New attraction brings high-flying canine competition to downtown Sebring
Get ready for high-flying, tail-wagging fun as DockDogs®, the premier canine aquatics competition, makes its debut at the annual Sebring Soda Festival on April 11–12 in downtown Sebring. This exciting new addition, brought to the festival by Visit Sebring, introduces an energetic and interactive element to one of the community’s most beloved family-friendly events, with nearly 30 dogs already registered to participate.
Throughout the event, DockDogs® will present its signature competitions, including Big Air®, Extreme Vertical®, and Speed Retrieve®, giving both competitors and spectators nonstop action and entertainment.
The crowd-favorite Big Air® Wave competition features dogs sprinting down a 36-foot dock and launching into a pool of water in pursuit of a thrown object. Each jump is electronically measured for distance, often resulting in impressive, record-breaking leaps.
In Extreme Vertical®, the sport’s version of a “high jump,” canine athletes leap upward to grab a suspended bumper. With each successful grab, the height increases in 2-inch increments until one dog is crowned champion.
Rounding out the action is Speed Retrieve®, one of the fastest-growing DockDogs® events. In this timed competition, dogs race down the dock, leap into the water, swim to the end of the pool, and retrieve an object mounted on a specialized extender arm—all against the clock.
DockDogs® competitions are open to everyone. Teams consist of one dog and one handler, with dogs of any breed, size, or shape welcome to participate. Canine athletes must be at least six months old, and handlers as young as seven years old can compete. A Youth Handler division is also available for participants ages 7–14.
“If you have a dog that loves the water, enjoys a good game of fetch, and gets along well with others, this is the perfect opportunity to get involved,” organizers said.
In addition to watching skilled canine competitors in action, local dog owners are encouraged to participate. Pre-registration is available online at www.dockdogs.com until one week prior to the event, or participants may register onsite each day. The website also provides updated schedules and general event information.
Onsite registration and practice begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, and at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, with competitions running throughout both days. The weekend will culminate with the Big Air® Finals at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. A full schedule of DockDogs® competitions, rules, and demonstrations is available at SebringSodaFest.com’s Schedule of Events web page.
The Sebring Soda Festival continues to grow as a signature event for the community, offering unique experiences, live entertainment, and activities for all ages. The addition of DockDogs® further reinforces the festival’s reputation as a must-attend springtime event in the Sebring area.
DockDogs® is the independent governing and sanctioning body for regional, national, and international dock jumping performance sports. The organization establishes the rules and standards of the sport, tracks results and records, and supports the growth of its athletes, events, spectators, and sponsors.
For more information about the Sebring Soda Festival or DockDogs® participation, visit SebringSodaFest.com or contact the Sebring Chamber of Commerce at (863) 385-8448.
