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With his scruffy beard, stubby legs, and a fierce look of determination, wirehaired Dachshund “Lambert” commands attention when he’s on the diving dock. Spectators surround the pool with their phones raised to record, excited to see the little dog jump. When 11-year-old Jack Kotwica gives his cue — “Are you ready? Are you ready? Get it!” — Lambert bolts to the end of the dock, takes a flying leap, and plunges into the pool after the bumper. Cheers erupt as Lambert happily paddles toward his toy.
Jack and his mom, Cassandra Kotwica, are excited to show off Lambert’s aquatic abilities at the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup on March 20, in Temecula, California, and televised by AKC.tv and ESPN2. Lambert will compete in the Distance event, which scores the horizontal length of a dog’s jump off the dock and into the pool.
Standing just 10 inches tall at the withers, Lambert is a breed that isn’t commonly seen on the diving docks — but, Jack says confidently, “This Dachshund is good.”
Taking the Plunge
From Colorado Springs, Colorado, 4-year-old Lambert (GCH CH Nouvelle’s Made To Kill Monsters SW JE BCAT DS RATO) is a jack of all trades, with titles in Earthdog, Fast CAT, Barn Hunt, and Diving Dogs. He’s also pointed in field trials for rabbit tracking.
“Lambert’s a very high-energy, drive–y dog,” Cassandra says. “He has his Grand Championship, but Championship but conformation is not where Lambert’s heart is. He would much prefer to do the sports.”
Jack has tagged along to dog shows with his mom since he was 6 years old, volunteering to take video ringside. He started showing two of their other Dachshunds, “Sage” and “Ticket,” in breed and Junior Showmanship when he was old enough.
In 2023, Cassandra and Jack were at a conformation show that offered a Diving Dogs “Try It” session, where owners can gently introduce their dogs to the pool and dock. Despite never swimming before, Lambert showed no hesitation and ran straight down the ramp after his toy.
“I am telling you, this dog will jump off the dock,” Cassandra remembers the judge telling her, and he urged them to enter a competition. A few weeks later, they competed in their first North America Diving Dogs event, with Cassandra tossing the bumper, Jack releasing Lambert, and Lambert making a splash.
“Lambert got his first dock title that weekend,” Cassandra says. “It was really a hoot!”
Timing Is Everything
As soon as Jack grabs Lambert’s life vest and bumper for their weekly lesson, the Dachshund knows what’s coming and expresses his excitement — loudly. “He screams all the way there,” Jack laughs. The facility is an hour from their home, Cassandra adds, “so you can imagine screaming for an hour.”
At practice, Jack is perfecting his bumper toss, which requires precise timing and teamwork with his mom. He gives his cue — saying “Are you ready?” twice — and Cassandra releases Lambert on “Get it.” Jack waits until Lambert is about 2 feet from the edge and throws the bumper low, in the Dachshund’s line of sight.
“You don’t want to throw it too soon,” Cassandra explains. “When your dog is running up and you drop it, you want your dog basically sailing through the air after the bumper.” Distance matters, too. Jack aims to have the bumper land in the water at the same place each time.
Lambert competes in the “Lap” division for dogs standing less than 16 inches at the withers — which means he’s up against much taller dogs who are much taller. His best jump is 10 feet 6 inches, measured where the base of his tail hits the water.
“His challenge is that he has very short legs,” Jack laughs. But what Lambert lacks in stature, he makes up for in moxie. “Lambert never gives up, and he loves toys so much that he goes flying off the dock.”
Jumping for Juniors
Whichever role Jack chooses for the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup — throwing the bumper or releasing Lambert — he hopes his presence on the dock inspires other juniors to try the sport. He recently received a scholarship from The Trooper and Betty Fund, which aims to make dock diving more accessible to young handlers through financial support.
Cassandra says that the Diving Dogs community has been incredibly supportive and inclusive of Jack, as a junior, and especially of Lambert, as a Dachshund. “It’s just us and our dogs doing something we love,” she says. “That’s what all of us are there to do.”
Jack’s primary goal for the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup is 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,” Jack says, adding that he’ll try not to think about how “there’s so many cameras.”
As for Lambert? “I think he won’t even notice them.”
The AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup is happening March 20th in Temucula, California! Tune in to AKC.tv and AKC’s Youtube channel to see these dogs make a splash!