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Dock-diving dogs fetch rewards at Sewickley event

By Adam Wagner

1 Min Read • July 19, 2012 | 7 years Ago

Barley, a 2-year-old German short-haired pointer, exhibits good form on a jump, during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. Barley was adopted July 15th, by Joel and Theresa Rakocy, of Cleveland, Ohio, who brought him and another dog to try out their diving prowess. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Dan Grachen of the North Hills waits to see how Mako, his 2-year-old yellow lab, will perform as the dog leaps off the dock in pursuit of a toy, during a dock-diving event for dogs on Sunday. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Suri, a 5-year-old chocolate lab, retrieves a toy from the water, returning it to handler Jonathon Palinski of Elwood City, during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Billy Loya, 11, of Claysville, shows his love for Buddy, his golden retriever, in the pond, during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. Billy and Buddy took a break to just relax in between their dives. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Jesse Kearns, 16, of Hickory, has his dog, Moose, a 5-year-old black lab, jump during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Kevin Meese, of Fredericktown, watches as his greyhound, Ginger, soars through the air during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. According to Meese, Ginger is the daughter of Country, a former world-record holder for dock diving, with a distance of 28 feet, 10 inches. Ginger, a novice still, reached a distance of 21 feet with this jump. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Sherry Miller, of Springboro, Crawford County, watches as her Mandy, a 5-year-old boxer/lab mix flies through the air after a toy during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Timber, a 9-year-old German short-haired pointer, soars through the air during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. Timber belongs to Mark DiRienzo, of Berlin Center, Ohio. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Jonathon Palinski, of Elwood City, demonstrates the proper form to Suri, his 5-year-old chocolate lab, during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Sometimes, a point in the right direction is needed, as Debbie Pinkerton, of Minerva, Ohio, does to show Tazar, her 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier, the way toward the water, during a dock diving event for dogs, Sunday, July 15th, 2012. People from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and their dogs gathered at Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration for their furry friends. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, who would then take a running start off the dock, through the air, and into the water to retrieve the toy, and return to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Mandy, a 5-year-old boxer/lab mix, catches her toy, thrown by handler Sherry Miller of Springboro, Crawford County (not pictured) in midair before landing in the pond on Sunday during a dock diving event for dogs. Judging the distance of the jump are Dawn Miller (left) and Paul Leabhart. People from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania — and their dogs — gathered in Misty Pines Dog Park in Pine to take part in the diving demonstration. A toy would be thrown into the pond ahead of the dog, which would then take a running start off the dock, through the air and into the water to retrieve the toy before returning to shore. Horizontal distances were recorded to see how far each dog was able to leap. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

About 75 people gathered to watch 45 of man's best friends launch themselves off a dock Sunday at Misty Pines Dog Park in Sewickley.

Dock diving — as the sport is known — came to Western Pennsylvania about three years ago.

“We used to travel all across America, and we wanted to get local events to try to get local people interested in this sport,” said Paul Leabhart, 44, of Hickory in Washington County, who cofounded Three Rivers Dock Dogs and is now its president.

Ginger, a greyhound owned by Kevin Meese, 53, of Fredericktown in Washington County, won Sunday's competition with a jump of 25 feet.

“It went very well because there were a lot of new dogs that have never done this before,” Leabhart said. “It was exciting to see a lot of new dogs and different breeds.”

Moka, one of Leabhart's three chocolate labs, will compete at the Dock Dogs World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa, in November after qualifying at a competition in Maryland two weeks ago.

Three Rivers Dock Dogs' next competition will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 4-5 at the Green Cove Yacht Club in Fredericktown.

Adam Wagner is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7956 or adamwagner@tribweb.com.

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