Staying safe and sound.
Conditions, what to look for and how to take precautions in regards to the runoff and take off area. Learning the effects of: daily traffic patterns of the facility, how crowded the facility is, location of the dock (mobile at AKC shows; local, indoors, and within city proximity), the type of client most frequently using the facility, and how the quality of management can influence the quality of the surface. Explanation of necessary basic safety steps to avoid one of the most common injuries in diving dogs resulting from high impact slipping: the dreaded Iliopsoas strain.
Early on in our career, I honestly did not pay much attention to the surface. We jumped a lot from natural grass shores and once in a while from some wooden fishing docks where there was not much of a run (length) to it nor a huge kick (special edge from which takeoff occurs). The natural wood surface gave enough support and traction with a placement of no more than five feet of the edge at best. If the wood was painted and wet, it then became slippery so we did not jump off of those docks. You must inspect the surface for any large gaps, cracks, or uneven boards as well as sharp, protruding objects. In our experience, running from the grass was, and still is, the very best and safest option; so in hindsight, we were just very lucky to have started training that particular way.
In the fall of the 2019 season, my habit of not checking out the commercial docks dramatically changed. Bernhardt genuinely slipped during a training session from an indoor dock located in the Midwest that featured the identical surface as some mobile docks that can be seen at the AKC shows. As usual, we got up on the dock, which got him all excited and ready to play, then I threw the toy for him. From the back section of the dock where he accelerates (reaching over 20 mph!), next thing I knew he slipped in the take-off area near the edge of the dock, where he was catapulted into the water. After that slip and fall, he would still jump from that area, but the length in which he was jumping was reduced. I noticed that his jump lengths shortened by three feet the first time and averaged around the same length on the next few jumps, so I stopped right away. Two days later, we returned to the same dock and he would not jump at all. It was the very first accident that he ever had and the experience stamped on his memory. Not only his memory, but also his body. The Iliopsoas muscle, also known as a hip flexor muscle, is the target of negative experiences like this. All that I could think about was how the scar tissue of a tendon or muscle will never ever have the exact same strength, elasticity and durability than it was originally, even after a full recovery.
The day off that accident, we had a late appointment (5:30PM, the last time slot available) on a very busy day for that facility. The facility is located near a major city and has a ton of recreational traffic patterns inside, mainly dogs swimming but also a few top jumper dogs. I found that handlers using the facility would take their long-haired dogs, even in bundles of two or three at a time, and just launch them down the ramp, only to then let them return to the take-off area where they would shake off all the water on their hair. There was a spray of water and the dogs’ product-filled hair in close proximity to the take-off area. This process went on for 30 minutes, sometimes doubling those efforts and reaching up to an hour. During this time, the dogs would make up to 15 trips off the ramp and back, shaking off afterwards each time. This was not just happening one time, but multiple times a day. Many facilities have much more swimming facilities than actual jumping equipment, so it is important to be aware of the fact. This routine will clog up the carpet on the ramp! Combined with the limited drainage in the area, it is easy to predict that a dangerous buildup of water and hair on the ramp will create a hydroplane effect for the dog who is moving at high speeds on the surface. Due to the lack of ongoing high impact dynamics, most operators would rather tend to turn a blind eye concerning the safety of their carpets and ramp surfaces. Recently, there were multiple reports concerning a slippery carpet related to an outdoor championship level event that was run off of a mobile dock in October, 2020 in Georgia. These reports showed a focus on problems with the mobile docks that are frequently used at AKC breed shows. It is likely that the wear and tear on these mobile docks comes more easily from the high traffic of incidences that are described above. I remember one outing in which the water surface was covered in hair to the extent that I would just grab a toy used as a retrieve tool that had a net on it and pull the layers of other dogs’ hair off of it. All I could visualize was my toy receiving the open-mouthed breathing dogs plus the debris floating in the water around it.
In my three years of competitions and training sessions, I have seen a single facility owner/operator taking steps for increased safety during these high traffic conditions. Jay Crisman at WestRover Water Sports in Westover, Alabama would use breaks between the splash from a jump to sweep off the water with a strong leaf blower as well as dry off the dock surface. No surprise, he is also an excellent veterinarian.
Some facilities decided to invest in more expensive carpet material for their dock. One facility that stands out is Prime K9 in Winchester, Kentucky. They have a surface that is outlasts rainy conditions. The in-ground pool of the Tin Woof Inn in Frankfort, Kentucky has a superior carpet surface on their ramp.
So, the rule here is that when the carpet looks exactly like artificial green grass, one should check before sending their dog out to jump and be more alert, always. In my personal observation, I have found that none of the so-called “safer” surfaces actually look artificial green grass, and it must be surmised that the dock operator takes impeccable care of that kind of a surface.
Walk up to the edge of the ramp and slide your shoes over the spot, look for puddles of standing water, clumps of hair clogging the surface, and bring your own towel to use with or request a brush from the facility. It is your dog, your money paid, and it could soon be your vet bills or eventually even the end of your beloved dog’s career. Please do not be afraid to say something. You can really make a difference for yourself or another animal that loves to jump and is eager to please because they give their all for their owner. Believe me, watching your dog suddenly turn sour and stop doing what they once loved is an experience that you do not want to encounter, especially when it is easily preventable. In particular, a dog that is rather a heavy weight such as Bernhardt (about 72 pounds of muscle) or are very speed- and catapult-driven, the traction of the surface truly matters.
All the best, safe jumping, and do not forget the dog is first!
