The Dogs of SEWE

Among the most beloved spectacles  at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, DockDogs® consistently steals the show. From morning until late afternoon, Brittlebank Park transforms into a roaring crowd of cheering fans, wagging tails, and the unmistakable sound of dogs launching themselves into water with Olympic-level enthusiasm. Competitions, known as “waves,” run all weekend long, drawing everyone from seasoned canine athletes to first-timers who simply love the water. And if you’re planning to watch from the tank’s edge, consider yourself warned: the closer you stand, the wetter you’ll leave.

Founded in 2000 and modeled after track-and-field standards, DockDogs® has grown into a national phenomenon. At SEWE, the sport unfolds through three primary disciplines, each testing a different kind of canine prowess. Big Air, the most popular of all, is the long jump of the dock-diving world—dogs sprint down a platform and hurl themselves into the pool. Extreme Vertical challenges competitors to leap straight up for a magnetized toy suspended above the water. And in Speed Retrieve, the fastest race in the pool, dogs explode from the dock at the green light, dive in, and power doggy-paddle to grab a target at the far end.

Additionally, there is Dueling Dogs, a head-to-head, heart-stopping, blood-pumping race version of the dock-diving/speed-retrieve format in DockDogs®. Here, two teams (each consisting of a handler and a dog) race side by side down the platform before the dogs leap into water to each retrieve an object. The fastest team wins.

What makes DockDogs^® such a meaningful part of SEWE isn’t just the spectacle—it’s the spirit behind it. The organization prides itself on accessibility and camaraderie, welcoming “anyone with a dog and a toy” to give it a try. Divisions ensure that dogs compete fairly at their level, from novice to elite. All dogs must be registered at either dockdogs.com or on site to participate.

And for those who really shine, the ultimate honor awaits: the Iron Dog, awarded to the canine with the best combined performance across Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve.