Dock Jumping Dog From NEK

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Created on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 18:00

Written by Katelyn Zenie

BARTON - A couple from Barton is packing up their RV and heading to Iowa, but this trip is more then a vacation for the two and their talented dog.

Cindy Chaffee and her husband Gordon adopted their dog Luka when she was only 3 months old, and realized later that she had a hidden talent, long jumping.

Luka will be competing in the 2012 DockDogs worldwide championship, taking place in Dubuque,Iowa from the 15th-18th of this month. The record holding dog, Taz, jumped an average of 29 feet last championship year. 

Luka's owner Cindy says, "I knew I had a dog that was going to retrieve and I knew I had a dog with a love of the water and that's what its all about."

Cindy went on to say, "It's about that toy drive its about the toy that she is going to go and fetch and that's what's important."

The Chaffee's had never trained a dog in the past, but with the help of YouTube videos, they were able to teach Luka basic training. "I trained on the ground we did sit stays and I walk away from her and then its all about developing that toy drive."

There were three dog/owner teams from Vermont chosen to compete in this years competition, and Luka will be the only dog representing the Northeast Kingdom. For more information on the events or the organization visit www.dockdogs.com.