Two DockDogs world champions hail from Fredericktown
Tim Kinder of Fredericktown tosses a bumper for Casey at the DockDogs World Championship in Dubuque, Iowa, last month.
Casey got some “big air” during a recent competition in North Carolina.
Tim Kinder of Fredericktown is shown with his dog, Casey, a black Labrador retriever, on a dock along the Monongahela River recently. Casey won the world championship in the aquatic dog sport known as DockDogs.
If an out-of-towner knows Fredericktown, it is usually for one of three things: the Monongahela River, a now-defunct historic ferry or the Butcher Shop’s fried chicken. But the little valley town also seems to be making a name for itself as DockDogs capital of the world.
“Big air” is the name of the game in this aquatic canine sport, and the pooch with the farthest leap from a dock into a pool of water gets the prize. Furry competitors from across the globe have attended the World Championship each year since its 1999 inception, but the trophy came home to Fredericktown a staggering three times – five, counting national wins.
Perhaps it’s the proximity to the Monongahela River – a fine practice spot for jumping and swimming – or maybe just a coincidence, but local owners of two world champion dogs are proud of their pets.
Casey, a 2-year-old black Labrador owned by Tim and Shannon Kinder, was named a world champion last month at the largest DockDogs event, which was held in Dubuque, Iowa. More than 400 dogs were invited to participate in the competition this year.
Prior to that, Country, a Greyhound owned by Jo Anna and Kevin Meese, was named a world champion in 2006 and again in 2007. He also won two national championships. Country died in 2008 from old age, but he set eight world records in his heyday and raised the bar for competitors like Casey.
Casey jumped a distance of 26 feet, nine inches, which launched him into first place in the highest “super elite” division of the four-day competition. The world record for the “big air” segment is 31 feet, but dogs also can compete in a segment that measures vertical jumping distance, as well as a timed jumping and swimming event.
“He’s got a lot of natural talent, actually. It’s not really anything we’ve done,” said Shannon Kinder, who helps “train” Casey by taking him for swims, keeping him active, and playing fetch and Frisbee with him.
Casey is “very young” for a DockDogs champion because most dogs come into their “prime” at age 4 or 5, according to Tim Kinder. He and his wife first took Casey to watch a DockDogs competition at Greene Cove Yacht Club in Fredericktown. Casey, a puppy at the time, was entranced.
“While we were there, Casey sat there the entire time – a 3-month-old puppy – and never moved,” Tim Kinder said.
Country’s talent also came as a shock to the Meeses, considering he didn’t know how to swim. But they taught him how, and he ended up taking third place in a water challenge, then won his first DockDogs competition.
Not only did Country enjoy the competitions, but it was also a chance for the Meeses to travel and socialize.
“He was a remarkable dog. He took us all over the United States, and we met so many great people,” Jo Anna Meese said. “It’s amazing the people that you meet from all walks of life.”
The Kinders took Casey to his first competition in June 2013. He jumped 17 feet, four inches and placed second in the amateur division.
After that, Casey “started jumping bigger and bigger, winning all the time,” Tim Kinder said. They now have a corporate sponsor – American Muscle Docks and Fabrication – and have participated in 15 competitions in the past year. Casey made the top three at each one.
They hoped to make it to the World Championship last year – an invitation-only event – but were thrilled when they qualified this year. Tim Kinder said they didn’t have high hopes for a win, though.
“When I went to Iowa, I didn’t even think I had a shot of making finals,” he said.
Kinder said he hopes Casey will not only return to the World Championship next year, but also break the world record for big air. He said it’s apparent how much Casey loves competing.
“He is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” he said. “When he’s at home, he’s a very laid-back, relaxed dog. But once he gets to the competition and he sees the pool, he has one focus and one focus only – he wants up on that dock, and he wants to go and jump in the water.”