Chessies Dock Diving at Ocala Dog Ranch
- Rob Robinson
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Ocala Dog Ranch hosts the Chesapeake national specialty dock diving
Ocala Dog Ranch
Dock Diving 21-22 October, 2025
The 2025 American Chesapeake Club National Specialty Show was held in Ocala, Florida this year and Ocala Dog Ranch hosted the Dock Diving portion of the event at their rural location near to the event at Greater Ocala Dog Club grounds on the 21st and 22nd of October 2025.
The two days of dock diving were recorded with International Dog Sports (IDS) and the weather was excellent for both days. Though it was a little hot in the afternoon, the days were mostly cool to temperate. Dogs from across North America enjoyed their splashes into the cool water of the pool. Many for the first time competed and were joined by several non-Chesapeake breeds.
Dock Diving
The one dog game you can play all year.
With very hot summers, most outdoor dog sports are limited to Fall/Winter months in Florida. There is an exception though. Dock Diving! The year-round pool games are one of the most popular dog sports in the country and are well represented here in Florida with multiple venues hosting events regularly and fun “splash” days for their clubs’ members and newcomers.
Dock Diving has multiple competing leagues. Awards, prizes and just “bragging rights” generally come second to just having a good time. There are different activities, but leaping from the elevated platform before splashing into the pool is the most popular game.
It’s as simple as it sounds but does take most new dogs a bit of getting used to. For some pups, just getting used to swimming might be the first step, but all the locations we visited were happy and willing to help newcomers get their first splash.
The sport has grown since the early days of dogs leaping off real docks into ponds, lakes, and rivers. Today most dock diving events are from special built 40 foot attached to 40-foot (or longer) pools. Most are permanent structures, but we have one fully mobile dock that can travel to events around the state and the country. The great popularity of dock diving games may be its accessibility. Busy dog owners may not have much time to invest in training needed for sports like Agility or Herding and if you have a dog who loves playing in water, the bar to entry is very achievable for most, and the dogs love it.
Central Florida is very fortunate to have four docks that are accessible to most Florida residents. From Ocala west to Chiefland south to Myakka City, and East to Eustis. Spectators are welcome at all scheduled events and often the opportunity to get your own dogs wet may be available, but not always, so check ahead with the location.
Ocala Dog Ranch
Just west of I-75 and near Ocala, Florida sits one of the country’s most beloved dog sports locations, the Ocala Dog Ranch. Founded in 2018 by Sally Saxton and Neil Hennessey includes a permanent dock and regularly hosts classes for Barn hunt, Agility, Obedience, Disc Dog activities and training. Additionally, they conduct AKC Canine Good Citizen testing. The dock is part of the International Dog Sports and United Dock Diving (UDD) network of docks across N. America starting in 2023 and hosted the Florida contingent of the 2023 national championship.
Ocala Dog Ranch stays very active in the local community. From regular hosted dog shelters getting free access and adoption events to supporting a variety of dog friendly activities in the Ocala area. It was also the first dock we visited some years ago that already had set aside disabled vehicle parking and a wheelchair accessible porta-potty and heated pool for all year dock in the cooler months.
Though the dock does not currently have wheelchair access, the owners have been proactive in pursuing a solution and we hope to see progress in the coming year. This limitation does not impact other games not dependent on the dock. From disc-dog to flyball, the gang at Ocala Dog Ranch are capable and willing to accommodate those with special needs and their dogs.
Co-owner Neil Hennessey is a former British Army commando and personally committed to helping those veterans with disabilities. He has been a very active partner with us in pursuing solutions and access for those with disabilities interested in joining the games at the Ocala Dog ranch. ODR is very willing to accommodate disabled 1st responder and military veterans.
International Dog Sports (IDS)
National K9 Dock League
International Dog Sports and specifically their National K9 Dock League was born from the founders dissatisfaction with other Dock Diving organizations becoming so commercialized they had lost touch with the real reason for this games popularity. To have fun with your dog.
The league is young and growing fast, and their focus on keeping the games accessible and light hearted has drawn a lot of attention. Now with 18 facilities nation wide.
Having such an established venue as the Ocala Dog Ranch switch teams to join them is quite an accomplishment and hopefully is a good portent for the leagues future.
HERO DOGZ
More information for disabled 1st responder and military veterans.
Do your dog a huge favor and take them somewhere new!
Our core mission here at Bad Azz Dogz is about his simple idea. Helping disabled 1st responders and military veterans with dogs have full active lives!
The Ocala Dog Ranch is one of the very few Florida locations Bad Azz Dogz rates as a HERO DOGZ location.
- The facility provides ADA compliant toilets and is very responsive to accommodation special needs of those visiting their facility.
- With multiple games supported from Disc Dog, to Dock Diving, they also provide more general dog training and fun games like fun-run Lure Coursing, agility and more.
- The venues manager is a military combat vet themselves and can relate on a very personal level to your needs. MORE INFO. BELOW
Location and Contact information is at the end of this article.
We hope to see you and your best furry friends out their this year.
If you have further inquires, please contact us at info@badazzdogz.net
PHOTO-FEATURE
Enjoy our very special photo-feature of some Bad Azz Dogz and their humans! SHARE your favorites and please contact us at info@badazzdogz.net if a vet or first responder wanting to learn more.
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More Information:
- 2025 American Chesapeake Club National Specialty Show
- Greater Ocala Dog Club https://greaterocaladogclub.org/
- International Dog Sports
https://www.internationaldogsports.com/ - Ocala Dog Ranch
As with all events Bad Azz Dogz features, it is the hope you will consider coming out into our amazing Florida Bad Azz Dogz world of fun and activities near you.
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