Last year we attended the DockDogs World Championship with all three of our diving dogs qualifying to compete. This year, we were lucky enough for all three competing dogs to qualify once again for the DockDogs World Championship in all the disciplines in which they participate! Check out our 2016 Season in Review and see some of our team’s Worlds Bling by clicking HERE!
We drove our motor home out to Iowa this year! We had custom window decals made and updated the “Miles to Dubuque, Iowa” with every stop-over!
Our Route:
Dubuque, Iowa – Dog Town:
Our Schedule:
LIMONCELLO:
Limoncello competed as an Iron Dog.
Big Air:
22’0″
22’4″
Speed Retrieve: 8.531 secnds
Extreme Vertical: 5’4″
Total: Iron Dog Points: 2754.14 points
At the big Golden Paw Awards Gala, Limoncello was named DockDogs #1 Ranked Warrior Iron Dog in the World!
HOOCH:
Hooch competed in Elite Division Big Air, and Top Gun Division Extreme Vertical.
Big Air: 23’3″
Extreme Vertical: 5’10”
At the big Golden Paw Awards Gala, Hooch was named DockDogs #1 Ranked German Shorthaired Pointer in the World!
LAGER:
Lager competed in Senior Division Big Air (with Jenny) and Top Gun Division Extreme Vertical (with Brian).
Big Air: 19’3″
Extreme Vertical: 5’10”
MARGARITA:
Although Margarita doesn’t compete, she was sure ready to cheer her siblings on with her Super Fly suit and painted pink piggies!
Margarita in her Super Fly Suit
Pink piggies!
Our fellow GSP Rescue of NJ friends, Jen and Grace, drove all the way from New Jersey to Iowa to be with us and our team. Jen and Grace took Margarita every day during the competition to run at the dog park! Margarita even took a trip with Jen and Grace to see the Mississippi River. Much to Margarita’s delight, her Aunt Jen and Grace also took her to get a McDonald’s chicken sandwich for lunch one day, and to Starbucks to enjoy a puppuccino! I think Margarita had THE time of her life!
Dog Park
Checking out the Mississippi River
Puppuccino time!
Jenny and Rita found the Statue of Liberty in downtown Dubuque
We are so proud to have been able to compete against the best dock diving dogs in the world, and are so very pleased with the performance of our pups!
The 2016 DockDogs Season ended in October, with the World Championship being held in November. The Liver Killers had an amazing season last year. This year was just as exciting!
Limoncello the “Dock Diving Diva”
Photo Credit: Ken Tidy Photography
Limoncello had an incredible season, earning new Personal Bests in Big Air (25 ft), Speed Retrieve (7.33 seconds), AND Iron Dog (2,883 points)! She earned an invitation to the DockDog World Championship in all disciplines for the second year in a row, although Brian decided only to accept the Big Air and Iron Dog invitations. Cello is the # 2 German Shorthaired Pointer in the World for Big Air, and also earned the #1 spot for overall Warrior Division Iron Dog in the World!
Overall World Rankings
Big Air:
2nd ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Master Titled
Average: 23’0″
Speed Retrieve:
3rd ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Turbo Titled
Average: 7.512 seconds
Extreme Vertical:
5th ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Cadet Titled
Average: 5’5″
Iron Dog:
1# Warrior Division Iron Dog overall!
#3 ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Average: 2,797.40 points
Hooch the “Dock Diving Dude”
Photo Credit: Ken Tidy Photography
Hooch had a big year also! After his “scare” on the dock last November at the World Championship when they shut the lights down and had spotlights on the dock, Hooch carried that fear until almost May of this season. He finally gained his confidence back, and began to jump HUGE! He earned a new Personal Best in Big Air (25’4″!!!!), and also is the #1 German Shorthaired Pointer in the World! Hooch earned himself an invitation to the DockDog World Championship for both disciplines in which he competes (Big Air and Extreme Vertical). Hooch was also recently invited to participate in a qualifier for the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge! That qualifier will be in November as well.
Overall World Rankings
Big Air:
#1 ranked German Shorthaired Pointer!
Elite Titled
23’10” (Elite Average)
Extreme Vertical:
#4th ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Top Gun Titled
Average: 6’0″
Lager the “Deployed Dock Diving Dawg”
Photo Credit: Ken Tidy Photography
Lager continued to excel in his first full year of competition. Lager secured an invitation to the DockDog World Championship for the 2 disciplines in which he competes (Big Air and Extreme Vertical).
Overall World Rankings
Big Air:
9th ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Senior Titled
19’10” (Senior Average)
Extreme Vertical:
5th ranked German Shorthaired Pointer
Top Gun Titled
Average: 5’11”
Margarita the “Team Cheerleader”
Margarita joined our pack right before the start of the dock diving season, and has been a wonderful team cheerleader! Margarita is still learning toy-drive as she gets used to the water and learns how to swim. She has come a long way, and we are very, VERY proud of her!
In pool water for the first time!
“Aunt Kristen” helping Rita learn to enter the pool.
Getting used to the water on the Paddle Board
“Aunt Mandy” showing Rita that toys are fun!
Sponsorships
We are super proud to be a part of some very unique and prestigious sponsorships this year!
Ken Tidy has long been known as one of the most talented photographers in our area, capturing stunning action-packed images that truly express each dog’s individual personality. His images have been shared across the DockDogs world, and we are truly honored that Ken has chosen our fur-kids to represent his amazing work. We super excited about this sponsorship! Be sure to check out some of Ken’s amazing photography, and schedule a session with him to capture YOUR pup!
Website: www.kentidy.com
FB: @kentidyphotography
Twitter: @kptidy
Instagram: @kentidyphoto
Undone Watches is a unique company who’s motto is “Individuality Matters.” They make unique watches designed by you to reflect your own individuality. Every watch is a unique message!
TurboPUP
TurboPUP makes all natural complete K9 meal bars for on-the-go dogs!
Publications:
Limoncello, Hooch, Lager, and Margarita were featured in several publications this season!
Feature Story on the American Kennel Club’s FB Page
The Liver Killers are happy to report that along with the help of some friends and fellow competitors, an abundance of food, toys, and supplies were donated to a few really great organizations…and a grand total of $3,868 was raised!
As we begin to prepare for our second long trip out to Iowa for the DockDogs World Championship, we continue to reflect upon the amazing season we had, all the exciting adventures we encountered, and the many incredible people and dogs we met because of our pups and this wonderful sport. We cherish every moment, and embrace it ALL: the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears, the (VERY) early mornings, the late nights, our every-growing camping group, and the comradery shared with friends at the events. We are truly blessed to be a part of such an awesome community. Never have we met such a large group of the nicest people who not only strive to improve within their own team, but will at the same time stop and help other fellow competitors to enhance their game, and applaud fellow opponents just as enthusiastically as they cheer on their own dog. The patience, advice, support, and guidance we have received from friends, family, co-workers, bosses, fellow competitors, and social media followers is beyond overwhelming, and greatly appreciated. Thank you ALL for being a part of this thrilling ride with us. We look forward to writing the next chapter of this adventure together!
We are both honored and excited to have the privilege of competing against the top dogs in the world. No matter where our dogs rank at the World Championship this year, we are beyond proud of all of our pups, and thrilled that we have the opportunity to share this grand experience. We cannot wait to spend the week at the World Championship with our DockDogs family!
Three months after returning from Iraq, two months after joining our family, and after competing in only 2 National events, Lager earned his invitation to the DockDogs World Championship for Senior Division Big Air! Words cannot express how proud we are of this boy!
While competing at the Cabela’s Presents Wildcard event in Triadelphia, WV, Limoncello won first place in Warrior Iron Dog, and earned her invitation to the DockDogs World Championships! The World Championship event will be held in November, 2015, in Dubuque, Iowa.
Our good friends surprised us with the wonderful news!
