Dock Diving Central Florida
- Rob Robinson
- 9 minutes ago
- 7 min read
The one dog game you can play all year.
Feature Getting your dog wet on purpose.
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.
Four docks to check out.
Central Florida K9
Permanent Dock
RV: Dry camping only.
ADA restroom.
Central Florida K9 is arguably the most beautiful venue for dog sports in Florida. The 30-acre property resembles one of the state’s premiere equestrian centers more than the typical open lot of most venues. They provide a multitude of services and training for various games from nose work (NASDA) to boarding, obedience and K9 explosive, narcotics, and cadaver tracking. They even provide certifications AKC temperament and Farm dog testing. They also conduct 160-hour classes for narcotics/explosive & cadaver dogs and have a K9 confidence course. The site is quite large with specific accommodations for each game, mostly with seating for players and spectators.
With full-time staff and 24/7 on-site monitoring of the kennels and property, CFK9 is the most ambitious of the locations we visited. Owner Rock Galloway and his family opened in 2014, converting the previous veterinarian/kennels into a multi-sport and training complex for dogs on the thirty-acre property. They kept the kennels but have upgraded all areas to provide indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.
The permanent dock is managed by 5 of the 25 staff and they include 2 Ultimate Air Dog judges with a third to be added this year.
Though there is a long ramp up to the dock entrance, it may not be suitable for large wheelchairs to navigate the turn on to the dock itself. It is available for private rental, dock diving and dog swimming lessons.
The property has a paved entrance. Parking is mostly on grass and there are limited RV spots. No notable obstacles or steep hills as the property is mostly flat. The main office and store have a wheelchair accessible restroom. Owner Rock Galloway spent years as a law enforcement K-9 handler for thirteen patrol, narcotics, bomb, and cadaver K-9s.
Contact and directions:
27101 County Rd 44A,
Eustis, FL 32736, USA
Email: CentralFloridaK9@gmail.com
Phone: 407-926-8100
Florida K9 Sports https://www.flk9sports.com/
Mobile
DockRV: Dry camping only.
ADA Porta Potty.
“Our goal at Florida K9 Sports is to ensure a safe, fun environment and experience for handler and dog.”
Deep in rural Florida sits the state’s newest Dock Diving venue at Florida K9 Sports. Owner Jay Nichols moved his mobile dock and operations in 2021 from Montana to Myakka City, Florida. The location is several acres tucked in beside a blueberry farm and with sparse woods, provides a flat open field of big skies.
Jay’s background in dog handling and training has been mostly with search and rescue and bomb detection dogs. Dock diving has been a great change of pace and opportunity to provide his dogs with additional challenges while having a fun time.
This 5-acre plot is both home and business to Jay and Wendy Nichols and their own dogs. Jay is actively pursuing a solution to offer wheelchair access to the dock, and we will be watching for this exciting development. There is no specific disabled parking, but parking and easy access is plentiful. There are no RV hookups and there is room for “dry” camping on site. There is a wheelchair accessible Porta-Poty.The venue added UpDog Challenge (Disc Dog games) in 2024.
Contact and directions:
43525 Florida 64
Myakka City, FL 34251
Phone: 406-208-9633
Ocala Dog Ranch https://www.ocaladogranch.com/
Permanent
DockRV: Dry Camp Only (There is an Air B&B on site)
ADA Porta Potty.
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 Flyball, Barn hunt, Agility, Obedience, Disc Dog (UpDog Challenge) activities and training. Additionally, they conduct AKC Canine Good Citizen testing. The dock is part of the International Dog Sports 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.
Contact and directions:
Ocala Dog Ranch
440 SW 110 Ave.
Ocala, FL 34481
Phone: 352-575-1069
E-mail: Info@ocaladogranch.com
Tracks K9 Club https://tracksk9club.com/
Permanent
DockRV: Dry camping only.
ADA Porta Potty.
“Here at Tracks K9 Club, we love sports and wanted to bring a one-stop training facility to one location.”
Tracks K9 Sports sit on 5 acres and opened with a bang in January 2022. Co-owner Chris Hutchko is a retired veteran police officer and passionate about his business, his wife Kim and longtime friend Diane D’Angelo want to provide a great place to just have fun with your dogs. Their location close to the growing Chiefland, Florida puts them too close to existing official locations for some games as official hosts of trials and competitions, but that has not waved their commitment as they simply adapted the games on their site to unique and entertaining variations of their own design. From “Ultimate Rat Hunt”, and “Renegade Dog Sports”.
They also added agility, a dog confidence course and scent detection. In 2022 the dock was officially added to the Ultimate Air Dogs dock diving league and began hosting regular events. Though the dock currently does not offer wheelchair access, the owners are pursuing options from ramps to lifts that may be added in the future.
The club has had numerous press stories in the local media and a very clear positive reception in the community. In 2023 Tracks K9 was declared UAD Dock of the Year.A wheelchair accessible porta-potty has been added to the property and current discussions on adding wheelchair access to the dock. The team is willing and supportive in welcoming any disabled handlers or owners who visit as spectators or players in any of the games they host.
Contact and directions:
Tracks K9 Club
14841 NW 66Th Ave
Chiefland, FL 32626
Phone: 352-535-3968
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!
All venues have ample parking on mostly flat terrain. All locations also have
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
Wrapping Up
These are not the only docks in this region of Florida, but they have been the most proactive in working toward access for the disabled and action on supporting our mission for disabled 1st responders and veterans at Bad Azz Dogz. We hope to see more progress in the future with the addition of wheelchair access to the docks for our disabled community and special events and access for all disabled 1st responders and military veterans. Bad Azz Dogz will continue to pursue solutions to see all dogs have full active lives.
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.
Bad Azz Dogz By Dogz 4 Dogz
entertain | educate | engage
Photo-Journal of Hero Dogz
Hero Dogz is donation based to help all dogs and needs you to continue.
You can keep us going and growing for Florida's Bad Azz Pups from Litter to an active and loving life. This page is created and managed by a disabled vet and needs donations to continue and to help our Florida Dogs, Disabled Veterans & 1st Responders. Learn More
Bad Azz Dogz is only possible with your support
Please make donations via: https://www.badazzdogz.net/donate
OR Directly to PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/badazzdogz
Come join the Bad Azz Pack!
*Media and News inquiries should be sent to info@badazzdogz.net
