What to expect at Wagging Tails' UDD Paws & Stripes Competition:
Enjoy poolside fun! Join us for a friendly competition in a non-intimidating, welcoming environment! In addition to Long Jumps, Speed Retrieve and Hang Time, lunch, snack and treats, we have some extra fun planned! For more information about each of these "Heats" of competitions, please visit here for a thorough explanation.
At this Memorial Day themed event, we're planning a pawtriotic photo op, refreshing red, white and blueberry pupsicle treats for the dogs, free raffle prizes, and a patriotic Crafty K9 activity for your dog to make and take home. We're having a Most Pawtriotic Pup costume contest. Dress your dog/team up in stars and stripes, to win a cool prize!
LUNCH IS PROVIDED FOR PARTICIPANTS, BY THE HOST, FREE OF CHARGE. You are of course, welcome to bring your own lunch. If you would like to contribute and bring a snack, dessert, or a potluck dish, you are more than welcome to. However, there is no fee for lunch on each day of the event. Each competitor will receive free swag gift with entry and FREE raffle tickets to enter for a table full of prizes and gift baskets. If you have a raffle prize to donate, we welcome your generosity! Feel free to contact us so we can add it to the list.
The Finals are held on the same day. Each dog that makes the Finals receives a special "My dog made the Finals" ribbon. Every dog that jumps off the dock here at Wagging Tails receives a "My dog jumped!" ribbon too! After the Finals are completed, Paws & Stripes patriotic theme awards will be distributed to the Top 3 winners of each division in an awards ceremony with a LOVELY photo opp! Wagging Tails is proud to provide these unique, hand made, creative rosettes, or neck awards, to award your high flying team!
The following information is helpful in learning more about Wagging Tails' pool, facility, events, policies and procedures.
OUTDOOR Dock Diving Event Competition hosted by
Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw 802 Boundline Rd Wolcott, Connecticut!
at CT's ONLY outdorr UNITED DOCK DIVING facility and pool! Competition is open to all dogs, all skill levels, from all dock diving organizations! From Cane Corsos to Cairn Terriers - any dog, any size!
Any team, wishing to jump, from any affiliation, is welcome here!
Please note that Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw is pleased to offer several unique amenities!
-A welcoming, casual, friendly, non intimidating environment, where all dogs, all skill levels are welcome.
-Convenient parking - where if you choose to park your car with your dogs in it you will hear the events, as our loudspeaker system reaches the parking area. (Please note that by law, dogs are not allowed to be left unattended in unairconditioned cars)
-AND this facility is unique to offer convenient holding areas for your dog with our chainlink, shaded, exterior 4 x 10' outdoor kennel runs. Your dogs can relax in the shade in between events! First come, first serve. (see photos below).
-Event and tent set up area is completely mud free and covered with clean, artificial turf.
-Each registrant receives an "I jumped" participatory ribbon.
-Winners receive beautiful unique HANDMADE ribbons and rosettes.
-Lunch provided FREE by Wagging Tails!
-FREE gifts to each registrant.
-Complimentary water bowls and water available for dogs.
-Pet waste removal stations with complimentary bags.
-Raffle with prizes - FREE tickets to each competitor
-Several pop up tents provide shade on our artificial turf viewing locations (first come, first serve)
-Misting and cooling fans
We welcome all dock diving dogs from any organization! From beginning dock divers, to experienced, all are welcome in this non intimidating environment. This experience is about FUN AND FAMILY!
Enjoy some of the many photos below of previous events!
More information about the facility and location is below. You can also visit www.waggingtails.com
Be sure to preregister for our other events this season in June, July, August and September! Keep reading for more FAQs.
About the host: Since 2018, Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw has hosted many fun dock diving events at our outdoor pool in Wolcott CT, and we are thrilled to announce that as of October 2023, Wagging Tails' INDOOR, heated, 40' pool and 40' dock is open at our second Connecticut facility, located in West Hartford!
Wagging Tails is a woman owned, first responder, family run business. The addition of our first dock diving pool, outdoors, to Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw in Wolcott CT, was created in 2018, from an idea by Wagging Tails owner's then 9 year old daughter, Natalie - we invite you to read the article about Wagging Tails & Natalie's idea in Pets+ magazine here. Natalie is now 15 years old, and as we like to say, the future Top Dog of dock diving. She is a dock diving Youth Handler, with her Labradors, Harley, Ella, Teddy, Lily, and German Shepherd, Blaze. Natalie's mom, and Wagging Tails' owner, Krista Lofquist, has been a certified dock diving judge, trainer, coach, swim instructor, and competitor, for 4 years and 1000s of jumps. Our family, and animal adoring pet care staff, welcome you and your dogs, into our home, away from home, for fun, family friendly events!
The Pooch Pools at Wagging Tails offers Swim Lessons, Try It Sessions, Pool Rentals, Dock Diving Coaching & Training, Dock Diving Leagues and NOW we're hosting our nextUnited Dock Diving competition - Wagging Tails' Paws & Stripes
Please note: You do NOT have to be a member of Wagging Tails Dock Diving League to participate. However, in order to track United Dock Diving UDD scores, earn Titles, and to receive championship invites, please visit here to assign your dog a unique United Dock Diving Jump Number. UDD numbers are FREE. Please fill out the form, and get your dog’s Jump Number before your first event.
Any team, wishing to jump, from any dock diving affiliation, is welcome here. You do not need to be a member of ANY dock diving organization. However, if you are a member of Dock Dogs, NADD, UAD, IDS - you ARE all welcome at Wagging Tails events. Our events are open to ALL. All breed, healthy dogs, ages 6 months and older, that are jumping off a dock, OR RAMP, (yes! UDD has a RAMP Rookie division!) are welcome to participate. Whether your dog jumps 1' or 31', we want you to know that you are invited to, and welcome to come to a non-intimidating, warm, family friendly environment. Pets are part of the family. And what better way than to spend time with your family by the pool, participating in an activity that your dog loves!
United Dock Diving competitions are unique in that there is a RAMP DIVISION. For those dogs that are not yet jumping off the dock, they can still attend these competition events and register for the Ramp Division. For $10, your dog can have time running and jumping from the ramp into the pool. This is an excellent way to give your dog more practice time, to get them familiar with the pool, to acclimate them to event settings, and for both of you to meet and observe other teams in this sport. Ramp Division is not a Finals Division. However, we are excited to say that at our indoor event competition in December, the Santa Splash, we had 2 dogs that were registered for the Ramp Division and by the end of the event, they were jumping from the dock! All of us in attendance shared in celebrating their success!
REGISTRATION:
If you are having any difficulty with preregistering, please contact us at info@waggingtails.com or call (860) 621-7387 (PETS)
Registration for this competition is also available on the https://www.uniteddockdiving.com website. Please visit the link above to preregister and to obtain a free UDD jump number. Once we receive your preregistration information from UDD, you will then be emailed a link with an invoice from Wagging Tails. (THAT IS THIS JOTFORM) Please complete the required information on this form and submit payment. Payment in full is required prior to attendance. We accept all major credit cards and Paypal payments. We do not accept checks.
We encourage you to preregister today, because space registration is first come, first serve. We also suggest that you register for as many Jumps, Events as you can. (No less than 2 Long Jumps). This gives you and your dog more opportunities to place and to practice. All payments are non-refundable.
The UDD online registration closes on the Wednesday, May 22nd, prior to the event. HOWEVER, IF space is still available, after that date, you may still register on our website link events page directly through Wagging Tails. IF space is available, you are also welcome to register right up to and including the day of the event on our website. If you wait until Wed May 22nd, or after to register, there may not be space available. We recommend you register in advance and that you call us before arriving to our facility for day of registration.
AGAIN: PAYMENT IS DUE PRIOR TO THE EVENT. PLEASE NOTE: If you register on the UDD site, and we do not receive payment by the Wednesday prior to the event, then you will forfeit your reservation. If you submit payment and are a no show, there are no refunds.
If you register for the event through the UDD site, and do not pay ahead of time, when you are sent the link to pay and the form email from Wagging Tails, then you will forfeit your space. Your no show and lack of response, is unfair to those who wish to come, but cannot, because you have taken their space. So, if you do register on the UDD site and do not respond to our email, or do not pay in advance 2 times, you will not be allowed to enter into future events. We cannot stress enough that your payment is due upon receipt of email registration from Wagging Tails.
FACILITY INFORMATION:
CLICK HERE FOR POOL & FACILITY RULES
DOG'S HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:
Up to date rabies vaccinations, or veterinarian waiver, are required for any dog entering our facility. If your dog exhibits any signs of coughing, discharge or has open wounds, they will not be allowed to attend. Dogs in heat are not allowed. We also recommend that you do not feed your dog for 2 hours prior to using the pool. Please do not bring treats, or give your dog treats, during pool events or while using the pool. Bring your dog’s favorite floating toy. If you don’t have one or forget, we have several types for sale in our pet resort lobby. We provide towels, but we do recommend bringing a towel/robe for your dog to exit the facility in the colder months. We do have blow dryers available in our adjacent Spaw for you to dry off your dog. They are on a first come, first serve basis.
If you have any questions or concerns please ask.
Your dog’s safety and happiness is of the utmost importance to us. We have worked hard to provide both an outdoor AND an indoor dock diving facility to enjoy throughout the cold weather months in the Northeast. It is important to realize that any indoor dock diving experience is different than outdoor participation. All of the above information is provided so that you have full knowledge of our facility, and so that you and your dog can have the best experience and enjoy your indoor dock diving time.
EVENT TIMES:
The event times are approximate and fluctuate based on the attendance. The dock will open at 9AM for practice jumps. If time allows, we will have an open dock in between heats, for practice jumps. We recommend you visit the UDD website for event rules and a competitor handbook. Wagging Tails reserves the right to remove an event, switch events, or to consolidate events, based on attendance numbers. Competitors will be contacted with updates. We try to stay as close as we can to the schedule, but there are several factors that might affect it. (If we have more dogs than expected we might run a little tight. On the other hand, if there are less dogs than normal, we might speed things up.) So please use this schedule as a guideline, and ALWAYS check in with the event secretary, judge or host, if you are going to leave the competition area. All payments are non-refundable.
MORE INFORMATION.....we know this may seem like alot of information, but we want you to be fully informed! Please read on...
SPECTATORS are always welcome and spectator entry is FREE! If you choose to bring dogs with you that are not competing, please note that rabies vaccinations, or a veterinarian waiver are required for any dog entering our facility.
YOUTH HANDLERS
Children ages 7 to 16 years old, are encouraged and are welcome! All handlers must be registered to go up on the dock. Children under the age of 7 are not allowed on the dock, but are welcome to spectate.
CONFIRMATIONS
Please print your confirmation and bring it with you. Please note that there will be Liability Waivers to be signed on site prior to the event. All competitors must sign waivers in order to participate. All competitors will receive, and must wear, a paper event bracelet while on the dock. This verifies that you have been registered. All payments are non-refundable.
EVENT LOCATION
Here is a link to Google Maps to show you where our facility is located at Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw 802 Boundline Rd Wolcott CT. Parking is available in the front of the facility on the grass and on the road. You may unload items and then park your car. You will see a cleared path to the rear of the building. Follow that path to the pool area.
LOCAL PET FRIENDLY HOTEL INFORMATION:
Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw Wolcott is located in central Connecticut. Very close the famous ESPN in Bristol CT. There are MANY pet friendly accommodations around our facility. We suggest you visit Hotels.com and enter Wolcott, Bristol, Southington, for the closest area hotels.
Local camping and hotel information:
https://www.lakecompounce.com/campground This campground is in Bristol, CT and adjacent to Lake Compounce Amusement Park, which is the oldest continuously running amusement park in the U.S. More FUN for your visit!
There a many pet friendly hotels in the neighboring towns of Bristol, Southington, Cheshire and Waterbury CT
Hampton Inn Waterbury, Marriott Residence Inn Southington, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Southington.
CANINE & HUMANE BATHROOM FACILITIES:
Porta potties are located in the parking lot. Canine waste bags are located on the yellow shed at the pool site. There are multiple waste pails to place the bags in. We ask that you pick up after your dog, anywhere your dog goes to the bathroom.
WEATHER/EVENT POLICIES/CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS
If in the event that Mother Nature brings us a severe weather, Wagging Tails' reserves the right to postpone, cancel or change event location. Event times may be postponed to later in the day when poor weather conditions have passed, or the entire event may also be postponed to a different set of dates. With the option of an indoor facility, Wagging Tails reserves the right to move the location of an outdoor event, to the indoor pool at our West Hartford location. Please note that all payments are non refundable. If the event dates are changed due to weather or illness, and you are unable to attend a future date, your payment will be placed as a credit on account for future events or pool use, at either of our 2 locations.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO THE EVENT?
Bring a healthy dog, a wagging tail, a smile and get ready to have fun! Bring your dog's up to date rabies vaccination information and your printed registration confirmation. Dogs must wear a collar and leash. Please no leashes longer than 6 ft. Prong collars and ecollars are not permitted on the dock. The facility has chairs adn benches. However, we suggest you pack an extra chair or 2 just in case, they are all taken. If you want to confine your dog, and dont want to use our exterior kennels, runs or rooms, please bring a travel crate. We recommend this in the event that all of our existing rooms are being used. Bring your dog's favorite floating toys. If you forget, we do have some for sale in our lobby. If noise affects you, we suggest you bring ear plugs or ear phones. Our facility has a fresh water. We suggest you bring your dog's water bowl. If you forget, we do sell them in our lobby. You may want bring your own dog towel, robe, or coat. Wear layers and closed toe, floor gripping shoes. You may get wet by splashes. so a change of clothes is recommended. If you would like to contribute food to our free lunch offering, feel free to bring something! We will have an event raffle. If you would like to donate an item to the event raffle, please contact us at 860 621-7387 (Pets) so we can include it in our raffle prize list!
AWARDS
Depending upon the event and numbers in attendance, Wagging Tails awards medals, ribbons, rosettes or trophies to the top 3 - 5 dogs after Finals. Wagging Tails' awards are QUITE UNIQUE and hand made! No 2 are alike! Award photos are taken at a special event theme dog podium setup. Your dog may also qualify for UDD's United Dock Diving's National Competition! Be advised that we and UDD United Dock Diving, require your dog to jump in a minimum of 2 Long Jumps to be eligible for the Finals. Dogs that are eligible for the Finals, but are not present, will be scratched from the Finals roster.
To participate in the FINALS please note: For this event, your dog MUST participate in at least TWO (2) separate Long Jump Events (4 jumps) to be considered to place in the top 5 of each division. Please be sure to register for a minimum of 2 separate Long Jump Events!
AND FINALLY...
If, after reading all of the above information, you're not sure if your dog will jump and want to schedule a Try It Session, please contact us at (860) 621-7387 (Pets)
The exterior Pooch Pool at Wagging Tails Wolcott is open 7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm May through Oct 1st. The interior Pooch Pool at Wagging Tails West Hartford is open 7 days a week all year. Try Its, Swim Lessons, Pool Rentals are available at each location by appointment.
If, after reading all of the above you would like to attend this event, please complete the registration. Remember- payment is due at time of registration. Payments are non-refundable. Your registration and payment are confirmation that you have read, understand ALL of the above information and will follow the pool and facility rules.
We welcome you, your family and your four legged, furry family members to swim and dock dive at Wagging Tails Pet Resort & Spaw! Stay tuned for indoor dock diving event dates coming up in October, November and December 2024 and our OUTDOOR dock diving event dates at our Wolcott location coming up in June, July, August and September 2024! The United Dock Diving Year End Competition will be held on September 6-8th at our Wolcott location. If your dog qualifies, you will receive an email after a Year End Qualifying event!