The Aussie - Summer 2020 final

Up in the Air
As explained earlier, Air Retrieve is another one of the
elements within Dock Diving. No Aussie has ever had a
go at this and so Marvyl decided to find out whether
Stryker could be the first.
The photos to the right show the process. Stryker had to
run a long the dock and launch himself forwards
towards what is called a ‘bumper’. It is hung over the
water with two clips holding it in the air. Stryker had to
catch and dislodge the bumper. and then fall into the
water holding it and swim and exit the pool. If
successful, the bumper is moved farther away at 1 foot
increments un<l the dog misses twice.
A natural
The photos show just what he was able to achieve. But
we need to backtrack here. Stryker had his first lesson
on June 16th. That is about one year aber his first ever
lesson at Dock Diving. Although, as we have read earlier,
Covid-19 has placed restric<on on the Dock Diving
events, 2 days later Marvyl was on her way to a four-day
trial. The plan just to do the distance jumping.
When she arrived, there were openings for Air Retrieve.
Tempta<on, do you have a go or not? They had only had
one lesson and that was only 2 days ago. With
encouraging words from her trainer, who must have
realised there was an underlying talent. They went for it.
Stryker got his first AR leg that day by jumping 5’ and
another leg the next day with a one foot increase in
distance from the day before. The speed at which he
picked this up just shows the ability of our Aussies and
you all have to admit - that jump is preUy impressive.
He is learning more every day and in prac<ce is reaching
7’. They have more trials coming up in July and
September and hope to obtain 3 more legs to <tle and
be the first Australian Terrier to <tle in Air Retrieve.
Hopefully, Marvyl will keep in touch and let us know if
we can celebrate yet another first <me success for our
breed.
When not in the water
Like most Aussies Stryker has a lot of other ac<vi<es
where he proves that there isn’t much an Aussie cannot
try. He is a Champion in the show ring, he has a Fast Cat
<tle. (More about that in the next edi<on of The Aussie),
he has an obedience <tle, Novice Trick Dog <tle, he’s got
the Canine Good Ci<zen award and is working towards a
Scentwork <tle. He’s even had a go at Barn Hunt and
<tled in that as well. Another Aussie proving that there
is not much this breed cannot do.
We have just been advised that the Eukanuba Na<onals in Orlando have
been cancelled. Although, there is to be 9 Regional events instead.
Hopefully, our Aussie representa<ves will be there to fly the Aussie flag.