If you ask Taylor Brower of Spokane, Washington, about her dog 鈥淭obi,鈥� she鈥檒l say he鈥檚 special. 鈥淚f anything rare is going to happen, it鈥檚 going to happen to Tobi,鈥� she says. And she鈥檚 not kidding! Her Great Dane is a champion record holder in the world of dog diving sports. At 7 years old, he鈥檚 got a lot of experience under his belt, and has overcome a lot. Tobi has survived bloat, three colonic torsions, and defied the odds each time these conditions threatened his life.
Tobi competed at the 2024 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup, held in collaboration with (NADD) in Aurora, Colorado, where he hopes to lead the pack with a placement title鈥攁nd maybe even break some more records in the process. Still, in his owner鈥檚 eyes, he鈥檚 more than a fierce competitor 鈥� he鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime companion.
A One of a Kind Dog
Growing up, Brower had a Pug, a Pomeranian, and two Miniature Pinschers. In other words, small dogs. Yet, she always had an affinity for Great Danes. One fateful day, when she was working at a doggy daycare, Brower鈥檚 co-worker received a call.
鈥淚t was from somebody that was asking where they could take a 12-week-old Great Dane puppy because they had an emergency and had to move back away to California, and I said, 鈥楿m, me, me, me, me, me!鈥� And yeah, the rest is history. I met them that night [and] brought him home,鈥� she says.
Standing 36 inches at the withers, Tobi is more than a pet that crowds Brower鈥檚 bed at night: he鈥檚 her heart dog. He鈥檚 also a 鈥減erfect angel,鈥� 鈥渙ffice dog,鈥� and 鈥渃ouch potato,鈥� she says.
At her wedding, Brower wasn鈥檛 the only one who walked down the aisle. Tobi joined her maid of honor as part of the procession! 鈥淗e鈥檚 definitely a mama鈥檚 boy,鈥� Brower gushes. 鈥淗e鈥檒l do anything I ask him.鈥�
Making a Splash in the Dock Diving World
Unlike many canine athletes, Tobi didn鈥檛 start competing in sports at an early age. This senior dog didn鈥檛 start competing and breaking records until last year! Just like how Tobi entered Brower鈥檚 life by chance seven years ago, it was by chance he discovered his love of dock diving.
鈥淓ver since he was a puppy, I would take him to my lake place, and I just one day started throwing his toy off the dock at the lake, and he started just bouncing, and I was like, 鈥極h, this is fun, this is a really cool thing,'鈥� Brower says.
While on her honeymoon, Brower noticed there was a dock diving trial taking place. 鈥淪o we went for a trial, and that鈥檚 where it all began 鈥� We just started throwing the bumper in the pool, and he went off the ramp, and then he started jumping off the dock, and the owner of the facility said, 鈥榊ou need to get him into this.鈥� And so we did that day.鈥�
Aside from a love of toys and the water, what motivates Tobi? For many owners of Great Danes, the answer is obvious. 鈥淔ood is the way to his heart,鈥� Brower says. This dog will do almost anything for the taste of freeze-dried minnows. He鈥檚 also a fan of carrying around his checkered ball and kneading his hedgehog toy.
Who Says Old Dogs Can鈥檛 Learn New Tricks?
Tobi regularly competes in events hosted by NADD. For the 2024 season, Tobi secured two regional qualifiers: one for Distance Jump and the other for Air Retrieve. He also earned an invitation to the National Showcase in Hydro Dash. Out of 42 jumps, he has a season average of 25 feet and seven inches.
These achievements have made Tobi the 2024 Best Breed for Great Danes in NADD Distance. He鈥檚 also the first Great Dane to get a regional invite for Distance Jump, Air Retrieve, and Hydro Dash. And let鈥檚 not forget: this dog is 7 years old!
鈥淵ou see him in sports, you see him at dock diving, and it鈥檚 a whole different dog,鈥� Brower shares. 鈥淗e鈥檚 barking, lunging, grabbing, and pulling me up the ramp. Just you wouldn鈥檛 think it鈥檚 the same dog, especially being that he鈥檚 7 years old. You would look at him, and you would think that this dog is maybe like 3 or 4. No, he鈥檚 7.鈥�
This Dock Diving Champion Has Nine Lives
When Tobi was just a year old, he began having symptoms of bloat, which Great Danes are prone to, a life-threatening condition in which a dog鈥檚 stomach fills with gas and stops circulation to vital organs. Thanks to Brower鈥檚 experience in the veterinary field, she was able to spot these symptoms and save Tobi鈥檚 life.
But the medical scares unfortunately didn鈥檛 stop there. In February 2021, Tobi suffered colonic torsion 鈥� another life-threatening condition where the colon rotates around the organ that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall. Then, it happened the following year, in 2022. And again this May.
Brower remembers when Tobi had a medical emergency before her wedding. She remembers, 鈥淚鈥檓 like, 鈥楾his dog needs to be down the aisle with me.鈥� And he did walk down the aisle with my maid of honor, and it was absolutely beautiful. Just a few months later, after he recovered, and then the next one happened, and I was like, 鈥極h my goodness, why?'鈥�
She expresses her deep gratitude to Tobi鈥檚 veterinary team, who were instrumental in saving her beloved dog鈥檚 life. 鈥淚 owe the people in Minnesota when Tobi had his issue. We were 1,300 miles from home, and they went above and beyond for him, and they didn鈥檛 even know us as normal clients. And I owe them his life.鈥�
What鈥檚 Next for This Amazing Dane?
Tobi will next compete at the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup and plans to arrive in style, riding in Brower鈥檚 new Sprinter van. His sister, 3-year-old 鈥淒olores,鈥� a fellow Great Dane and Tobi鈥檚 biggest cheerleader, will also join him at the event.
Tobi also has a packed 2025 dock diving season ahead. He will compete for the Dock Elite Advanced Title, which will automatically secure a regional invitation for next year鈥檚 Distance event. He鈥檒l also work toward an Air Retrieve invite, where he could have the chance to shatter a record.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be jumping as a veteran next year because he will be turning 8, and I鈥檓 like, 鈥極kay, bittersweet moment for sure.'鈥� Brower shares. 鈥淏ut I will be happy regardless of what he does. He could jump 12 feet. He could jump two feet for all I care. What matters [is] that the dog is having fun.鈥�