Ocala Dog Ranch hosted the 2023 International Dog Sports dock finals for Florida.
International Dog Sports - National K9 Dock League Ocala Dog Ranch, FL. 1st April, 2023 [galleries below]
In April Ocala Dog Ranch (ODR) joined the International Dog Sports (IDS) K9 dock league. It was a risk to change leagues but the ODR’s popularity saw immediate success as dozens of dogs from across the state eagerly joined the games. This last week they hosted the Florida segment of the 2023 IDS championships.
Over a dozen teams competed in the three-day weekend of long jumps and airborne “eclipse” jumps. Each local dock in N. America simulcast their teams on Facebook, and YouTube. Unlike some other leagues that require all the teams meet at a geographical location somewhere in the U.S.A., the IDS has all the docks compete head-to-head over online video.
This format is much appreciated by many as it avoids the costs of travel, rooms, kennels, etc. that traveling incurs. It isn’t without its own challenges, but in its second year, the games were already run far more smoothly than the first championship in 2022.
Dock Diving
Dock Diving may be one the the U.S.A. most original sports. Although international interest is growing, this is a dog sport born in rural America and first seen by the general public as an oddity on old cable hunting and fishing channels as a novel story piece to break up endless discussions on best camouflaged and newest lures. Since then a few "official" leagues have merged and standardized the game.
When once the docks were actual docks and the dogs were jumping into ponds, todays Dock Diving it typically a forty foot dock and forty foot long by five foot deep pool. Ever evolving efforts have been made to ensure safety for the dogs competing and some standard of measures to allow for fair competition between various dogs. Every league has their own standards and it is a widely debated topic.
Ocala Dog Ranch
Neil Hennessey and partner Sally Saxton opened the ODR in 2017. Providing boarding, training and hosting multiple dog sports from Disc Dog to Dock Diving, the facility quickly became incredibly popular and that may be well organized events and welcoming atmosphere Sally and Neil have provided to visitors of their facility and home.
One of the few Dock Diving locations in the S.E. that offers ADA compliant "porta-potty" and with Neil as a retired Royal Marine veteran, the 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 only a year old and having some growing pains, but their focus on keeping the games accessible and light hearted has drawn a lot of attention.
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 league 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.
CAUTION:
The Gallery is best viewed on a PC. The large file sizes and may burden any portable tablet or smart phone. ? [Need help downloading pictures] ?
More Information: - 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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