Dock diving competitions don’t just rely on precision, but the bond between a dog and their owner. Not only does the owner need to throw a bumper the right distance, but the dog must run and jump into the water, retrieve the toy, and swim back. In one quick motion, the team must put trust in each other to be precise and accurate with their execution, which is exactly what Maggie and Steve Chen have achieved with their 4-year-old Whippet “Bobo” — but it didn’t come without its challenges.
Bobo came from a line of successful dock diving Whippets including his uncle “Sounders,” who holds eight out of the nine world records for dock diving. It seemed only natural that this couple would get him involved in the sport and put his skills to the test.
Next, they’ll be competing at the 2025 Diving Dogs Premier Cup in Starkville, MS. Held in collaboration with North American Diving Dogs, this event features dogs from across the country competing in Distance and Air Retrieve, with the top three in each receiving prize money.
Discovering the Right Breed for Their Lifestyle
Being active is an important part of the Chens’ lifestyle. So, when it was time for them to find a dog, they wanted to make sure that both them and the breed would be happy together. To narrow down their search, the couple used AKC’s breed selector tool, which led them to discover the breed they now know and love.
“We took the test and several different breeds came up, and one of them was Whippet,” Maggie says. “I really enjoyed the gracious and athletic look of a Whippet, and Steve really wanted to have a dog that could go the distance with him, because Steve was not just a marathon runner, he was an ultra marathon runner.”
They took home their first Whippet, “Arrow,” while living in California and were initally surprised by his need for speed.
“I took Arrow to a Whippet race one time because they were in Southern California at the time,” Steve says. “He was so keen on the lure (the fake bunny) that they were all chasing around, that he refused his favorite treat.”
His undeniable love for the sport introduced the Chens into the world of dog sports, with Arrow continuing his racing journey.
Starting a New Chapter With Bobo
Shortly after the Chens brought home Arrow, they faced a new test, as Steve was diagnosed with cancer. He went through surgeries and treatments, completing all the necessary steps to help himself get better. To celebrate completing treatment, he and Maggie decided to get another dog.
Hoping to continue competing with their next dog, Steve stumbled upon performance-bred Whippets and was ready to commit.
“These performance-bred Whippets were just dominating the races and I figured, ‘Well, might as well reach out to breeders who bred performance Whippets so that at least we have a chance at these races,'” he said.
It took some time, but in 2019, a breeder reached out to the couple to let them know they had available puppies, and that’s when they took home Bobo.
Finding Dock Diving
A short time later, the couple was forced to pack up their lives in California and move to Texas, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the challenges didn’t stop there.
“I was in the midst of saving my business — we had lost 60% of our income, but we still had the same bills,” Maggie said. “Steve was helping me to save my business, and unfortunately, he fell really ill from the stress of that.”
He had around four strokes within six weeks and lost use of the left side of his body. Combined with a struggling business, the couple decided it was a sign to start over somewhere new. Steve stayed behind in California to wrap everything up while Maggie took Bobo and Arrow to Texas to start their new life. It was during that time she realized the dogs needed more enrichment and activity.
“I just thought ‘Oh, man, we haven’t done anything with these beautiful dogs, and they have so much natural ability.’ I had heard about dock diving and actually Bobo comes from a line of really successful dock divers,” she says.
With a little research, she eventually stumbled upon Dallas Diving Dogs and put Bobo into lessons. Making his ancestors proud, he was a natural.
“[I] was amazed at his ability with so little input from training or anything,” Maggie explained. “Within the first year, he was invited to go to Nationals, North American Dock Diving, Diving Nationals, you know, [within a] few months of dock diving.”
Becoming a Source of Healing
Steve eventually reunited with his family in Texas, but learned that he would have to undergo major surgery due to his stroke. The weekend leading up to the surgery, the family spent time outdoors where Steve got to witness Bobo jump into the water and see the joy that it spurred.
“I could barely walk, and I couldn’t be active at all. I just wanted to watch the dogs have fun at the pool, that’s what we did. For the weekend I was able to watch them get in the pool and have fun,” he says.
Post-surgery, Steve focused on recovering and regaining mobility, while Bobo worked on foundational skills to prepare for Nationals. Instead of keeping Steve on the outside, Maggie had the bright idea of combining Steve’s recovery with Bobo’s training.
“I thought this is going to be a really great journey for Steve and for Bobo,” she said. “If they can learn to do this together, it would be really therapeutic for Steve to learn to not just walk up the stairs, but maybe run up the stairs, run down the dock. Instead of just learning to talk, maybe he could yell for Bobo at some point with practice. And, instead of trying to do his daily activities without tremors, maybe he could throw the bumper precisely for Bobo. It was an act of therapy for him.”
More Than Just a Dog
Bobo isn’t just the Chens’ pet, but a representation of joy and hope. “He’s so much more than a dog to us. First and foremost, he’s been our pet, but the thing is, when you have something that you can do with your dog that lifts you out of everyday difficulties, the dog becomes a symbol of that to you. Bobo, to me, is not just love, but he is hope for a better future,” Maggie explains.
Steve also added how much Bobo has helped him heal both physically and emotionally during his journey to recovery. From helping him with his walker to eventually aiding him in his growth as a thrower.
“When I’m throwing for him and when he can catch the bumper, I just feel like that is the most joyous thing that he can do when he wants to,” Steve said. “The joy that he feels, I feel that too.”
The AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup participants are making a splash! Catch all of the action on May 4th at 8pm ET on ESPN2!