or buy a gown as prom or homecoming would entail. There was also the naughty novelty of girls inviting boys for a social outing.
Compared to the Roaring ‘20s, the ‘30’s were considerably more sexually repressed. Gone were the flappers, bee-stung lips and bootleg whiskey. The depression brought with it a sober prissiness that made the very idea of a woman openly pursuing a man deeply offensive to many. But an approved activity such as Sadie Hawkins Day – where a lady could state her choice with impunity and not be labeled a Jezebel – while at the same time men could pretend to be horrified while secretly being titillated – that’s a situation where everyone wins!
By 1952, it was reported that Sadie Hawkins Day was celebrated at over 40,000 different locations. In that year, Capp wrote:
It’s become my responsibility [to include Sadie Hawkins Day every year in the strip.] It doesn’t happen on any set day in November; it happens on the day I say it happens. I get tens of thousands of letters from colleges, communities, and church groups, starting around July, asking me what day, so they can make plans.
Eventually, it morphed into an event of an entire day’s duration that fell on the Saturday after November ninth.
For today’s young women, Sadie Hawkins Day doesn’t seem all that relevant anymore. But for a few decades in the middle of the twentieth century, it served as a social bridge between the years when women rarely left the home and the sexual revolution.
SJ Magazine Features Lager!
Lager Featured in The SandPaper
Lager and Jenny made The SandPaper newspaper from our dock diving event
at the Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Festival … except they thought Lager was a Labrador…haha! 
Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show, Hosted by Delmarva DockDogs, Tuckerton, NJ
The Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show is one of our favorite competitions to attend. This event was the first DockDogs event in which Brian and Cello competed in 2013, when we met Annie, Matt, and Bailey from The Little GSP! Not only is it very close to our home, but the GSP Rescue of NJ also sets up a table here – and they are one of just many REALLY cool vendors at this large festival. We especially love that we can compete, and still volunteer the pups as donation dogs in between their jumps! This was also an especially thrilling event, because Lager won First Place in Senior Division Big Air finals! Another exciting part of this event, is that a friend and fellow GSP Rescue of NJ volunteer, Jen C. , as well as Jenny’s sister Dana, both jumped Cello… AND got medals!
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- Lager and Jenny with Lager’s 1st Place winnings
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- GSP Rescue Volunteer, Jen
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- Jenny’s sister, Dana and Cello with their 2nd Place medal
LIMONCELLO:
Big Air:
21’9″ 22’3″
Finals: 22’5 22’2″ 4th Place Elite
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- Jen C and Cello
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- Dana and Cello
Extreme Vertical:
5’2″ 3rd Place Cadet
Speed Retrieve:
7.972 seconds 5th Place Turbo
**FIRST PLACE WARRIOR IRON DOG!
HOOCH:
Big Air:
23’3″ 20’11” 2nd Place Elite
22’0″ 21’9″
22’2″ 22’5″
Finals: 22′ 7″ 23’4″ Third Place Elite
LAGER:
Big Air:
16′ 19’0″ 2nd Place Senior
18’6″ 18’11” 2nd Place Senior
18’2″ 18’6″ 1st Place Senior
Finals: 19’8″ 19’5″ 1st Place Senior
Extreme Vertical:
5’10” 1st Place Cadet
We were extremely proud of all 3 of our pups! They earned several awesome ribbons and medals!
The Liver Killers were pretty exhausted after performing so well, and slept in a Pointer Pile the whole way home!
Delmarva DockDogs Lets the Dogs Out: Elkton, MD
With the hopes of getting Lager an invitation to the 2015 DockDogs World Championship held in November, we took a short day trip to Elkton, Maryland with Lager only, since Limoncello and Hooch had already earned invitations for multiple disciplines.
Lager
Big Air (Jenny as the Handler):
18’6″ 18’7″ 2nd Place Senior
Extreme Vertical (Brian as the Handler):
6’0″ 5th Place Top Gun
Hebron Harvest Fair, Hebron, CT: Wild Card Event
We chose to add this event to our list in order to try and secure a DockDogs World Championship invite for Lager.
LIMONCELLO:
Big Air:
22’2″ 21’5″ 1st Place Master
20’6″ 21’4″ 2nd Place Master
20’9″ 20’11” 3rd Place Master
20’0″ 20’4″ 1st Place Master
Finals: 18’11’ 21’7″ 2nd Place Pro
Extreme Vertical:
Cello did not do Extreme Vertical at this event.
Speed Retrieve
8.190 First Place Express
HOOCH:
Big Air:
20’11” 21’5″
22’5″ 22’11”
20’9″ 20’5″
Finals: 20’10” 20’11” 4th Place Pro
Extreme Vertical:
6’2″ 4th Place Top Gun
LAGER:
Big Air:
21’3″ 20’0″
19’2″ 18’9″ Third Place Senior
17’11” 19’0″ First Place Senior
16’0″ 18’9″
13’3″ 18’0″ First Place Senior
Finals: 19’4″ 5th Place Semi Pro
Extreme Vertical:
6’4″ 3rd Place Top Gun !! Amazing!
Lager JUST missed getting an invite to the World Championships at this event – but we were so SO proud of him and his performance!
Quest for the Belt, Hosted by Three Rivers DockDogs: Cabela’s, Triadelphia, WV
Lager’s first official dock diving competition!
In less than 2 weeks after Lager joined our pack, we were entering him in his very first official DockDogs competition! Three Rivers DockDogs hosted an event at Cabela’s in Triadelphia, West Virginia.
LIMONCELLO:
Big Air:
21’5″ 21’2″
21’3″ 22’2″
20’4″ 20’7″
19’10” 20’9″
Extreme Vertical:
5’0″
Speed Retrieve:
8.489 Second Place Express
HOOCH:
Hooch was up on the dock when a gust of wind blew a banner off of the side of the pool, freaking him out completely . It was a tough weekend, as Hooch had a difficult time gaining enough confidence on the dock to run and jump at his full speed.
Big Air:
22’7″ 15’9″
21’2″ 22’11”
13’0″ 14’11”
23’0″ 22’3″ Third Place Elite
22’5″ 23’6″ First Place Elite
Extreme Vertical:
5’10’ Second Place Cadet
LAGER:
Big Air:
13′ 4″ and 13′ 11″ First Place Junior (with Brian)
15’7″ and 16’2″ (with Jenny)
16’9″ and 18’2″ Second Place Senior (with Jenny)
17’0″ and 17’5″ (with Jenny)
Extreme Vertical:
This was Lager’s first attempt at EV. Lager missed both times, but was very determined – we had no doubt that he will excel at this in the future!
None of the pups made the finals at this event – first time all season!! There were some HUGE jumping dogs here! We had a great weekend camping with friends, and enjoyed watching Lager have a blast on the dock at his first official event!
Limoncello and Hooch in the Central Record!
Brian and Jenny Beadling with their dogs, Limoncello, left, and Hooch.
Chicago had Air Jordan. Medford Lakes has Air Cello and Air Hooch.
Cello (short for Limoncello) and Hooch are owed by local residents Brian and Jenny Beadling. The dogs compete in dock diving competitions in which they get to show off their aerial skills. The two canines have literally jumped onto the scene and have earned invitations to the Dock Dogs World Championships. It all began shortly after the Beadlings moved to Medford Lakes in 2009. Cello was showing off his skills behind the house, and the Beadlings were already aware that dock diving competition for dogs existed. Brian soon realized Cello had plenty of elevation.
“She would be out back with us,” said Beadling. “She’d be jumping off the dock and I started to notice she goes pretty far. I knew that dock diving existed. There was a competition down in Tuckerton, New Jersey. We decided to go camp down there and enter Cello.”
Cello made the most of his opportunity. Despite facing nearly 300 other dogs, Cello came in second in the competition. That’s when the Beadlings knew they had something special with their high-flying canine.
“She’s actually a very driven dog,” Beadling said. “As soon as I grab that toy, she’s howling and screaming and whining. All she wants to do is get on that dock. She shakes the entire time. The humans enjoy the competition, but the dogs enjoy the jumping.”
While Cello is a four-year-old, Hooch has begun dock diving as a puppy. Hooch would follow his older friend around all of the time. After standing on the docks watching Cello perform, it did not take long for Hooch to follow in Cello’s paw-steps.
“We never thought he was going to jump,” said Beadling. “We didn’t want to force it on him. One day when he was about four or five months old, he just started jumping in the water. He’s been so fun to watch.”
The dogs compete in events throughout the East Coast. Last June, Cello earned his birth in the world championship competition by competing as an Iron Dog and earning first place in the Warrior Division. Cello also had the fastest Express Division Speed Retrieve score at that same event. Cello has been selected to be sponsored by TurboPUP, which offers meal bars to active dogs.
Hooch is ranked as the No. 1 German shorthaired pointer in the United States and the No. 2 German shorthair in the world. The one-year-old recorded a jump of 23- feet 8-inches to win first place in the Big Air Competition Virginia Beach last June. Hooch added a jump of 24’2” in Cape Charles, VA to set a new personal best.
In addition to the thrill of the competition, both dogs are getting the type of exercise which will help lead to a long and heathy life.
“They are well-trained athletes at this point,” Beadling said. “They’re very fit. It’s good for them. It’s also good for us. It keeps us active because we have to keep up with their training as well.”
While the Beadlings are thrilled to see the success of their dock-diving dogs, they are also happy to see them be part of an organization which helps dogs across the country.
“You see a lot of good stuff that happens,” said Beadling. “Dock Dogs is full of great people. You see a lot of adoption stuff going on. Dock Dog International actually has its own charity called the Bark Foundation, which does a lot of charitable work for dogs in need. They’ve done a lot to help as well.”
With both dogs rapidly emerging on an international level, the sky is literally the limit for Cello and Hooch.
“They can compete up until they’re seven years old,” Beadling said. “You look at the world record when they first started doing this and it was something like 18 feet. Cello and Hooch currently jump between 24 and 26 feet. The world record is 31 feet. As you get better at training and technique, it seems like the dogs just keep going. We may never beat the world record, but it’s fun to try.”
Read the story online by clicking HERE!
Fox News Features Lager !
Bill Rohrer from Fox News did a story on Lager! It was nice to meet Bill – he was so nice, and made us feel very comfortable while filming the story at our home. Brian and I had great fun doing this story, as Lager is a very special pup!
Click HERE for the link to the story, and the video of the news feature that was aired:
The Liver Killers on 6 ABC News!
The Liver Killers first time on the news!
Nora Muchanic visited us at our home to do a story on the Liver Killers!
See the full story, plus a video of the news segment – click HERE!
MEDFORD LAKES, N.J. (WPVI) —
Most people just walk their dogs. But Jenny and Brian Beadling’s dogs go for a flying leap.
The German Short Haired Pointers (GSPs for short) are two of the top dock diving dogs in the country and also rated internationally.
Brian says, “They are fun, happy, energetic dogs who really love competing and playing. And they think of all of this as play, which is really exciting for us.”
And Jenny tells us, “They need extreme exercise and what you would think of as your exhaustion point is just their starting point.”
The dock at the Beadling’s Medford Lakes cabin has become a launching pad as these two pooches practice each day. In competition they are judged on how high, long and fast they can jump.
A room inside the Beadling’s house is filled with ribbons and medals.
Hooch is the number one ranked GSP in the country for “big air”; Cello is ranked number one for “iron dogs”, the canine equivalent of a triathlon.
Jenny says, “They can run for hours and hours and hours on end. And they will keep going, they’re working dogs. They will keep going until you shut them down.”
The newest member of the family is Lager, a former bomb sniffing dog for the U.S. government who served in Iraq.
Now Lager regular leaps into the lake with his new companions.
He is clearly adjusting to his new digs.
They are highly trained and these dogs may be world class dock divers, but if you ask me they look like they’re just having fun.
Brian explains, “The humans involved take the competition seriously. The dogs just enjoy being out with the owners, jumping in the water. To see them just have fun and love life it’s really fun for us as well.”
Jenny a special education teacher and Brian a mortgage banker, travel with the dogs to competitions several times a month. The cash prizes Hooch and Limoncello win are turned over to a GSP rescue group.
Jenny says, “The amount of work that goes into it and the enjoyment you see in the dog is the best.”
3 Yrs
We adopted Lager when he was 3 1/4 years old, so we don’t have any puppy pics of him.
This is Lager at 3 years, 3 months – and his first week at home with us:
Brother From Another Mother: Brogan’s American Lager
Brogan’s American Lager
From Hero To High Flyer…
Brian and I had been talking about getting a third dog for quite some time, but found ourselves getting cold feet in the process. We had inquired about a couple of dogs, waiting for “that feeling” to emerge to indicate that we found just the right fur-child to add to our family. Brian and I had been talking about this one particular mixed-breed we both saw online in a rescue, but kept having mixed emotions, so we held off on advancing any further. On Friday August 21, 2015, as I sat on our porch waiting for Brian to get home from work, I thought I would tell him to go ahead and call about the dog we had been talking about so much to find out more information that may help us make a definite decision one way or another. Not even 30 minutes after that thought, I received a phone call from our friend, Gwen, the President of Tidewater DockDogs, one of the affiliated clubs of the DockDogs organization that we belong to, explaining that SOC had a 3 year old male GSP, who is a retired Explosives Detection Canine, in need of a home. With the dog’s best interest and love of water in mind, John, the man in charge of the dog, contacted Gwen of Tidewater DockDogs to inquire if she knew of anyone involved in the sport that is familiar with the breed, would have access to water at home, and would get the dog involved in dock diving. (There are other affiliated clubs closer to John’s location – However, Gwen was the only person listed with a phone number in reasonable proximity!!) Gwen called me immediately. During this conversation with Gwen – without even having seen a picture of the dog – there it was – – “that feeling” kicked in.
Gwen forwarded an email from John, the man who had the GSP at his company’s facility. The email included some information about the dog, 4 pictures, and a video of the dog training to detect explosives. In the email, John explained that the dog’s name was Nayt (pronounced Night), and included that he was born in the Netherlands. John also listed Nayt’s birthday, weight, and training (Single purpose Explosives Detection Canine, certified under the ATF National Odor Recognition Test standards for 33 explosives). John stated that he would have adopted the dog himself, if it weren’t for the fact that both his condo in Virginia, and his primary home in Florida do not have the space for Nayt to play. John stressed that his company’s desire is to have someone adopt Nayt that will provide the opportunity for him to play, exercise and enjoy himself – with access to water, which he loves. John stated, “If Nayt sees water, he’s in it – and it usually takes 45 minutes to get him OUT of it!!”
Here are the pictures included in John’s email:
We love the German Shorthaired Pointer breed, and are fascinated with how different each GSP’s markings are, as they can be solid black, black and white, black roan, solid liver, liver roan, or liver and white. If the GSP is not a solid color, the American Kennel Club refers to their markings as patched, patched and ticked, or ticked. Although we think every GSP we see is unique and stunning, we are very partial the solid liver and liver roan coloring – and even chose our dock diving team name to be The Liver Killers (a “play” on the coloring of Cello and Hooch (liver) with the human liver, and their alcoholic-beverage-themed names. When I viewed the pictures of Nayt, I saw that he was liver roan, and was in love for sure!
Also included in John’s email, a video of Nayt training to detect a specific explosive:
Shortly after I received the email, Brian came home. I relayed my conversation with Gwen to him, and showed him the pictures and video. I could tell immediately “that feeling” had set in for Brian as well. Brian almost immediately called John. Brian felt very comfortable with the conversation he and John had, and John felt we were a good fit for the dog.
On Sunday, August 23, 2015, the entire Beadling pack (minus our cat, Loki) set out on a road trip to Martinsburg, WV to meet Nayt and John.
When we arrived at the facility in Martinsburg, John met us outside. He led us all inside, where we were able to secure Cello and Hooch in separate crates so that Brian and I could meet Nayt before introducing him to Cello and Hooch. We were greeted by a friendly and very energetic GSP with a toy drive like no other! After meeting Nayt, and speaking with John and one of Nayt’s trainers, we introduced the three dogs on-lead, walked them all together outside, then into a fence-in yard to see how they interacted. All went well outside in the yard with the three dogs socializing appropriately. Nayt quickly won our hearts over with his vibrant personality, and handsome build – -and the decision was made to adopt him into our family. He came home with us that very day.
Nayt had his own soft Captain America blanket to lay on for his ride home.
Unsure of how the three pups would ride together for our 3.5 hour ride home, I sat in the back seat with the two boys…
…And Cello got to ride Shotgun on her Queen Elsa blanket, using Olaf as a pillow … (what a Diva!)
More about Nayt…
Nayt is 3 years old, and served the United States of America for one year as an Explosives Detection Canine in Iraq. He decided that his GSP instincts and love for water were more fun that searching for explosives, and was discharged from his duties. He can identify over 30 explosives, and his journeys have led him to quite a few states here in America, and even to a couple of countries overseas. This world traveler has been to The Netherlands, Iraq, Jordan, North America, Minnesota, Indiana, New York , Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and now, New Jersey. Check out maps of his travels by clicking HERE.
Nayt is now known as Brogan’s American Lager – “Lager” for short.
Brian’s grandmother, Fran Brogan, who loved Cello and Hooch, had just recently passed. Lager’s name incorporates Brian’s grandmother’s last name (Brogan), our country’s name (America), for whom he served, and a continuation of our “Liver Killer’s” alcoholic-beverage-themed names – with a “play” on our log cabin (logger) and a type of beer (Lager). The word lager is also of German origin, linking his name to his breed. 🙂
Lager had some themed toys waiting for him at his new home… Captain America, a stick of dynamite, and his very own Chuckit training bumper for the lake! 🙂
So far, Lager is doing well, and our family is adjusting nicely. Lager has not yet met our cat, Loki. We plan on slowly introducing them in the near future, as to not overwhelm Lager or Loki. Lager is enjoying playtime with Cello and Hooch in our side yard, goofing off in the baby pool, and has already displayed his love of water and diving off our dock! We plan to enter him into a dock diving competition before the 2015 season is over, to see if he would be comfortable jumping into a clear-water pool.
Lager doing Big Air off our dock:
Lager doing Extreme Vertical off our dock!
Welcome home, Lager!
Courier Post Newspaper Article
Limoncello and Hooch made the top story on the front page of South Jersey’s newspaper!
The Courier Post sent a reporter and photographer to our home to do a story on The Liver Killers. We had such a great time, and the story and video came out great!
Here’s the video:
And here’s the story:
MEDFORD LAKES – Limoncello — Cello for short — greeted this reporter with a kiss and then turned her laser focus to the turf runway her owners, Brian and Jenny Beadling, built for her and her canine sibling, Hooch.
Cello had a job to do, and she was serious about it.
She had to get that ball.
And she was just waiting for Brian to toss it from the Beadlings’ dock and into Aetna Lake.
The 4-year-old German shorthaired pointer watched, waited, and then, while the bright orange ball with the blue stripe was in the air, ran and flung herself to retrieve it, landing with a splash and a big doggie smile, the ball in her mouth as she paddled ashore.
Cello and Hooch are among the top dock diving dogs not only in the nation, but in the world, as ranked by Dock Dogs, the national group overseeing the sport. The Beadlings’ dogs compete all over the East Coast, traveling year-round to competitions measuring lengths of their jumps and how high they go.
The pointers, bred to be hunting dogs, are a high-energy breed, Brian Beadling said. “They’re in the same line as vizslas and weimeraners.”
That means their owners have to be high-energy, too. “Their vet told us, ‘They have no “off” button,’ ” he said.
Indeed, the Beadlings’ lakefront log cabin they dubbed “Windy Spot” looks as much like a retreat for the dogs as for the couple. There’s the runway which extends a few feet further into the lake, as well as a metal arm that swings out over the water for the dogs to jump and grab toys on their way down.
After buying the 1920s cabin in 2009, the couple worked to restore it and Brian Beadling, who works in the mortgage business, researched the home’s history. He found the home’s original owner had a German shorthaired pointer named Windy Spot, and that was the first the couple had heard about the breed.
Windy Spot — the dog — had won several field awards with a local dog club and so the couple, after more research, decided on the breed. They got Limoncello in 2011 from a Chatsworth farm and named her for Jenny’s grandfather’s special homemade Italian liquor.
Hooch — Beadling calls him the “goofy little brother” — is a year old and was initially reluctant to go into the water. But at 15 weeks, he decided Cello shouldn’t have all the fun and, as Jenny Beadling says, “We haven’t been able to keep him out of the water since.”
Kathy Parkin helps the dogs keep fit by working with them at Pinelands Dog Training Center in Medford. She’s been working with Cello and Hooch for about 10 months, she said.
“The dogs love it,” said Parkin, who’s been a trainer for 12 years. “We work with them to build their core and leg muscles, work on agility exercises, stretching, stability.”
The Beadlings travel two to four times each month with the dogs, loading them into their brand-new GMC Denali (which already has logged 20,000 miles since November). They choose campgrounds and dog-friendly restaurants when they travel, treating Cello and Hooch as full members of the family.
“If they can’t go, we don’t go,” Jenny Beadling said. “But they’re great dogs, very well-behaved.”
The competitions pay $100 for first-place finishes; $50 for second, but Cello is sponsored by Turbo Pup, a meal supplement for dogs.
All cash prizes, she said, go to the dogs: GSP Rescue of New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to the breed. Contents of their prize bags, like food, treats and toys, are all donated to the Animal Orphanage in Voorhees.
“They’re great people, too,” Parkin said of the Beadlings.
Phaedra Trethan: (856) 486-2417; ptrethan@gannettnj.com
Here’s the link to the online story and video:
Cabela’s Summer Splash, Hosted by Keystone DockDogs: Cabela’s, Hamburg, PA
We love Cabela’s events where you can camp right in the parking lot, and crate the dogs right from your home on wheels!! This event was hosted by Keystone DockDogs, and held at Cabela’s in Hamburg, PA.
We set up “camp” with other dock diving friends who also have campers – and had a BLAST! (We are the camper with the American Flag canopy).
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- We love our new American Flag Canopy!…
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- …And Cello’s new TurboPUP banner!
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- Our new Liver Killers banner
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- Dan from TurboPUP came out to watch the 2 TurboPUP Ambassadors do their thing!
We also love this event since it is close enough for friends and family to venture out to watch the pups dive. One of Brian’s coworkers, and Brian’s mom, brother, & god-daughter all came out to watch the Liver Killers get some big air! The only pictures I took this weekend are the ones you see above (bad dog mom!).
Luckily two of our friends and fellow competitors took some pictures of Hooch, which I am sharing below (thank you, Kevin and Gary!!)
There were some computer issues at the event, so I don’t have all the recorded jump information just yet, but I will share the scores that I do have.
This was a particularly good event for Hooch!
Hooch jumped big all weekend, soaring over 23 feet in all five of his Big Air waves, acquiring (3) First Place medals, (1) Second Place medal, and (1) Third Place medal – all in the Elite Division. Hooch also took First Place in the Elite Division Big Air Finals! His biggest jump of the weekend was 24’1″, just an inch under his personal best.
Here is Hooch in action during a Big Air jump:
Hooch secured a new Personal Best in Extreme Vertical, with a grab of 6’2″ !! This also earned him a First Place ribbon for the Top Gun Division!
Cello jumped consistently all weekend, but score just below her current division most of the weekend. Cello did make the Elite Big Air finals (this was the first time Cello and Hooch made the same division finals and went head-to-head!) Cello placed 5th in the Elite Division Big Air Finals with a jump of 21’6″.
Cello did Extreme Vertical as well – however her biggest nemesis (golf cart) made an appearance while she was up on the dock, and she lost her focus, knocking her out of the competition earlier than she should have been.
Overall, we had a really fun weekend with friends and family, won some really cool ribbons, medals and Cabela’s goodies, and even got to meet some new friends who follow Cello and Hooch’s adventures on their Instagram account!
Limoncello and Hooch in “The Bark” Magazine!
Cello and Hooch’s feature in The Bark Magazine!
About The Bark:
“The Bark is the magazine of modern dog culture—it speaks to the serious dog enthusiast. The Bark is the indispensable guide to life with dogs, showing readers how to live smartly and rewardingly with their canine companions. Founded in 1997, as a newsletter to advocate for off-leash dog parks in Berkeley, California, the magazine quickly grew into a glossy, award-winning publication acclaimed for its timely commentary and rich literary offerings. Today, The Bark has a nationwide readership of over 250,000. It is published four times a year, available by subscription and sold at Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods and PetsMart stores.
Claudia Kawczynska and Cameron Woo founded The Bark in their garage, shortly after adopting their first dog, Nellie, and discovering it was illegal to allow their dog to romp untethered at their local park. The couple tapped into Kawczynska’s experience in public policy and Woo’s skills as a graphic designer to craft a publication that addressed the burgeoning issues faced by a new generation of dog owners.
Taking the magazine’s slogan to heart—Dog Is My Co-Pilot—The Bark became the first magazine to tap into the exploding phenomena of dog culture and lifestyle, focusing on the growing bond between individuals and their pet companions. Over the past twenty years, The Bark has chronicled the America’s love affair with dogs, the evolving status of canine pets and their role in society, as well as the incredible rise in services and products. The Bark has become the recognized expert on the social/cultural world of dogs in America, and what they mean to us.
The Bark’s impeccable pedigree includes publishing many of today’s most acclaimed authors including Ann Patchett, Augusten Burroughs, Rick Bass, Amy Hempel, and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver. The magazine features the writing of noted experts in science, animal behavior and health—Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Donald McCaig, Mark Derr, and includes animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell and nutritionist Marion Nestle as regular columnists.
The Bark has been twice honored with an Alternative Press Award for Best Magazine (lifestyle category) recognized for outstanding achievement in independent publishing. The Bark has also been honored with an Award of Merit from The Society of Publication Designers and a Folio Silver Award for Best Enthusiast Magazine. In September, 2003, Crown (Random House) published Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World’s Oldest Friendship, an anthology from the editors of The Bark. The Bark’s second collection, entitled Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit was published in October 2007. DogJoy, a photo book featuring the magazine’s popular “Smiling Dogs” submissions was published in November 2009 by Rodale.”
~from The Bark’s Website
Hooch’s Second Invitation to the DockDogs World Championships!
It’s official! Hooch’s Extreme Vertical Invitation came via email today!
He earned this by coming in first place in the Cadet Division Extreme Vertical discipline at the Bark in the Park Wild Card event!
Hooch Ranked #1 GSP in the United States!
As of now, Hooch is ranked THE #1 German Shorthaired Pointer in the United States with a DockDogs Big Air average of 23′ 7.4″
His current average also ranks him the #2 German Shorthaired Pointer in the World!!
Words cannot describe how proud I am of this boy!
Adair Vineyards: New Paltz, NY
The wineries along the Shawangunk Wine Trail just keep getting cooler!
Adair Vineyards, located in New Paltz, New York, is housed in a 200+ year old barn, once occupied by cows and horses.
The winery has a stream running by with the Shawangunk Mountains in the background.
The winery also supports several animal related charities including:
- Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary: a no-kill animal rescue, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, This organization’s mission is to improve the lives of companion animals everywhere by any means possible, including rescue, adoption, advocacy, collaboration, intervention and education.
- The Sato Project: dedicated to rescuing abandoned & abused dogs from Puerto Rico. They have rescued and rehabilitated over 1,200 dogs, and are working towards systemic change through education and partnerships on the Island.
The tasting room and gift shop are located in the loft of the barn and the wine making area is below – and dogs are allowed inside!
We decided to do a wine tasting here, as this winery had many interesting wines to choose from! 
The loft of the barn – the tasting room – was really neat!
This winery was truly a unique experience!
Stoutridge Vineyard: Marlboro, NY
Continuing along the Shawangunk Wine Trail, we came across Stoutridge Vineyard. This winery is located in Marlboro, New York, which is about 70 miles north of Manhattan, and located in the Hudson Valley.
Stoutridge Vineyards is built on the historical foundations of vineyards planted in the late 1700’s. The old winery’s foundation wall is all that remains of the historic structure. You can see it in the above picture, as it is now the beautiful front wall for the Stoutridge tasting room patio.
This is a very unique winery!
Many of the wines and spirits at Stoutridge are locally grown, and all are from New York State sourced fruits and grains. The winery is built into a hillside, and the wine cellars are underground. This establishment uses entirely solar generated electricity, and utilizes the heat off of their stills to heat the building in the winter through a radiant system built into the floor. How cool is that?!
Stoutridge is also what’s known as a “gravity winery,” meaning the never use pumps or filters in their wine making. In addition, they do minimal chemical processing to their wines. Stoutridge does not not “fine” their wines with gelatins, tannins or clays, doesn’t add water or sugar, or chemically adjust the acidity of their wines. They also do not add sulfites or sorbates to the wines after they are made. All of this means that the wines are pretty much unprocessed, and in a very natural state. All Stoutridge wines are sold exclusively at the winery, so that they can make their wines using less processing, and retain higher levels of naturally occurring antioxidants in the wines.
We enjoyed a glass of wine on the great tasting room patio with the pups, although the dogs were allowed inside the tasting room at Stoutridge.
Benmarl Winery: Marlboro, NY
After our awesome beer sampling at Rushing Duck Brewery, we continued along the Shawangunk Wine Trail to Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, NY.
The setting is a 37 acre estate that overlooks the historic Hudson River Valley. The grounds were stunning!
This winery had delicious wines, also was very dog friendly. The allowed Cello and Hooch to come inside to the tasting room – this was Hooch’s very first time INside of a winery’s tasting room!
The inside of the winery was really unique as well!
This winery was SO neat! So far, we are very much enjoying the Shawangunk Wine Trail!
Palaia Vineyards and Winery: Highland Mills, NY
We visited some great wineries on our Anniversary Camping Trip. The first winery we stopped at was Palaia Vineyards.
This winery is located along the Shawangunk Wine Trail in Highlandland Mills, NY. The setting is a 200 year old former dairy farm.
The winery and tasting room are located inside the 200 year old barn, which is really cool!
We enjoyed a tasting of their Traminette during our visit.
What a great sign:
This winery offers a menu of light bites and live music every weekend. Definitely worth the stop if you are ever in the Hudson Valley area!
Orange County Choppers: Newburgh, NY
Our first stop during our Anniversary Camping Trip was Orange County Choppers.
Orange County Choppers (better known as “OCC”) is a world-famous custom motorcycle manufacturer located in Newburgh, NY, that has been the center of the hit TV reality series “American Chopper” aired on the Discovery Channel. Founder, Paul Teutul Sr., and his team custom-design and manufacture choppers. OCC bikes are customized, and often built around a theme. Check out some of their cool bikes by clicking HERE.
Bay Creek Loves Hooch!
When we were in Cape Charles Virginia for the Wild Card Event, Hooch was a big hit in Bay Creek!
Hooch made the Bay Creek Golf Newsletter:
View the whole newsletter HERE.
Hooch also made the Bay Creek Real Estate Newsletter!
So proud of this little pup!
The Evolution of Hooch’s Dock Diving!
From no jump, to the Hoochie Hop… to sailing through the air! … The Evolution of Hooch!
Limoncello and Hooch Featured on AKC’s WOOFipedia!
Limoncello is featured on the American Kennel Club’s online publication, WOOFipedia!
Taken from: http://www.woofipedia.com/articles/meet-the-dog-who-can-fly
MEET THE DOG WHO CAN FLY
Posted By: Liz
Jenny and Brian Beadling had no idea they were raising a prodigy.
Their German Shorthaired Pointer, Limoncello, never took to the sport her breed is known for—hunting—because she had a fear of guns. But she still had that GSP high drive, which she’d exert by jumping off the dock of the family’s lake house to retrieve toys they’d thrown in the water. “We began to notice at a very young age, she would jump off the dock just for fun—even with no toy being thrown for her,” Jenny Beadling says. So when the family saw a “dock diving” event for dogs at a local festival, they thought, “why not?”
And so, a star was born.
Limoncello (or Cello for short) came in second place in that first event and in the year and a half that followed, she’s become one of the highest-ranked dock-diving GSPs in the world.
Cello competes as an “Iron Dog,” meaning that she participates in all three dock-diving events, including Big Air (long jump), Extreme Vertical (high jump), and Speed Retrieve (timed retrieving). And this November, she’ll be one of the dogs representing the USA at the DockDogs World Championship in Dubuque, Iowa. She’s also inspired her little brother, Hooch, to try out the sport.
And like any pro athlete, Cello has earned endorsement deals. TurboPup selected Cello to be the ambassador for their human-grade meal-replacement bars for active dogs on the go. Her social media accounts have attracted tens of thousands of followers, and she’s been featured in multiple publications.
“With her vibrant personality, extreme speed, and stunning build, she is a crowd favorite,” says Beadling.
But she’s not in it for the fame and fortune. The Beadlings donate all the cash awards won by Cello and Hooch to the German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue of NJ, and all of their food and toy prizes go to a local animal-welfare organization.
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You can see the original story by clicking HERE !
Longport Dog Beach, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
BringFido.com has a list of their top 10 dog friendly beaches in New Jersey. I decided to take Hooch for a ride and try one out – so off we went to the Longport Dog Beach!
Hooch was ready to go on his first-ever solo adventure!
We found it! This beach is located at the base of the Ocean Drive Bridge, on the Longport side, across from the fishing pier.
Walking on the path leading to the beach:
Along this path we saw the sweetest thing: A tribute to a dog who once loved to play on this same beach. A basket of toys were left in memory of Scruffy, so that other dogs could enjoy the beach as much as Scruffy did.
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- A great tribute to a dog who once loved to play on this beach!
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- Hooch was checking out the toys he could borrow while playing on this beach.
The beach was a pretty good size, with many families enjoying time with their dogs off-lead both on the beach, and in the water.
Hooch is not ready to be off-lead, so he enjoyed running in the water on his leash. Even though he was on-lead, he still somehow managed to steal a tennis ball from a Jack Russell Terrier!
Hooch LOVED playing in the waves:
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- Hooch was unsure about this “moving water” at first!
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- Then he decided to just go for it!
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- He loved jumping the waves!
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- Having a blast in the Atlantic Ocean!
We were both soaked, exhausted, and full of sand after this trip!
My sandy co-pilot on the way home:
Looking forward to the next summer adventure!
Happy Independence Day!
Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July celebrations! Cello and Hooch had on their Independence BLING!
Cello:
Hooch:
Mid-Atlantic Regionals at Shipps Corner, Virginia Beach, VA
This event was more of a practice for Cello since she had already earned her invitation to the DockDogs World Championships. Cello did get to try a new DockDogs event, called Dueling Dogs – it was lots of fun!
For Hooch, this was a chance to shine, and earn an invitation. Hooch not only earned himself an invite, he scored several new personal bests, and jumped right out of his division with one of the longest jumps of the weekend!
We camped at Holiday Trav-L-Park during this event.
CELLO:
BIG AIR:
19’5″ 18’7″
20’6″ 19’10”
SPEED RETRIEVE:
8.822 seconds 8.701 seconds
DUELING DOGS:
HOOCH:
BIG AIR:
22’0″ 23’2″ NEW PERSONAL BESTS (and on camera!!)
23’8″ 20’3″ NEW PERSONAL BESTS (and on camera!!)
22’6″ 23’2″ FIRST PLACE SENIOR FINALS, AND AN INVITATION TO THE DOCKDOGS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS !!!!!!!!!!
Cello Earned a SECOND Invitation to the Dock Dogs World Championships!
Cello’s first invitation was for the Iron Dog Division. This invite is for Speed Retrieve! Go Cello!!!!!
Codorus Blast, Codorus State Park, Hanover, PA
This venue was new for Hooch, but this was our second year competing in Codorus Blast with Cello. For this event, we camped at Merry Meadows Recreation Farm.
In this event, the dogs jump in to a lake instead of a pool.
Brian did some announcing this weekend:
CELLO:
Brian felt as though Cello was getting a bit burned out, so he decided to rest her this weekend, with the exception of Speed Retrieve.
SPEED RETRIEVE:
8.344 seconds
HOOCH:
Hooch earned new personal bests again this weekend! He also earned himself a spot in the Masters Finals for the very first time!
BIG AIR:
17’1″ 15’8″
17’0″ 18’6″
20’1″ 19’9″ NEW PERSONAL BEST
21’0″ 19’10” NEW PERSONAL BEST
16’9″ 16’6″ 6th Place Masters Finals (First time in Masters Finals!!)
Hooch also got his very first Super Fly Suit!
EXTREME VERTICAL:
It was pouring rain during Extreme Vertical…but Hooch managed to grab the bumper at 6’0″ , earning himself a new personal best!
Starting height: 5’4″
End Height: 6’0″ NEW PERSONAL BEST!
Even though there were storms off-and-on throughout the weekend, it was great fun! We look forward to attending this venue next year!
Merry Meadows Recreation Farm, Freeland, MD
While Cello and Hooch were competing in their dock diving event at Codours State Park, we camped at Merry Meadows Recreation Farm.
Our campsite (site A1) was very private and wooded.
Here are some pictures from around the campground:
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- Tractors
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- Tractors
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- Tractors
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- Log Cabin
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- Caboose
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- Driving Range
This campground was very unique. The list of amenities goes on forever!
- Pool
- Driving Range
- Remote Control Car Track
- Miniature Golf
- 3 Horseshoe Pits
- Volleyball Court
- Basketball Court
- Softball Field
- Playground
- Jump Pad
- Mining
- Frisbee Golf
- Fun Center
- Pet Park
- Wi Fi (free)
- Dump Station
- Entertainment Center
- Pavilion
- Two Laundry Rooms
- Tourist information
- Nature Trails
Canton/East Sparta KOA, East Sparta, OH
For Cello and Hooch’s dock diving event in Zoar, OH, we camped at the Canton/East Sparta KOA in East Sparta, Ohio.
We could not have been happier with our site (Site 77)
Our site had a level, concrete pad, and nice landscaping. The site also had a fire pit, and two wooden benches at the fire pit.
We even had our own “nest” style chair, , patio set, and grill!
The concrete slab had imprints of different plants – pretty cool!
This campground had lots to offer:
- 5 acre fishing lake
- horse back riding
- grocery store
- paddle boat rentals
- game room
- hay rides
- laundry facilities
- 18 hole miniature golf
We very much enjoyed our stay here!
Dog Fest of Zoar, Zoar, OH
Cello and Hooch added a new state to their States Visited Maps, and competed in the Dog Fest of Zoar dock diving competition in the Historic Zoar Village, in Ohio. We camped at the Canton/East Sparta KOA for this event.
CELLO:
BIG AIR:
21’10” 21’0″
17’1″ 19’2″ 4th Place Elite Finals
HOOCH:
We specifically came to this event so that Hooch could get another wave of EV toward his title. However, when we let him jump in Big Air, he earned a new Personal Best of 19’11” – which also earned him a spot in the Senior Finals! This would be Hooch’s first Senior Finals!
Big Air:
19’11” 14’2″ (New Personal Best!!)
19’3″ 19’11” First Place Senior Finals!
EXTREME VERTICAL:
Start Height: 5’2″
End Height: 5’10” New Personal Best, and 2nd Place Cadet Finals!
Overall, this was a fun event in a really neat historic town. We hope to visit Zoar again some day!
Cabela’s Presents DockDogs Wildcard Event, Triadelphia, WV
On the weekend of Hooch’s first birthday, The Liver Killers competed in a dock diving competition in Triadelphia, WV. This competition was held at Cabela’s. This was a very special event that we will never forget, because Limoncello won First Place in Warrior Iron Dog, and earned her invitation to the DockDogs World Championship!
We camped out in Cabela’s parking lot for this event, which was very convenient for our times in between jumps.
Limoncello competed as an Iron Dog. Here are her results:
BIG AIR
21’3″ 22’3″
22’3″ 21’10’
21’10” 21’3″
EXTREME VERTICAL
5’0
SPEED RETRIEVE
8.206 8.728
IRON DOG
Total Points: 2739.11
HOOCH
Hooch did very well this weekend, but wound up with a limp after his last jump. We noticed this as we were lining up for Speed Retrieve. Thank goodness Dr. Yurko of K.E.Y. Animal Hospital was there to evaluate Hooch.
It seemed Hooch had a strained muscle, so we scratched him from the rest of the competition. Here are his results from his Big Air waves:
BIG AIR
14’7″ 15’9″
15’0 13’0
9’6″ 15’9″
14’6″ 15’3″
Overall, this was a SUPER fun (and apparently an exhausting) event!
ONE YEAR OLD!
Happy Birthday to our little man, Hooch! Hooch turned 1 year old on May 24, 2015.
Where did the time go?! It seems like just yesterday this little guy stole my heart and joined our family! We cannot be happier with this pooch, as he has the sweetest temperament, and a heart of gold. Not a day has gone by since we brought him home that we haven’t laughed out loud – Hooch is truly one-of-a-kind !
Hooch’s first birthday fell on a weekend when we were in West Virginia at a dock diving event, but we didn’t let that stop us from celebrating! I baked a cake and cupcakes to bring along to share with Hooch’s dock diving buddies. Hooch and Cello watched carefully over the oven as the birthday treats baked.
Hooch had himself a mock-choc bone-shaped birthday cake, and peanut buttter/banana PUPcakes. Both treats had a cream cheese icing also!
(I noticed after the picture was taken I had placed the “1” backwards!!…oops!)
Hooch had an abundance of birthday toys waiting for him in our camper when he woke up:
The announcer at the dock diving event even wished Hooch a happy birthday!
Happy First Birthday, Hooch…we love you!
Back to the Splash Spring Fling at Shipps Corner, Virginia Beach, VA
Now THIS was a fun event! Cello and Hooch participated in Shipps Corner’s Back to the Splash Spring Fling.
This National event was an 80’s theme, and everyone was encouraged to dress and decorate in the 80’s fashion.
Hooch immediately flaunted his swag:
Our team canopy was decorated with 80’s bling:
Hooch had himself an 80’s boom box:
There was an 80’s playlist jamming all weekend long, and the dock was also decorated 80’s style:
They used 80’s style bracelets in place of the regular Handlers’ bracelets:
Besides this event being an absolute blast, Limoncello and Hooch each ROCKED the dock! Check out the results below!
LIMONCELLO
Extreme Vertical:
5’4″
Big Air :
21’0″ 21’0″ Second Place Master Division
21’1″ 20’1″ First Place Master Division
21’2″ 20’3″ Third Place Master Division
21’5″ 21’5″ First Place Master Division
BIG AIR SEMI-PRO FINALS:
21’3″ 19’11” First Place Semi Pro Division
Speed Retrieve:
8.378 8.052 First Place Express Division
Iron Dog:
2789.90 First Place Warrior
HOOCH
Big Air:
10’4″ 14’5″ First Place Junior Division
9’5″ 10’6″
10’5″ 16’1” NEW PERSONAL BEST!
10’0″ 14’7″ First Place Junior Division
8’7″ 12’5″
Speed Retrieve (first time EVER!!!)
Brian held Hooch so that he could see the other dogs performing Speed Retrieve:
Although he hesitated at the end of the dock, which made his score very low, he did jump off and retrieve the bumper at the end of the pool – so we are extremely proud of Hooch for catching on to this “new game” so quickly!
17.564 17.878
We all had a great 80’s weekend!
Share the Light
Cello won a contest, and we are proud to announce that she is now helping to “share the light” with Charity Wick Candles!
Cello’s 16 oz Candle, “Red Hot Cello,” has the aroma of fresh-cut granny smith apples, smothered in butter and topped with cinnamon… YUM!
The candle is made with all natural, kosher 100% soy wax with a lead and zinc-free self trimming cotton wick. The burn time for this candle is approximately 150 hours.
…The best part of this candle? $6 of the purchase price benefits the German Shorthair Pointer Rescue of NJ !
All Charity Wick’s candles are produced from vegan friendly, kosher certified, soy beans grown in the USA. All candles are free of any dyes or coloring, and feature lead free, self trimming cotton wicks, as well as environmentally conscious fragrance oils.
Even more reasons to buy a Cello candle:
- Lasts up to 50% longer
- Burns slower and cooler which helps to better distribute the fragrance of the candle
- Melted soy wax will not cause severe burns
- Non-toxic
- Less likely to trigger allergies
- Clean up off of fabric and carpet with soap and water
- Produces very little soot compared to paraffin wax based candles.
- Made from American-grown soybeans, so it supports the U.S. economy instead of foreign oil conglomerates
- Biodegradable
- Manufactured here in the USA!
The positive attributes of Charity Wicks soy candles, combined with the fact that your purchase benefits the GSP Rescue of NJ, makes any
Shorthair Candle the best choice for any candle friendly household!
Help “Share the Light,”for the GSP Rescue of NJ, and order your Shorthair Candle Company candle today by visiting Charity Wicks website!
Charity Wicks is sharing the light on Facebook too! Visit their page by clicking HERE.
Cello and Brian – Filmed By Drone!
At our last dock diving event, Family Fun Day, this past weekend in Elkton, MD, there was a drone flying around filming the weekend happenings.
Cello and Brian were filmed during one of their jumps – how cool is THAT?!?!
We were very excited with this first-time ever view of Cello in action!
Family Fun Day, Elkton, MD
Cello and Hooch’s first outdoor dock diving event of 2015 was held in Elkton, MD, at an event called Family Fun Day.
Our spot in “Dog Town:”
Cello:
Cello did not jump her best this weekend, but still put on a good show for the crowd!
Despite the fact that she was leaving early from the dock, which really affected her scores, Cello still won several medals this weekend!!
Big Air:
19′ 11″
18′ 11″
18′ 2″
18′ 2″
19′ 4″
18′ 11″
18′ 11″
19′ 6″
Extreme Vertical:
5′ 0″ Second Place (Cadet Division)
Speed Retrieve:
7.523 seconds – (a new Personal Best!!!!) 4th Place (Turbo Division)
Iron Dog:
2691.44 points First Place Iron Dog (Warrior Division)
Hooch:
Hooch had been holding a sit/stay, and jumping in our lake at home with no hesitation for about the past month. However, this did not transfer to the DockDogs dock and pool! Hooch still will not sit/stay for me up on the dock, and still hesitated at the edge of the dock, ending with a “pop” when we least expected it. He was quite the crowd-pleaser with his “Hoochie Hop!”
Big Air:
8′ 2″ First Place (Novice Division)
7′ 6″
8′ 3″
9′ 0″ First Place (Novice Division)
9′ 2″ Second Place (Novice Division)
8′ 0″
8’10” Second Place (Novice Division)
8′ 8″
Overall, we had a great weekend with many good friends and lots of cool pups!
Finding Nemo
Cello’s best friend is Nemo, a 4 year old male Boykin Spaniel. Cello and Nemo have been buds since the first week they both came home with their humans! “Finding Nemo” was one of the best things that happened to Cello – as Nemo is the only dog Cello truly ever fully “accepted.” If you have ever seen these two together, you can really see just how alike they are – and just how much they truly enjoy each other. They have played, swam, had sleep-overs, camped, and of course dock-dived together!
Cello and Nemo lounging on the couch together:
Cello and Nemo “holding hands” while sleeping during their first sleep-over:
Nemo, like Cello, has been dock diving for about 1.5 years. In fact, they attended their first-ever dock diving event together!
Nemo’s mom, Cindy, wrote a beautiful article on Nemo, which was published in the Boykin Spaniel Society Magazine, and included a mention of Cello.
The two pictures that were chosen for the magazine happen to be two pictures I took of Nemo and Cello at Nemo’s house.
The article is a wonderful read!
Although Nemo lives in our town, his mom, Cindy, has recently started a job in Michigan. Nemo and his parents travel back and forth from Michigan to NJ, and we are often away at dock diving events, so Cello and Nemo don’t get to see each other as often as they used to.
We wish we could gather more often, so we do try to get together whenever both families are home in NJ and have a free weekend!
11 Months
Our little (or NOT so little!) Hooch turned 11 months old on April 24!
He weighs 57 pounds now!
Hooch has been absolutely loving the water this Spring! He has been diving off of our dock at home!
Hooch has also been doing very well at his dock diving competitions!
In fact, on his 11 month birthday, Hooch competed in the Family Fun Day dock diving event, and earned 2 First Place medals, and 2 Second Place medals! Way to go, Hooch!
Happy 11 months, Hooch!
Nolde Forest State Park, Reading, PA
While camping at Eagles Peak Campground, we decided to do a local hike.
We ended up at Nolde Forest State Park – a gorgeous sate park with more than 665 acres of beautiful woodlands.
What a beautiful place to hike! This area was acquired by Jacob Nolde in the early 1900s. As the story goes, a single white pine grew in a meadow. Inspired by this tree, Jacob Nolde hired an Austrian forester to create a coniferous forest. As the trees grew, they formed a this magnificent forest!
There was a pretty stream running through most of our hike.
Cello and Hooch were excited to be on this adventure!
Throughout the hike, there were many unique stone bridges and lined walkways.
This was Hooch’s first Pennsylvania hike – and first hike in the warmer weather. He was getting tired quickly, and began to stop in the shady areas for a breather!
At one point, in usual Hooch fashion, he decided he was “DONE!” 
Belly rubs, anyone?
At the end of the hike, we were rewarded with the beauty of an early 1920’s mansion. In 1926, Hans Nolde, a son of Jacob, began work on the Tudor-style mansion that sits on the property. Today, visitors can tour the grounds as well as the inside of this mansion.
The garden area of the mansion was incredible!
Pennsylvania purchased the property in the late 1960s , and in 1970, Nolde Forest was established as the first environmental education center operated by the Bureau of State Parks. Now operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Bureau of State Parks, the park provides a wide variety of programs for students, teachers, and adult groups. Teaching stations offer places for students to work, and benches for those who wish to sit and enjoy nature.
10 Months
On March 24, Hooch turned 10 months old… how did he get so big so fast?!?!
Hooch is now taller than his sister, Cello, and weighs 50 pounds. He continues to love the water and dock diving, although he still will not jump off our dock at home, and still hesitates to jump at competitions. Hooch has picked up a stronger toy-drive, and enjoys chasing a tennis or soccer ball, and chewing on sticks. He is the happiest, puppy we know, and he makes us laugh every day, as he is such a goof-ball! Happy 10 months, buddy – we love you!
Nutty Squirrels!
This cute squirrel treat recipe was taken from Dog Treat Kitchen – I modified it a bit from the original recipe. I loved the look of the cookie, but wanted to make the treat grain free, and as organic as possible.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup organic buckwheat flour (I used Arrowhead Mills brand)
- 1 cup organic almond flour
- 2 Tbsp organic ground flax
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 very ripe medium organic banana
- 2 Tbsp organic beef broth (I make my own – but be sure if you purchase to check that there is no form of onion listed in the ingredients!!)
- 1 Tbsp organic safflower or sunflower oil
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 tsp organic honey
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped organic raw sunflower seeds
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F
- In a large bowl, whisk together the buckwheat flour, almond flour, flax and cinnamon.
- In a small bowl, thoroughly mash the banana, then stir in the beef broth and oil until combined.
- Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture.
- Stir together until you reach a coarse crumby texture.
- Knead the dough with your hand, in the bowl, until it forms a dough ball.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, or dust it with buckwheat flour so the dough will not stick.
- Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness, between two sheets of parchment paper (or dust top of dough with flour).
- Transfer cut outs to baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the oven, and leave the treats inside while the oven cools.
- Once completely cooled, apply the glaze and sunflower seed topping.
Topping Instructions:
- In a microwave safe bowl, combine the water and honey.
- Microwave on high for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Stir together until the honey is completely dissolved.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the honey glaze on the tail of the squirrel.
- Press the tail into the finely chopped nuts.
- Set aside, and let the glaze dry before serving to your dog.
These treats will stay fresh in the fridge for up to one month, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Yield – Depending on the cookie cutter(s) you use, you’ll be able to get about 9, 1/2 inch thick squirrels. Using the squirrel cookie cutter I had, I got 9 squirrels, and used an acorn cookie cutter for the smaller, left over dough pieces. The yield will vary, depending on the size of dog treat cookie cutter(s) you use and how thick you roll the dough.
TIPS:
- Rolling dog treat dough is so easy with parchment paper. If you don’t have it, you can to dust your work surface and rolling pin with buckwheat flour to keep it from sticking. You can line your baking sheets with parchment paper – or spray your baking sheet with non-stick spray before placing the cut outs onto it.
- For some dough mixtures such as this one that may be a bit stickier, try filling a shallow dish or bowl with flour and dip the cutter into it before each cut. Then very gently wiggle the cutter back and forth to separate it from the rest of the dough.
I hope your pooch enjoys this treat as much as Cello has!
4 Yrs
Happy 4th birthday to Limoncello!
On March 14, 2015, Cello turned 4!
Over the past year, Cello has:
- continued to achieve in dock diving
- adapted to multiple fosters in the house
- welcomed her new brother (she even occasionally pretends like she likes her brother, Hooch!)
- added new adventures to her “been there” list
- grown a white goatee
- became an ambassador for TurboPup
Cello continues to be happy and energetic – and we love her so much! Happy Birthday, pretty girl!
Staybridge Suites
Cello and Hooch stayed at Staybridge Suites in Harrisburg, PA for their indoor dock diving event, Winter Meltdown.
This hotel was very conveniently located right outside of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, where Winter Meltdown was being held.
This hotel offers several favorable amenities, including:
- free wireless internet
- fitness center
- laundry facilities
- indoor heated pool
- complementary breakfast buffet
- 24-hour pantry with snacks, drinks, and other items
The room was clean, and the people were friendly. Our room had a king size bed, sitting area, and a full kitchen. Cello and Hooch made themselves right at home!
It’s hard to believe that it was last year (for this same dock diving event) that Cello stayed in a hotel for the very first time!
Next year we will definitely book a room in this hotel for the 2016 Winter Meltdown!
Winter Meltdown, hosted by Keystone DockDogs in Harrisburg, PA
Cello and Hooch’s third dock diving event of the 2015 season was hosted by Keystone DockDogs.
This event, “Winter Meltdown,” was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA.
Cello
Cello had been going through a little bit of a slump, but during this event, she really seemed to be starting to get back on track! We were very proud of her!
Big Air Results:
22’6″ 22′
22’3″ 21’10”
23’3″ 21’9″ 2nd Place Elite Division
21’3″ 21’5″
Extreme Vertical Results:
5’2″ 3rd Place Cadet Divsion
Speed Retrieve Results:
17.128 10.968
Big Air Finals:
22’2″ 17’5″ 3rd Place Elite Division
Iron Dog Points: 2511.83 3rd Place Warrior Division
Hooch
Hooch is still a bit nervous to run and jump off the dock, but he loves to get the crowd going with his “Hoochie Hop” off the end of the dock!
Big Air Results:
8’7″ 8’1″ 3rd Place Novice Division
7’9″ 8’6″ 2nd Place Novice Division
7’10” 7’3″ 2nd Place Novice Division
8’1″ 8’2″
7’8″ 7’4″ 3rd Place Novice Division
Big Air FInals:
8’4″ 8’1″ 3rd Place Novice Division
Hooch had a BLAST!
9 Months
Hooch turned 9 months old on February 24th. He’s getting so big! He is now officially taller than his sister, Cello!
Over the past month, Hooch has earned his first 1st Place ribbon in dock diving, qualified for Finals for the first time – AND came in 2nd Place in the Novice Finals! Way to go, Hooch!
Hooch LOVES playing in the snow! And thank goodness, because we’ve had LOTS of it over the past month! 
One of Hooch’s favorite things is playing ball in the snow!
Happy 9 Months, Hoochie!
GSP Rescue of NJ Cover Photo
Cello and Hooch made the cover photo for the GSP Rescue of NJ!
Cello and Hooch are also featured on several videos of the rescue’s YouTube page! Check it out HERE !