“Kratos,” a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, puts his heart and soul into everything he does. Whether it’s playing fetch, training sessions, bedtime cuddles, or dock diving for a squeaky toy, this canine athlete gives 200%. Kratos is one of the oldest competitors participating in the 2024 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup, held in collaboration with North America Diving Dogs (NADD) on September 19 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, CO.
“Kratos has been dock diving since he was a pup, and his love for the sport continues to burn bright,” says Matthew Bohn, Kratos’ owner, trainer, and teammate. “He would do anything for a squeaky toy.”
The sport of dock diving is available to all dogs who love the water, are good swimmers, and have a favorite toy they’ll retrieve. All breeds and mixed breeds are eligible. You can find events in your area through the NADD. “I think dock diving is an incredible way to bond with your dog, as well as meet other dog owners and explore the country,” Bohn says.
Enhancing His High Work Ethic
Bohn and his German Shorthaired Pointer, “Flyer,” started competing in dock diving in 2009. He knew he wanted to continue in the sport with his next dog. “I was attracted to the strength, health, and high work ethic of the Belgian Malinois. They have such a high drive for their toy and will do anything to get that reward.”
When Kratos was a puppy, Bohn encouraged him to play with toys in bathtubs, kiddie pools, and ponds. At 6 months old, he started traveling with Bohn and Flyer to dock diving events, transitioning to jumping from the ramp and the dock into the pool. “We continued to build his skills until he was 1 year old to begin official completions, waiting until his body was more mature to handle competition life,” recalls Bohn.
Bohn believes Kratos’ success stems from his natural drive which allows him to have incredible speed and pop in his jump. “Sometimes I feel that he was born with springs instead of legs,” he says.
Love of the Sport Runs in the Family
In addition to dock diving, Kratos is trained in scent detection and lure coursing. He also performs as a demo dog for obedience and K9 fitness. Bohn says this helps keep his mind sharp and his body in tip-top shape. To keep Kratos fit, they also use laser therapy and massage between competition events, and warm-ups and cool downs at completions.
“Training for all these sports has increased our bond as a team and built him to be a strong overall competitor,” Bohn says. But dock diving is his first love. “If he ever slips out of his crate, you will find him at the pool waiting for someone to throw a toy.”
Dock diving fever runs in the family. Bohn has a younger Belgian Malinois, “Merc,” and Bohn’s girlfriend has two Australian Shepherds and a Whippet, who all enjoy dock diving.
Kratos Is a Hard Charger
Kratos was named for the Greek god who represents power and strength, and he has lived up to his name. His longest jump with NADD is 28 feet 9 inches, and in Air Retrieve he typically grabs the toy at around 22 feet.
At the 2024 North Central NADD Regionals in Iowa, Kratos won first place in Veteran Elite Air Retrieve and Veteran Senior Hydro Dash, second place in Veteran Elite Distance, and first place in Veteran Diamond HARD Charger. The HARD charger is awarded to a dog competing in each discipline (distance, air retrieve, and hydro dash) who scores the highest overall number of points.
Kratos won the HARD Charger award for first place diamond veteran at the 2023 NADD Nationals, when he was the highest scoring veteran. Next up is the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup, where only the cream of the crop can compete. To be eligible, canine participants in the premier division must meet these requirements:
- They must compete in both distance and air retrieve
- Their minimum distance season average must be 28 feet or above
- They must have completed at least Air 5 splashes in Air Retrieve for the 2024 season
Dogs Keep Us Humble
While Kratos keeps up with the young dogs, he is getting older, so attending as many events as they can now is a priority for Bohn. “We will retire from dock diving when he tells me it’s time. And until then, we will enjoy every minute together.” During retirement, Kratos will swim in his family’s pool and enjoy extra treats and cuddles on the couch.
One of Bohn’s favorite memories is when Kratos made it to finals. “I knew it would be tough to get a victory, but I also knew Kratos would give it his all. When I was getting him set up for his jump, he kept changing his position from where I thought he should start. I figured he knows what he’s doing, so decided to let him stay there,” he says. “He ran so hard and fast and sprang off the end of the dock, setting a new personal best distance jump and securing the win. As he came out of the water holding his toy, he had the biggest smile on his face, like he was saying ‘I told you so.’ Sometimes your dog will have a mind of their own and do it their way, and all you can do is roll with it, smile, and laugh. Dogs will always keep us humble.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
