2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup Brings Splash Action to Temecula in March

Lambert, a 4-year-old Dachshund standing just 10 inches tall, was one of the more unlikely athletes on the dock when the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup splashed down in Temecula, California on March 20. Jack and his mom, Cassandra Kotwica, traveled to show off Lambert's aquatic abilities at the competition, which was televised on AKC.tv and ESPN2. Lambert, who hails from Colorado Springs, carries titles in Earthdog, Fast CAT, Barn Hunt, and Diving Dogs.

Lambert competed in the Distance event, which scores the horizontal length of a dog's jump off the dock and into the pool. The sport ran two disciplines at the Premier Cup: Distance and Air Retrieve. In Distance, dogs competed for the farthest jump, measured from the end of the dock to the base of the dog's tail when it breaks water. In Air Retrieve, dogs compete to knock a bumper off an apparatus that hangs at the middle of the dock's width at the farthest distance, with the rig moving out in one-foot increments and each dog getting two attempts at knocking down the bumper at each distance. The top three finishers in each discipline took home prize money.

The event itself is straightforward in concept but demanding in execution. Diving Dog teams consist of only one dog and one handler, with occasionally one additional handler to help restrain the dog, and a handler may use one or two toys to help encourage the dog to jump into the water. Dogs launch themselves from a 40-foot dock in pursuit of a toy their owner has thrown into the pool, with the longest jump winning.

Cassandra noted that the Diving Dogs community has been incredibly supportive and inclusive of Jack as a junior handler and of Lambert as a Dachshund. "It's just us and our dogs doing something we love," she said. Jack's primary goal for the Premier Cup was to enjoy the experience with Lambert and possibly set a personal best. "I'm a little nervous, but I know I'm good at this, so I think I'll do well," he said.

Lambert's dock diving career started in 2023 at a conformation show that offered a Diving Dogs "Try It" session. Despite never having swum before, Lambert showed no hesitation and ran straight down the ramp after his toy, prompting the judge to urge the family to enter a competition. A few weeks later, they competed in their first North America Diving Dogs event, and Lambert earned his first dock title that weekend.

The 2026 event was held in collaboration with North American Diving Dogs (NADD), and all dogs, including mixed breeds six months and older, are eligible to compete in Diving Dogs (other than females in season), with titles earned through NADD recognized by the American Kennel Club. For handlers looking to get started, the NADD website lists local events, diving facilities, and training resources.