Despite being small in stature, the muscular build of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier makes them powerful athletes. Sweet-natured and protective, Staffies love to please their owners, and can do well with other dogs with early socialization and consistent training.
As a dog owner, you might be looking for something fun you can do together. If your dog loves the water, can swim, and is at least six months old, why not try Diving Dogs, one of the fastest-growing dog sports?
This is what Pam Dural was thinking when she introduced her now 5-year-old Staffie, The Fig, to Dock Diving. 鈥淎nything that鈥檚 all-out speed and excitement is what she loves,鈥� Dural says.
You can see the two of them competing in AKC鈥檚 Diving Dogs Challenge on ESPN2, which airs on April 9, 2023. 鈥淚 just want her to show [people] what a great breed and overall dog she is and give it her best. That鈥檚 all you can ask.鈥�
A Unique Start and a Unique Name
The Fig was born on July 30, 2017. Her first moments proved why she was named after Figgy, a contestant on the reality show, 鈥淪urvivor.鈥�
鈥淪he was basically born dead,鈥� Dural says. 鈥淭hey had to work on her for about 10 minutes to revive her, giving her mouth-to-mouth, pumping her chest, and she came around.鈥�
As she grew up, the name Figgy seemed 鈥渢oo easy-going鈥� for a dog that gives 110 percent to everything she does. They started to call her The Fig 鈥渂ecause there鈥檚 nobody else like her.鈥�
Dural鈥檚 Staffordshire Bull Terrier Journey
The Fig is not Dural鈥檚 first Staffordshire Bull Terrier: she has owned Staffies for over 25 years. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e an all-purpose dog,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey can basically do anything.鈥�
She first became intrigued with Staffies when she saw them at a dog show in the 90s. 鈥淚 said 鈥榯hat鈥檚 going to be my next breed.'鈥�
In fact, The Fig looks very similar to her first Staffie. Since then, Dural has bred several litters including Grand Champion and Agility dogs.
Now that Dural is retired, she spends a lot of time driving The Fig to regional and national competitions of all kinds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檝e wanted to do since I was a kid. I鈥檝e always wanted to show dogs. You meet a ton of people, everywhere I go I know somebody, so it鈥檚 kind of fun to travel around the country.鈥�
How The Fig Got into Diving Dogs
The Fig was always drawn to water, and it all started with a bit of fun in the backyard. She learned to turn the hose on by herself and loved to spray herself in the face with it.
Then, Dural got her a kiddie pool, which she would jump in and out of repeatedly. 鈥淪he just loved the water, especially when it was warm in the summertime,鈥� Dural says. She heard about a dock diving facility only a few hours away, so considering how much The Fig enjoyed water, she decided they should give it a try. 鈥淚t took about two minutes to get her to jump off the dock,鈥� Dural recalls.
Dural said that Agility and Obedience were 鈥渢oo controlling鈥� for her free-spirited dog. 鈥淏ut dock diving has just been the one thing that she absolutely loves,鈥� Dural says. 鈥淪he went up from the Novice Star to Senior Dogs to a Master Star, and now she鈥檚 in Elite Distance Jumping.鈥�
Preparing for Competitions
Between May and September, The Fig competes twice a month, and in the winter, travels south for regional competitions. What keeps her fit year-round? Getting lots of exercise and eating high-protein food. 鈥淪he鈥檚 basically just one big muscle,鈥� Dural says.
On a typical day, The Fig starts her morning with a two-mile jog, running alongside Dural who uses an electric scooter to give her a good run. Weather permitting, they go uphill and downhill, catching speed with short sprints.
In the afternoon, The Fig walks a mile and a half with Dural鈥檚 husband. Her third and final outing for the day is when she goes for a walk after dinner. 鈥淭he Fig does have an off switch. She knows after her walk in the evening that the day is done. She鈥檒l just sit on the couch next to you and watch TV.鈥�
Doing it All in Dock Diving
For 2023, The Fig with 22 jumps and a season average of 18 feet. She鈥檚 qualified in all three Dock Diving disciplines: Distance Jumping, Air Retrieve, and Hydro Dash. Most of The Fig鈥檚 jumps are in the Master鈥檚 class, and her longest Air Retrieve distance is 11 feet.
The Fig鈥檚 strongest showing is in Distance Jumping, leaping anywhere from 16 to 17-and-a-half feet. Her personal best is 18 feet 11 inches, which is in the Elite category for the Lap Division.
She also excels at Hydro Dash, which is a timed event. 鈥淪he鈥檚 probably one of the top five dogs in the country in the Lapdog Division and does it in about 17.6 to 17.8 [seconds]. Her personal best is 17.04 [seconds], which is pretty quick for a small dog.鈥�
Two years ago, The Fig took first place in Air Retrieve in the Junior Division. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a 鈥榣eft arm,鈥� which means she鈥檚 16 inches and jumps with smaller dogs,鈥� Dural says.
The following year, The Fig qualified for Nationals in Distance, Air Retrieve, and Hydro Dash. 鈥淪he made it to the finals in all three disciplines and placed in all three national championships.鈥�
This year, The Fig is already qualified to go to regionals after taking first place in Distance, Air Retrieve, and Hydro Dash. 鈥淪he loves people and gets along with other dogs. But when she鈥檚 at a dock diving event, she鈥檚 just all business: 鈥榡ust let me at it.'鈥�
Small Dogs, Big Personalities
Staffies are 鈥渁 big dog in a small body,鈥� Dural says. They need regular exercise to stay in good condition. Staffies can be great companions to outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
But if you鈥檙e new to owning a dog, Dural says they may not be the best breed. 鈥淚t does take some time and training,鈥� Dural explains. She recommends carefully researching the breed beforehand. 鈥淔or somebody that knows dogs and is willing to put the time in, they鈥檙e probably one of the best breeds.鈥�
And The Fig is truly one of a kind. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just so high-energy and will do anything you ask her to do. She just loves life and wakes up with a smile on her face and is ready to go.鈥�
The AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup participants are making a splash! Catch all of the action on October 27 at 5:00pm ET on ESPN2!