Dock diving doggies

Staff Reports
The Valdosta Daily Times

June 25, 2009 11:25 pm

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MILLEDGEVILLE — Some of the top ranked dogs in the sport of dock diving will compete August 28-30 at The Fishing Creek Outfitters Throwdown in Milledgeville.
Dixie Dock Dogs, a non-profit organization benefiting various canine charities, is producing the thrilling event which features dogs jumping great lengths to splash down into a pool of water. Covering the entire state of Georgia, Dixie Dock Dogs is affiliated with the national organization DockDogs.
John Sadosky and Sean Swearingen, co-owners of Fishing Creek Outfitters, are very excited about the upcoming competition.
“This is the first time for dock diving anywhere in this area,” Sadosky said. “We are going to make this a spectacular event…something for the entire family.”
According to Dixie Dock Dogs representatives Bill and Nancy Akin of Watkinsville, a regulation 40 foot dock and 40 foot by 12 foot pool of water will be brought onto the Fishing Creek Outfitters location. Dogs from all over the country will come to compete in the three sporting disciplines of DockDogs: Big Air, which measures the length of their jump, Extreme Vertical, which measures the height and Speed Retrieve, which measures how fast they run, jump and swim.
“It’s an awesome sport,” Nancy Akin said. “Our own team of Labrador retrievers, known as Team 3 Dawg Flite, have been to DockDogs competitions from Alabama to Missouri to Ohio to Maryland, and all stops in-between. We are so excited now to share this sport with the Milledgeville community.”
Akin reports they are expecting as many as 100 dogs to compete in the three-day event. Dock diving is a sport for any breed or any size dog, and all are encouraged to bring your dogs out to give it a try. Dixie Dock Dogs will have personnel available to show interested attendees dock diving strategies and give tips for getting started in the sport.
If you would like to have your dog participate, you can register online at DockDogs.com. If you just want to attend the festivities without having your dog participate, registration is not necessary.
For more information about The Fishing Creek Outfitters Throwdown, please visit DixieDockDogs.com. You can also contact Nancy Akin at 706-540-9395.

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