It might have been hot at the kick-off of Maryville’s annual Summer on Broadway, but furry festival goers and their human counterparts were staying cool with Smoky Mountain DockDogs.
The club, which is an affiliate of the national organization DockDogs, drew a crowd of residents and fans who sat in bleachers and gathered around the large pool to watch the dogs.
Friday afternoon, SMDD was starting with “try it,” a trial session in which anyone could sign their dog up to see if their dog would attempt a jump into the water without the pressure of competition.
One such athlete was Roka, who was with his owner, Rachael Sheppard. Roka, a field golden retriever who had never participated in such an event, flew through the air to claim his prize. Sheppard and Roka are new to the area, having just moved to Maryville six months ago from Austin, TX.
While they did not participate in organized activities like DockDogs, Sheppard said that Roka was a seasoned swimmer, having spent time in Austin’s lakes and Roka’s parents were champion hunters and dock jumpers, she said.
Sheppard said trying the event out that afternoon made her interested in joining SMDD and she said she may even enter Roka in Saturday’s competition.
Not all the dogs were enthusiastic about jumping into the pool. Some peered longingly at their toy floating in the water. Others rushed the dock but stopped short when it came time to make the plunge. Others chose to take an alternative route by running down the ramp. Either way, their efforts drew cheers from the crowd.
That’s the great thing about SMDD, said SMDD President Meredith Scheetz; it’s open to all kinds of dogs at all different experience levels. Scheetz herself joined SMDD after she and her dog Redmond, a black lab, participated in a “try-it.” While Redmond didn’t jump that time, Scheetz decided to join.
Scheetz explained that they are open to dogs of any size or age. There is a special division for short dogs called the lap dog division, as well as youth divisions and a hero division for senior dogs.
Scheetz said their club’s dogs range from super competitors to dogs who just want a fun activity to engage in.
Beyond their club practices, SMDD provides a sense of community. Scheetz described different outings the members will go on together and fundraisers they participate in.
“We’re just all different types of people, and we come together, and we have fun with our dogs. I’ve met some of my best friends here,” she said.
SMDD club member Lesley Timm agreed.
“You have a friend everywhere you go, no matter what competition you go to,” Timm said.
Timm, who owns a golden retriever named Barkley and a rescued treeing Walker coonhound named Gravy, said Barkley competes, but Gravy prefers to stay on the sidelines, under the comfort of their tent.
Timm said that SMDD can be a useful tool for owners with high-energy dogs or destructive dogs. Getting that energy out through practice can help alleviate unwanted behaviors and promote bonding between human and pup, she said.
Late Friday afternoon, SMDD was scheduled to host two competitions: Big Air, which measures how far out the dog can jump, and Extreme Vertical, which tests how high the dog can jump to retrieve their toy, called a bumper.
Saturday, SMDD is set to host more big air competitions and speed retrieve, in which the dogs jump into the pool and swim to their target as fast as possible.
“I would recommend anybody to try this with their dogs, just as an outlet — or any dog sport, for that matter,” Timm said.
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