All Things Dock
Dock season is over for 2024. The pool will reopen in 2025 when the water is warm enough for both dogs and humans to be in it. In other words, it will depend on the weather. We will announce classes on this page when they become available.
Dock Sports at The Black Pearl
The Black Pearl at K9 Manners & More in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is the only NADD (North America Diving Dogs) facility in Oklahoma. Starting with the 2018 season, The Black Pearl has been home to some of the finest dock sports dogs in the midwest region. Every year many of these teams qualify for regional competitions and the national championship, with many teams earning placements in the three disciplines.
Dogs and handlers at The Black Pearl can learn the basics of swimming in a pool—which is quite different than swimming in a lake as the dog must learn how to get out of the pool—to jumping off the dock to swimming as fast as they can in timed events.
Our Dock Instructors
Mary Green
Mary Green has taught dogs to swim since the Black Pearl was built in 2018. Mary has trained under some of the top instructors in the sport. Her dogs compete in the three disciplines of NADD dock competitions, Distance, Air Retrieve and HydroDash. Mary’s All-American dog, Windy, has received Regional and Nationals Invitations each year since 2019. At the 2023 South Central Regional Windy was the Junior Veteran Division Champion, and placed 2nd in Air Retrieve and 2nd in Hydro Dash. Competing in the 2023 National Championship, Windy placed 2nd in Veteran Junior Air Retrieve. Mary’s Miniature American Shepherd, Maui, was the Lap Senior Champion in the North Central Regional at just 11 months old. She went on to Nationals placing 4th in the Lap Senior Division.
Mary loves to see dogs and handlers having fun in the sport, and enjoys training those with a desire to compete, improve, and reach their goals.
Amanda Baur
Amanda Baur began dock diving with Seven, her Border Whippet in 2018. Seven was ranked in the top 20 for All American dogs in Hydro Dash in 2020 and 2021. Seven has multiple Regional and National invitations from 2019-2023. At the 2023 South Central Regional, Seven took 1st place in Veteran Senior Division distance jump and 1st place in Veteran Senior Hydro Dash! She went on to place 3rd in Hydro Dash in Veterans Senior Division. Amanda’s Border Whippet, Circa, in just two seasons of jumping won the distance Master Division at the South Central Regional in 2020. Circa also won Master Hydro Dash at the 2021 South Central Regional, and placed 3rd in Master Hydro Dash at the National Showcase. He also placed 9th in Distance Elite Division at the 2021 National Showcase.
Amanda enjoys watching her student teams learn and grow, gaining confidence on the dock using positive reinforcement, with lots of play and encouragement!
Dock Classes
Swim Class for Beginners
Not all dogs are natural swimmers. They need a safe introduction to swimming, and experience to gain confidence in the water. If your dog is new to the pool this is the class for you. If your dog swims or plays in natural bodies of water, but hasn’t been in a pool (or isn’t comfortable in a pool), this is your class. This class will be an introduction to swimming in our dock jumping competition-standard pool. Once your dog is confidently swimming, you will be able to sign up for a dock diving class.
**Dogs must be at least 4 months old to participate.
One class, 1 hour with a maximum of 4 dogs. Fee is $35.
Dock Diving - Beginners
Prerequisite: Dogs will have completed Swim Class for Beginners prior to registering, or be competing in dock diving.
Dogs that are aggressive towards people are not allowed in a group class.
This is a class for:
- dogs that are comfortable swimmers in a clear water pool
- dogs that willingly jump from the ramp into the pool
- dogs that are not yet jumping off the dock
- dogs that hesitate to jump off the dock
One class, 1 hour with a maximum of 4 dogs. Fee is $35.
The dog’s owner/handler should be prepared to get into the pool with their dog if needed. Bring your own floating toy. NO Food/Treats are allowed in the pool.
NOTE: WE WILL HAVE CLASS IF IT IS RAINING. WE WILL NOT HAVE CLASS IF IT IS LIGHTNING. IF WE CANCEL YOUR CLASS YOU WILL RECEIVE A CODE TO RESCHEDULE FOR A DIFFERENT CLASS. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS FOR ABSENCES.
Dock Diving - Advanced
Prerequisite: Dog is jumping off the dock.
Dogs that are aggressive towards people are not allowed in a group class.
All dogs will be kept on leash at all times unless they are on the dock or in the pool.
This class is for:
- handler’s improvement!
- dog’s improvement!
One class, 90 minutes with a maximum of 7 dogs. Fee is $30.
The dog’s owner(handler) should be prepared to get into the pool with their dog if needed. Bring your own floating toy. NO Food/Treats are allowed in the pool.
NOTE: WE WILL HAVE CLASS IF IT IS RAINING. WE WILL NOT HAVE CLASS IF IT IS LIGHTNING. IF WE CANCEL YOUR CLASS YOU WILL RECEIVE A CODE TO RESCHEDULE. NO REFUNDS FOR ABSENCES.
Air Retrieve
Air Retrieve is a discipline where dogs jump from the dock and dislodge a bumper that is suspended about 4 feet above the water. While the toy does not go any higher, the rig moves the bumper farther away from the dock. To take an Air Retrieve class, dogs must be actively jumping from the dock.
This is a single one-hour class. There are 5 dogs per class and the fee per class is $30
Hydro-Dash
HD is a speed game for dogs to jump off the dock, swim to the end of the pool and grab a bumper which is suspended just above the water. To take a Hydro Dash class, dogs must be actively jumping from the dock.
This is a single one-hour class. There are 5 dogs per class and the fee per class is $30
Open Dock - Group Practice
Not for dogs new to the dock. Open practice is for dogs that are confident swimmers and retrievers from the ramp or dock. Each dog will get 3 minutes on the dock, with 2 rotations, or more if there are fewer dogs. If your dog is new to dock diving, you will need to start with a Swim Class for Beginners.
Dock Rentals
Dock rentals are available to established dock diving dogs and at minimum need to have taken our swim class for beginners.
In order to rent the dock, you must read and comply with all of our regulations for dock use.
To read them and to schedule a dock rental, go HERE.
