Namely News: Local dogs take home championship honors in water sports and land races

Kathy Borlik
·4 min read
A golden retriever who lives with Brooke Lamb-Ossorio of South Bend, Poppy won the novice class in the hydro dash — a swimming-and-retrieval event — at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Poppy also won in 2022.
A golden retriever who lives with Brooke Lamb-Ossorio of South Bend, Poppy won the novice class in the hydro dash — a swimming-and-retrieval event — at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Poppy also won in 2022.

There are several tails to tell today. Wait. That should be tales.

This is about swimming pools and dogs that go splash. A perfect winter story and a reminder that spring will be here soon.

Poppy is a golden retriever. Rogue is a whippet. Both are athletes.

Poppy and her human, Brooke Lamb-Ossorio, live in South Bend. Rogue resides in Michigan City with Lindsay Manetti.

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They both love people. Poppy greets everyone and likes to steal ballpoint pens for attention. Nothing like a fresh pen to keep her happy. She also enjoys a good shoe theft every once in a while. Rogue and his brother whippet, Reas, are always chilled.

Brothers Rogue, left, and Reas, both whippets who live in Michigan City with Lindsay Manetti, are a winning pair. Rogue won in the air retrieve category in dock diving at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Air retrieve is a competition for dogs to knock a bumper — a dog toy roughly the size of a waterfowl — the farthest in the water. Reas won the AKC Fast CAT Invitational championship in December in Orlando. CAT stands for a Coursing Ability Test, a timed 100-yard dash. Reas ran at 35.24 mph, and Rogue came in at 34.77 mph.

Poppy is a two-time national champion in the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) competition's novice class in hydro dash for 2022 and 2023. The October competition was in Springfield, Mo. There were nearly 900 competitors at all levels. The small group of participants (six dogs and eight handlers) from northern Indiana brought home four Top 10 placements.

What is hydro dash? Glad you asked. Hydro dash is a speed game for dogs. The doggies jump off the dock, swim to the end of the pool, grab a bumper that is suspended just above the water and return.

Bumper? Glad you asked. That’s a dog toy used in training. It is roughly the size of a waterfowl.

Rogue, a whippet who resides in Michigan City with Lindsay Manetti, won in the air retrieve category in dock diving at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Air retrieve is a competition for dogs to knock a bumper — a dog toy roughly the size of a waterfowl — the farthest in the water.
Rogue, a whippet who resides in Michigan City with Lindsay Manetti, won in the air retrieve category in dock diving at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Air retrieve is a competition for dogs to knock a bumper — a dog toy roughly the size of a waterfowl — the farthest in the water.

On the other paw, Rogue won a national competition in the elite air retrieve (AR) category in Springfield. AR dogs compete to knock a bumper the farthest in the water.

Lindsey pointed out that Rogue is an outstanding diver and runner. His littermate, Reas, is a runner. “I know this is about diving, but on the other hand, Rogue was the reserve (second place) champion at the AKC Fast CAT Invitational in December in Orlando. While his brother Reas was the champion (first place). No slouch there.”

CAT stands for a Coursing Ability Test. It is a timed 100-yard dash. The non-slouch Reas ran at 35.24 mph. Rogue posted a speed of 34.77 mph.

Reas was named the fastest dog in America in 2022. “Both dogs are very gifted,” Lindsey said.

It is time to get back to the pool. NADD is recognized by the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club for titles. It all started in 1997 at an Incredible Dog Challenge sponsored by Purina. According to the AKC, it is a growing sport. It began just like any game with the family dog — throw a ball off the dock or into the pool. The dog dives into a big pool and gets that toy. The competition has a 40-foot ramp and 41 feet of water.

There are different categories and competitions — distance, air retrieval and hydro dash. Size of dog is taken into account as well as age. AKC said on its website that all dogs can do it — from chihuahua to cane corso. Those of mixed lineage are also welcome.

Megan Preuit organizes events for Michiana Diving Dogs. She said it is a growing sport and normally about 30 to 40 people participate during the summer for local events. Events slow at this time of the year but training continues. “We can’t wait for summer again.”

Megan has two diving dogs, a border collie and Belgian Malinois. Both took to it naturally.

Brooke Lamb-Ossorio and Poppy enjoy home time after a busy year of dock diving. A golden retriever from South Bend, Poppy won the novice class in the hydro dash — a swimming and retrieval event — at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Poppy also won in 2022.
Brooke Lamb-Ossorio and Poppy enjoy home time after a busy year of dock diving. A golden retriever from South Bend, Poppy won the novice class in the hydro dash — a swimming and retrieval event — at the North America Diving Dogs' national championship competition in October 2023 in Springfield, Mo. Poppy also won in 2022.

Not so for Poppy. Brooke said Poppy wasn’t a natural swimmer. “She was scared of the water. I had to carry her around the water until she got used to it. Now she can hardly contain herself if she knows we are going to train at Bunk and Biscuit in Niles.”

Poppy was previously owned, and the couple decided the dog was a bit too wild for them. Brooke took over at seven months when there was still a lot of puppy in there. Brooke was able to channel all the dog’s excitement to the water eventually.

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There have been a few other titles in the competitions over the past years, such as air retrieve bronze (3rd) in 2022 at nationals, a champion junior distance at a regional competition in Iowa in 2021 and a second place junior air retrieve in Toronto in 2023. Lots of titles for such a good girl.

There are several other dogs in the Lamb-Ossorio house. Poppy is my only true “sport dog,” Brooke said. “My others are retired or on medical restrictions. I love my rescue dogs, and that is why I love NADD — they don’t care where the dog came from, just that they enjoy the sport. Poppy chose dock diving. She does obedience and rally and agility here and there, but her passion is the pool."

More than an athlete, Poppy is a mobility assist service dog and working toward her therapy dog license.

Brooke is a licensed veterinary technician and works for Two by Two Animal Hospital in Berrien Springs. Poppy can be found helping behind the desk and greeting humans and animals. She is a working girl as well as an athlete.

Kathy Borlik
Kathy Borlik

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Dogs win at North America Diving Dogs competition