A greyhound’s splashy adventure

When I adopted Taz, an Australian-born greyhound, in September 2023, I had no idea I was bringing home my most adventurous greyhound yet. At just 2 1/2 years old, she was a whirlwind of enthusiasm — especially when it came to her beloved squeaky tennis ball.

Taz doesn’t just chase a tennis ball, she launches herself at it like a bottle rocket shot from a sideways bottle, usually overshooting her target, but always triumphantly returning with it. Her obsession with the ball, combined with her high energy, made me wonder: Could she have a future in dock diving?

Inspired by a friend’s dog who competes in an AKC event known as Hydro Dash — a fast-paced speed swimming event where dogs leap from a dock into a pool to retrieve a bumper — I decided to let Taz try her paw at it. The event is not about jumping distance, but swimming speed. The dog runs and jumps from the dock into the water, swims to the other end of the pool to pull down a bumper that’s suspended just above the water and swims with it back to the exit ramp.

We rented the event pool in Whetstone to see if Taz was even a swimmer. I outfitted her with a bright doggy life vest, complete with a top handle and a leash for safety. The drop over the side of the pool is at least 4 feet so the leash is necessary to keep a novice like Taz safe. I started at the pool’s exit ramp and gently coaxed her to jump into the water using her tennis ball as motivation. Once she was confidently paddling around, I threw her ball in again — and she retrieved it with her usual determination. See video here.

Our pool sessions became a highlight of the summer. During a later visit, Taz got so comfortable she leapt from the exit ramp — and even surprised me by jumping straight off of the dock when I tossed her ball. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture it on camera, and she never repeated it that day … but what a leap it was. The dock is about 3 feet higher than the water. See another video here.

Taz may never earn a Hydro-Dash title — or any title, but she doesn’t need one. I bought her a custom wetsuit, and this summer we’ll return to the pool — not for sport, but for the sheer joy of splashing around and chasing her tennis ball under the Arizona sun.

Because sometimes, adventure isn’t about titles. It’s about the moments we share chasing squeaky tennis balls and making memories.

Janet Harvey is an SA Greys member and part of the Communications and Marketing teams.