Brian Faust throws an arm around Cooper, a black Labrador retriever mixed breed, who is having a bit of trouble controlling his excitement. Like an Olympic-caliber long jumper, Cooper must perform on the edge of outstanding athletic ability and timing, while his heart pounds like a jackhammer and adrenaline makes his legs shake.

Brian walks him back to the start line and both wait. Then at Brian's signal, and words "get it, get it, get it" Cooper sprints to the edge of the dock and launches up and out to grab a "bumper" suspended nearly 7 feet high over the water.Cooper, discarded by his first owners, was languishing in a foster home when he was rescued by Brian and Angela Faust of Tamaqua three weeks before their wedding day. Family and friends knew that Brian's brother participated in Dock Dogs competitions, and when they met the newlyweds' scrawny young dog they joked, "there's your future dock dog."Soon no one was joking, and Cooper was thrilled about his new home. In 2012, Cooper was ranked sixth in the country and eighth in the world, and was invited to the Dock Dogs World Championship in Iowa. He has about 30 first-place finishes in the Extreme Vertical discipline of Dock Dogs, including a win at a Keystone Dock Dogs competition held in June. His best in competition is 7 feet, 6 inches in the high jump.Brian and Angela are both teachers, Angela at Tamaqua Area School District and Brian Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, so they couldn't make it to the World Championships, which were held in the fall. Both say that although they love the competitions, the practices are just as much fun.They do a lot of training at Brian's parents' home, where his brother constructed a regulation-size (40-foot-long) dock, 2 feet higher than the pond, and covered with artificial turf."It's a family activity, and there's an amazing amount of camaraderie," said Brian, who is vice president of Keystone Dock Dogs (keystonedockdogs.com)."We have fun, our daughter Addie has fun, and the dogs have fun, and that's all that matters."The Faust's have a German shorthaired pointer, Toby, who excels in the Big Air category, usually finishing as one of the top three dogs. Released from their kennels, Toby and Cooper race around the pond, jumping in and out of the water and barking excitedly."We also have a beagle who likes to hang around with our pet rabbit," Angela Faust said. "I've always had a way with animals; I guess that's why I've found so much to love about the sport of dock diving you're around people who love their dogs, so you start out having lots in common."The Fausts are very involved with the Keystone Dock Dogs and enjoy helping newcomers to the sport."We like to help," Angela Faust said. "That's how we got started."About the competitionDock Dogs compete from a dock for distance, height or speed, landing in a body of water. North American Diving Dogs formed in 2014 and offers titles that are recognized by the American Kennel Club. The docks are 40 feet long and 8 feet wide, 2 feet higher than the water and covered with artificial turf.Big Air The long jump for dogs. The dog can start anywhere on the dock, make a run and jump into the water after a throw toy. The distance is judged from the end of the dock to where the tail set (rump) of the dog breaks the water surface.Extreme Vertical The high jump for dogs. The dog starts from the 20-foot mark on the dock, and jumps to grab a bumper toy that's suspended in the air from a frame. The starting height for the toy is 4 feet, 6 inches and goes up in 2-inch increments.Speed Retrieve A timed event. At the far end of the pool a bumper toy is suspended 2 inches over the water with a starting indicator light over it. The dog starts at the 20-foot mark. The light turns green, and the handler sends the dog. The clock stops when the dog gets the toy.