Florida K9 Sports host the new leagues first Sunshine State event.
United Dock Dive at Florida K9 Sports Myakka, FL. 24-25 June 2023
Finding the right spot.
Jay Nichols arrived in Myakka, Florida with his mobile dock and pool in 2022 and it's not been smooth sailing for the independent dog dock diving venue.
Now with their third league in less than a year, like Goldilocks, he's hoping this one is just right for his community and growing numbers of dogs and humans coming to his small rural location.
United Dock Diving strives to create an environment that is fair for all competitors and facilities participating in our organization. - UDD
There has been a lot of internal shake ups in the dog dock diving world. Once dominated by three leagues, the game has expanded in both popularity across North America but new leagues appear to be forming to focus more on the joy of playing with your dog and less about competitive intensity. Their is still that option for those wishing to pursue that course, but for many, a more relaxed and les affair but organized series of events is just right.
This is the case at Florida K9 Sports and owner Jay Nichols joined the board of directors for this new league with tempered but optimistic expectations.
The event in June was the first in Florida for the new league and Saturday saw a relatively small but enthusiastic crowd of teams and spectators, By Sunday though, word had spread and dogs were arriving from across central and south Florida and the weather even seemed kinder to all as a very real sense of excitement could be felt through the many tents that popped up across the field.
In the end, it was clear. United Dock Diving hit a summer home run.
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.
Florida K9 Sports
The Florida K9 Sports opened about a year ago in central Florida. Less than an hour from several dense cities in the lower region just south of Orlando and in the rural farming region surround Myakka, Florida.
Owner Jay Nichols is a lifetime K9 search and rescue handler and trainer, and moved to the state from the upper mid-west with his mobile dock looking for warmer weather and a place to train his focus on games over work with dogs, his real passion.
Wrapping Up
Florida in the summer is not a venue suitable for most outdoor activities for dogs. Dock diving provides a great exception and with numerous locations throughout the state and many now embracing the Hero Dogz program to provide special attention to the disabled, 1st responders and military veterans. Dock diving is fast growing to be a primary game for the lives of both dogs and humans though opening their doors and sincerely caring that you and your pups have full and active lives.
The folks at Florida K9 Sports are heavily connected to the services and have first hand shared experiences that makes this a great opportunity to come get wet with your own Bad Azz Dogz.
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!
Jay Nichols has been on the frontline of Search and Rescue dogs for generations. From the mountains and valleys of the northern plains to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. get "gets it".
One notable feature about Jay is his raw enthusiasm and boy like joy of meeting new dogs and introducing them to new things and activities. His word is that he will continue to work towards the benefit of all out dogs, but also stay proactive in providing access to support for our disabled 1st responder and military veterans with their dogs.
The facility has ample shade, water and is mostly level ground. We were told that ADA portable restroom is being planned but was not available at this event. Like most docks, this was not wheelchair accessible, and we continue to work with all the dock locations to hopefully remedy this in the future.
- The venues manager is a disabled 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:
- United Dock Diving https://www.uniteddockdiving.com/
- Florida K9 Sports
43525 Florida 64
Myakka City, FL 34251
(406) 208-9633
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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