Dog Dock Diving Toys: Which Ones Really Work Well?
Okay, so, a few weeks back, I got it into my head that my golden retriever, Buddy, needed a new hobby. He loves the water, sure, but just paddling around seemed a bit...boring. I'd seen videos of dogs dock diving, and I thought, "Why not?" Buddy's got the energy, and I figured it could be a fun thing for us to do together. First thing I did, though, was to stock up on some toys designed for this kind of thing.
Finding the Right Gear
First, I went to the pet store, just browsing, you know? I saw a bunch of colorful floating toys, but honestly, they all seemed kinda flimsy. Like, one good chomp from Buddy, and they'd be history. Then, I asked a friend who's into dog training. She gave me a few names to check out online. I spent an evening just scrolling through websites and reading reviews.
Testing the Waters
Finally, I settled on three different toys:
- A rubber dummy: Looked tough, bright orange, and had a rope attached. Seemed like a good starter.
- A floating bumper: This one was more like a traditional fetch toy, but it was made of some high-density foam, supposed to float really well.
- A disc: Made of some kind of durable fabric, looked like it could really fly. Figured Buddy might like chasing it in the air before it hit the water.
I ordered them and, man, Buddy went nuts when the package arrived. He could smell the new toys, even through the cardboard! We headed straight to the lake that weekend. I started with the rubber dummy, tossing it a short distance into the water. Buddy was hesitant at first, watching it bob there. But then, instinct kicked in, and he plunged in after it, so proud when he brought it back.
Success!
We practiced like that for a while, gradually increasing the distance. The bumper was a hit, too. Buddy seemed to love the way it felt in his mouth, and it was easy for him to grab in the water. The disc, though, that was the real winner. I could throw it pretty far, and it floated surprisingly well. Buddy would leap into the air, trying to catch it before it landed, then swim out to retrieve it. We spent hours that day just playing. Buddy was exhausted but clearly thrilled. It felt awesome to see him so engaged and having fun. I'm pretty sure we've found our new favorite weekend activity. The dock diving toys were definitely a good investment!
