What Spitty does well is jump. At this, he excels.

June 18, 2018 2:16 PM

It is a truth universally acknowledged that no pleasure is so cheaply bought, and so unmarred by complexity, as the simple joy of seeing a dog hurl itself into a pond in pursuit of a slobbery stick. Science has proven the impossibility of the human brain to register self-pity, or maunder on about the generally sorry state of things, while in the presence of canine bellyflops. (Outside magazine)
posted by Johnny Wallflower (19 comments total)

I rate Spitty a 28 out of 10. Top-quality zoomer!
posted by whatnotever at 2:26 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

...I have learned a new thing today. I had *no idea* that there was a sport called dock diving.
posted by tavella at 2:28 PM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'd heard of dock-diving, but not the variation with the toy suspended in the air over the pool. That's fantastic.

I love watching dogs do something they enjoy.
posted by suelac at 2:44 PM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

Letterman used to showcase these dock diving dogs. I suspect Spitty will be his next Netflix interview.
posted by Ber at 2:47 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I was helping my ex empty a neglected hot tub full of very nasty stagnant water. As soon as we pulled the cover off it, her doggo got incredibly excited and took off running in a big loop around the yard ending with a flying leap and an epic bellyflop in the tub. We were both drenched but could not stop laughing.
posted by sjswitzer at 3:03 PM on June 18, 2018 [12 favorites]

12/10 needs more photos
posted by not_the_water at 3:17 PM on June 18, 2018 [7 favorites]

Needs more jumping/fetching/crazy running. Reminds me of the first time I saw the whippet flyball videos out of Crufts. Fast, lazy dogs!

(watch the track at the bottom)
posted by drewbage1847 at 3:44 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

thank u for this post my fren 13/10 would fav again

seriously, i needed this. Spitty is adorable and gave me my first smile of the day
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2018 [3 favorites]

Here is Spitty setting the world record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipe8DxM2Ljs

Here's a nice little video essay on Spitfire and his fam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_WQNA7oyag
posted by maxwelton at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2018 [3 favorites]

WHIPPET GOOD
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 4:10 PM on June 18, 2018 [8 favorites]

We hold this truth to be self evident: every dog needs a trophy large enough to sit in.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:15 PM on June 18, 2018 [4 favorites]

“Firm, proud buttocks,” as Mr. Burns said approvingly of the family greyhound in "The Simpsons."

Heh. It feels like Christopher Solomon had a grand time writing this article.
posted by theatro at 5:19 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

My dog adores swimming, and will swim in any body of water (including paddling his feet in the water bowl at the dog park) but for some reason he will not jump into the water from any height at all. Not even from a rock 2 inches above the water, or the edge of a community pool when they had a dog swim day at the end of the season. He'll jump into a kiddie pool or run into the water from a beach, but won't jump in from above. Which is too bad because his love of water and jumping and swimming would otherwise make him a really fun dock dog.
posted by lunasol at 5:27 PM on June 18, 2018 [3 favorites]

FPP needed MOR VIDS. Thread provided.

Good thread. Good MeFi.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:20 PM on June 18, 2018

Baird is a retired health-care worker who now makes her living by coaching and training dogs in dock diving.

Proof that there really is Heaven on Earth.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 10:56 PM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

Fun post — and lovely, sparkling writing from Chris Solomon! I will be reading more by him.

I have a dog like Spitty, except in reverse: she will leap 9 feet in the air backwards to avoid setting her dainty paw into even the least muddy or puddly of itsy mud puddles. She's a 100% pure waterhatin' dogbreed.
posted by taz at 8:36 AM on June 19, 2018 [2 favorites]

AHEM. There's a dog tax around here, taz, as you well know
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:23 AM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

Good dog Spit!
posted by Malingering Hector at 4:05 PM on June 19, 2018

Dog tax. An old pic, but one of my faves.
posted by taz at 1:32 AM on June 20, 2018 [5 favorites]