Owner hoping dog sports catch on in Utah

SANDY -- His name is Salix, but he may as well be called Super Dog and wear a cape because this dog can fly.

Salix is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever owned by Christy and David Drake, of Clinton.

Last year at the San Diego Boat Show, Salix set the world record for dock jumping. He held the title for four days until another dog jumped farther.

Running and jumping into the water, he cleared 25 feet 6 inches measured at his tail.

Salix ranked second nationally last year for his distance. And last weekend, he also placed second in a competition for Splash Dogs at the International Sportsman's Exposition in Sandy.

Dock jumping is a growing dog sport in many states outside Utah, and Salix's owners travel to several events a year with their canine athlete.

Dogs compete by running down a dock platform and jumping into a pool of water after a toy that the owner throws in front of them. The distance is measured by numbers on the side of the pool, using a digital video camera to capture the moment that the dog's body hits the water.

Splash Dogs and Dock Dogs hold jumping competitions. They both use tail measurement, but Purina and the Teva Mountain Games measure the jumps from the point of the nose. Using the nose measurement Salix jumped 28 feet 8 inches last year at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colo. The world record for a human is 29 feet 4.5 inches.

The competition hasn't caught on yet in Utah, but David Drake wants to change that. Neighboring states such as Arizona, Nevada and Colorado have several competitions a year as well as jumping clubs.

"I understand that people don't understand it, especially in Utah," Drake said. "That needs to change."

Drake believes dock jumping is a sport that promotes being out with your dogs. Some competitors take it seriously while others compete just for fun. Most of the dogs are retrieving breeds but even Chihuahuas have been known to jump in competitions.

As Salix waits at the end of the dock before a jump, he patiently holds still but trembles with excitement and intensity.

Salix is obsessed with water and Drake has a hard time keeping him out of the pool while the other dogs are jumping. The second he lets go, Salix runs for the water. Salix doesn't think it's fair to see the other dogs in the water without being able to jump in, according to Drake.

"As you can see, he has a lot of drive and he never stops," Drake said. "He's 4 years old and I'm ready to get other people in Utah doing this sport because he's not going to be the top dog in Utah for long."

Salix has been clocked running at 34 mph on the dock.

"They are athletes. They're amazing athletes," Drake said.

Jumping isn't Salix's only accomplishment. He can sit, roll over, spin right and left, stand, beg, shake and occasionally speak on command. Salix has gone through classes to become a K-9 Good Citizen and a Service Dog. This ensures that he behaves well in public and allows him to do things like ride on airplanes if needed.

Salix was rescued from a shelter and Drake believes rescued dogs make the best jumpers. Many of them have been neglected most of their lives. Once they get attention and have a task to accomplish, they are much happier, according to Drake.

Their dog competitions keep the Drakes plenty busy. They travel to competitions about 8-10 times a year averaging around 1,200 miles a trip.

"I always think that I don't have a hobby, but then I remember that I do this," Drake said. "That takes everything."