Hank Is Not a Splash Dog

For the first time ever, Splash Dogs came to the Western Idaho Fair. The dogs run down a 40' dock, leap into a pool of water, and are judged by their hortizontal leap into the water. We were so excited to take Hank to the Fair! He loves the water, and loves running and playing in the water with other dogs. What we didn't take into account was the trepidation Hank would have about jumping off of the 3' dock into the water. We tried and tried to get him to jump. We even went home for several hours to let him rest, and then took him back later in the day. He sat on the sidelines and watched pup after pup jump into the water...and he barked with excitement. Yet, when it was his turn, he wanted nothing to do with jumping off of the dock. We finally did coax him into the water twice...but mostly he sat at the end of the dock and barked at his ball. So, like all good stage parents, we are withholding his food and drink until he masters jumping off of the dock.