"Your Comments"

July 2005

I frequently read your posts on the DD board and have admired your dogs and their achievements for years as I have watched Big Air on T.V.  In May I had the opportunity to introduce myself and my dog to you briefly at the DD event here in Dubuque. 

I guess you could say (and probably figure from this email) that I am a very “upfront” sort of person. After reading your latest post on the DD list (encouraging some new competitor to contact you and keep in touch) I just wanted to drop you a line with a few questions and comments.  I was pleased to get to meet you and see your dogs at the Dubuque event.  It is always nice to have the opportunity to meet people who are accomplishing the things that you would wish to accomplish.  I was also quite excited to meet Amanda and Sarge, as my dog is also a GSP and Sarge has really laid a trail of success that I can relate to and want for my dog….and more.  Knowing that you contributed greatly to Sarge.  Tom, I’m a trainer but I’m not stupid enough to believe that I know it all…. like some may pretend.  I know enough that after competing I have a much better grasp of the enormous importance of the details that go into a successful dock dog and I can develop and refine those skills through my training program but it would be ridiculous to believe that there is not more to learn.  That is why I contacted you.  I believe my dog has great potential…I know it.  Whether I have the right formula (or time) for bringing that out of him is yet to be seen but we both have the drive and the love of the sport.   

Sincerely,

Susan Barnes and Tanner (GSP)
MY T DOG
Dubuque, IA
 

I didn't get a chance to thank you for your help and support in Scottsdale AZ. I had the Frisbee flying white dog AusSome. You gave me some valuable info and training. I appreciate it greatly. I look forward to seeing you again in the near future. I am currently looking for places to practice. I am hooked

Team Retrieve - N - Skills

First of all, I just want to tell you CONGRATULATIONS on getting into the finals! Tucker is such an AMAZING DOG, We just love him....I am writing this on the message board, cuz I want everyone to read it....I think that I speak for probably everyone in this sport, when I say that Tom and Tucker are like our "IDOLS"!!!!! You two are exactly what a DOCK DOG TEAM should be----A Super Handler with an Outstanding Dog, who even though he is getting up there in years, is still a powerful force in this sport, You're are ALWAYS willing to lend a helping hand--- to help out all of the newcomers, and if you guys don't have the greatest day on the dock --- You are still Happy and Proud of whomever does do great. Draco and I owe you two special guys a VERY HUGE "THANK YOU" for all that you have done for us, and for everyone else and for this wonderful sport!!! YOU TWO ARE THE "BEST"!!!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Donna and "Draco" and Jeff Ames

Donna Ames

Hi Tom:

First let me say what a pleasure it was meeting you for breakfast at the Peppermill.  Thank you for all the helpful information regarding the future of Dockdogs and how our local club can fit into that picture.  I appreciated your willingness to share your experience and wisdom.  We may be calling on you again to help with our planning!

Regardless of the results (sorry that Tucker didn't do better in the final standings) Sunday's GOG Bir Air Competition was Terriffic!!!  I need to share with you how impressed I was with the way you related to Tucker, after each and every jump, no matter how far!!!!  I heard lots of praise and many a "Good Boy" coming from you as he was swimming back!  It's showed me that you care more about your dog then the competition.  But I guess, having met and talked with you, I shouldn't have expected anything different.  It was just really nice to see and hear it!!  I did feel that some of the other competitors didn't have quite the same relationship with their dogs.

I was in the big set of bleachers opposite the dock with a digital camera.  It doesn't have a huge zoom.  It's just a Canon Powershot A60, but I got some great pictures of you and Tucker during the competition (26 to be exact).  I'd be happy to attach them to an e-mail for you if you'd like them.

Once again, it was a pleasure meeting and talking with you and I look forward to talking and working with you in the future.   Who knows, maybe Buffy or Boo will be giving Tucker a run for his money sometime in a Big Air competition!  LOL!

John Tresise

Tom,

Thanks again for all the help and pointers you gave me. Dwight and I had so much fun and we never expected to do as well as we did. If you would have told me on Thursday after his first jump that we would have made it to the final round, I would have thought you were nuts. All thanks to you of course.

Anyway I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much we appreciated your support and help. Also I am a firm believer if it isn't fun then it is not worth doing and I believe you were a big part of making the event what it was..

A friend of mine took some pictures of the event and when they get developed I will email them to you. Good luck at the Outdoor Games, Dwight and I will be pulling for you.

Wade Coplin

I received the SportMutt Vertical Hurdle yesterday and am quite impressed with it's quality and construction. I had considered making my own hurdle, but after having one of yours, there is no way I could recommend to anyone to go the "home made" route. This thing is solid and extremely safe. All the features you have included are easy to use and assemble, and best of all for me it is easily portable in any vehicle.

Thanks Tom. Hope to meet you at the GOG next year!

Hi Tom:
Just wanted to thank for you playing a huge role in making the Big Air competition what it has grown to become today, and what it will continue to grow to be....your enthusiasm for the sport and your willingness to help fellow competitors is a model for what sport should be today....you helped create, I'm sure, many of the dogs that went on to out jump (but not necessarily outperform) Tucker this year...and it all went off with no talk of steroids or strikes....and every handler believed they were going home with the best dog in the world anyway, hope you and the Games are back in Lake Placid next year. 
thanks
Steve Piatt
Communications Manager
Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors' Bureau

I don't know if you ever hear this, but if it weren't for people like you who go out of there way to help and promote something, nothing would ever get done. I would have never even heard of dockdogs if it weren't for sportmutt.com.  So thanks a lot.

Zane and Xena 
Prior Lake, Minnesota

Email questions and comments to info@sportmutt.com
SportMutt, Inc.
New Prague, MN 56071
612.247.0802