SCARBOROUGH – Mika may be a hyperactive yellow Lab puppy, but 7-year-old Brooke Dubois had everything under control.

On a dreary, rainy Friday, the little girl planted her pink rain boots on the ground and tossed a toy in the air. On cue, Mika came tearing down a platform and launched herself into the air after the toy before crashing into a pool.

It was a short jump, well under 10 feet, but good for the puppy’s first DockDogs competition.

Since it was first shown on ESPN in 2000, dock-jumping for dogs has unexpectedly soared in popularity. There are now more than 25 local DockDogs Clubs with practice facilities all over the U.S.

DockDogs hosted more than 150 competitions in 2010.

Friday’s events began a three-day competition at Pet Life in Scarborough, the third DockDogs competition to be held in Maine.

The dogs compete in three events: the Big Air (a long-jump), the Extreme Vertical and the Speed Retrieve. Winners go on to a championship at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

“DockDogs started off with two guys racing their dogs against each other,” said Shawn Erb, announcer and manager for this weekend’s competition. “Now, there are 25,000 involved in these competitions. Just like this, people come out of the woodwork because their dogs love the water.”

Dave Skoletsky of Stoughton, Mass., got a winner when he found his dog Yeager on Craigslist. Though he started competing just eight months ago, Yeager already holds an Iron Dog World Record, meaning he has succeeded in all three events.

“When I first got him, he wouldn’t even go into water. Now his longest jump is 27 feet, 3 inches,” Skoletsky said.

The world record Big Air jump is 28 feet, 10 inches.

The length is calculated, with video footage and markings on the side of the pool, based on where the back of the dog hits the water.

Josh Smith of Rome, Maine, is a member of Seacoast Dock Dogs in Berwick, where he trains his dogs.

Practice seems like a good idea, because taking the leap into a pool isn’t easy for a dog.

“Unlike the ocean and lakes, it’s clear water. You can see the bottom,” said Erb, who has worked for DockDogs for four years. “Dogs get scared. It’s like they’re stepping off into a cloud.”

Diana Logan of North Yarmouth said her dog Astro has balked at every competition so far.

“He thinks about things too much when he’s up there and gets frazzled,” she said. “But he’s an expert at home. He loves water. Even the kiddie pool.”

This weekend’s event will have 40 dogs per “wave,” with five waves each day.

The crowds turned out Friday despite the rain. Some wore ponchos and huddled under tents in camp chairs with hot chocolate, while others embraced the chilly weather.

Anne Thoits of Raymond heard about the event and decided to check it out.

“The dogs don’t care about the rain,” she said, “Why should we?”

Information about the competition is online at dockdogs.com.

Staff Writer Sophie Gould can be contacted at 791-6354 or at:

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