POOL ACTIVITIES & DOCKDOGS COACHING

Whether you’re looking for a fun new activity to enjoy with your dog, want to introduce your dog to swimming in a safe and positive environment, or are aiming to compete in the exciting sport of DockDogs, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

At Pup2Dog Training, we offer a range of water-based activities designed to help dogs build confidence, improve fitness and enjoy time in the water, whether you’re looking to compete, stay active, or simply have fun with your dog.

Kirsten has been actively competing in DockDogs Australia since 2023 with her three dogs—Spot, Rev and Jinx—and has become a passionate member of the Australian DockDogs community.

Alongside her years of professional dog-training experience, Kirsten has also completed the official DockDogs Australia Coaching Course, further expanding her knowledge of the sport, training techniques and canine performance.

Her dogs compete across multiple DockDogs disciplines, giving Kirsten hands-on experience training for a wide variety of events.

Spot, her Labrador Retriever, actively competes in all three DockDogs disciplines:

Big Air – measuring the distance a dog jumps from the dock, with a personal best of 22 feet 6 inches.
Speed Retrieve – testing speed, confidence and drive as the dog races into the water to retrieve the suspended bumper.
Extreme Vertical – measuring the maximum height a dog can leap from the dock, with a personal best of 6 feet 10 inches.

Her Border Collie, Rev, has also become a consistent competitor, recently achieving jumps in the 19-foot range in Big Air.

Jinx, Kirsten’s older girl, participated in DockDogs simply as a fun and enriching activity, providing a healthy physical and mental outlet through swimming and dock jumping. Now happily retired from the sport, Jinx continues to enjoy regular swim sessions purely for fitness and enjoyment.

Training multiple dogs with different personalities, drives and learning styles has given Kirsten extensive practical experience in building confidence, motivation, toy drive, jumping technique, water confidence and competition skills.

She understands that every dog is an individual, and her coaching focuses on helping each team progress at a pace that suits both the dog and handler.

More Than Just DockDogs

While DockDogs is an incredible sport, it’s certainly not the only way to enjoy the water.

Not every dog is suited to dock jumping—and that’s perfectly okay. Some dogs are young puppies still developing physically, some are senior dogs enjoying retirement, some simply prefer swimming over jumping, and others may just be building their confidence around water before progressing into the sport.

At Pup2Dog Training, we believe every dog should have the opportunity to enjoy the water in a way that suits their individual needs, confidence and physical ability.

Alongside our DockDogs coaching, we’ll also be offering a variety of fun, low-impact water activities designed for dogs of all ages, breeds and abilities.

Recreational Swimming

Sometimes, the best session is simply spending quality time with your dog.

Whether your goal is fitness, confidence building, cooling off during summer, maintaining mobility, or simply having fun together, recreational swim sessions provide an enjoyable and enriching experience for both dogs and their owners.

Owners are welcome to get into the pool with their dogs, making it a fantastic bonding activity while helping nervous or inexperienced swimmers gain confidence in the water.

Hoopers H2O

Coming Soon

We’re excited to introduce Hoopers H2O, a unique water-based activity combining elements of Hoopers and water-confidence training.

Dogs will work through fun obstacles and water-based exercises designed to improve body awareness, confidence, fitness, engagement and teamwork, all while keeping impact on growing or ageing joints to a minimum.

Hoopers H2O is ideal for:

Puppies building confidence and engagement with their handler.
Dogs preparing to start DockDogs by developing water confidence and swimming skills.
Senior dogs looking for gentle, low-impact exercise.
Retired sporting dogs wanting to stay active.
Dogs that enjoy swimming but aren’t interested in jumping from the dock.
Owners simply wanting a fun and interactive activity to enjoy with their dog.

Who Are Our Sessions For?

Our sessions are perfect for:

Dogs that simply love swimming and would benefit from fun, structured exercise.
Owners wanting to introduce their dog to DockDogs for the very first time.
Dogs needing help building water confidence.
Teams wanting to learn correct foundations before entering competitions.
Existing DockDogs competitors looking to improve technique, consistency, distance or confidence.
Puppies building confidence around water before they’re physically mature enough to begin dock jumping.
Senior dogs wanting safe, low-impact exercise.
Anyone wanting to strengthen the relationship and teamwork between themselves and their dog while enjoying an exciting activity together.

Whether your goal is competitive DockDogs, improving your dog’s confidence in the water, maintaining fitness, or simply creating great memories together, we’ll have a pool activity that’s right for you and your dog.

Coaching Options

One-on-One Coaching

Private coaching sessions provide personalised instruction tailored specifically to you and your dog’s goals.

Whether you’re introducing your dog to the dock, building swimming confidence, working through confidence issues, improving retrieves, refining jump technique, or preparing for competition, these sessions allow for individual coaching and a customised training plan.

$150 per session + pool hire

Before making a pool booking, clients should first contact Kirsten to discuss their training goals and confirm a suitable coaching date and time.

Once a coaching time has been agreed upon and availability has been confirmed, the client can then book the corresponding pool session through Dockside Canine Retreat’s online booking system. Once both the coaching session and pool booking have been confirmed, your training session will be locked in.

Please note that Kirsten’s Pup2Dog Training coaching services are managed entirely separately from Dockside Canine Retreat. Pool hire fees are separate from coaching fees and are managed entirely by Dockside Canine Retreat.

Clients must follow Dockside Canine Retreat’s booking process and payment instructions when reserving the pool.

Kirsten’s coaching fee is payable on the day of the session, with payment details and any additional information communicated directly to the client prior to their booking.

Group Training Days

Our group training days are a fantastic way to learn alongside other handlers while still receiving individual coaching throughout the day.

Training days typically run for 3½–4 hours, allowing multiple dogs and handlers plenty of opportunities to work through skills, receive feedback and watch other teams progress.

$150 per dog

Pool hire is included in the cost of group training days, with all pool expenses covered by the coaching event.

Owners are welcome to attend and participate together with their dog. Whether one handler or multiple family members are involved with the same dog, the booking fee is charged per dog, not per person.

Training Venue

All pool activities and DockDogs coaching will be conducted at Dockside Canine Retreat, opening in mid-to-late October 2026.

The facility will offer:

Private pool hire
Recreational swimming sessions
One-on-one DockDogs coaching
Group training days
Hoopers H2O classes
Competition preparation
Confidence-building swim sessions

Dockside Canine Retreat has been purpose-built to provide a safe, enjoyable environment where dogs and handlers of all experience levels can learn, train and have fun together.

Whether your goal is to build confidence around water, improve your dog’s fitness, enjoy quality time together, or stand on the podium at your next DockDogs competition, Kirsten is passionate about helping every team reach their potential while keeping training enjoyable, rewarding and tailored to the individual dog.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you’re interested in recreational swimming, Hoopers H2O, learning the foundations of DockDogs, or taking your competition skills to the next level, we’d love to help you and your dog get started.

Click “Enquire Now” to register your interest or discuss which service is best suited to you and your dog.

Our online booking forms will be available soon, and we’ll be in touch to help you find the most suitable session.

Health & Safety Information

The health and wellbeing of every dog attending our facility is our highest priority.

If your dog has any pre-existing medical conditions, injuries, mobility concerns or other health issues, and you are unsure whether swimming or DockDogs is appropriate, we strongly recommend seeking advice from your veterinarian before booking.

While swimming is an excellent low-impact form of exercise for many dogs, every dog is an individual. For example, Kirsten’s own retired dog, Jinx, has arthritis and continues to enjoy regular swimming after being assessed and cleared by her veterinarian.

Dogs showing signs of illness or those with contagious conditions must not attend the facility, to ensure the safety of all dogs using the pool.

Please note that while Kirsten is an experienced professional dog trainer and has completed the official DockDogs Australia Coaching Course, Pup2Dog Training does not provide veterinary or rehabilitation services.

Any questions regarding your dog’s medical suitability for swimming or sporting activities should be discussed with your veterinarian prior to participation.