BY Lansing State Journal,

Not every dog has his own MySpace page.

But after setting records in dock diving, Mossberg's fans and potential sponsors need to find him somewhere.

With more energy than a litter of puppies, the black Lab-English pointer mix named after a brand of shotgun is taking his owners for a wild ride.

"He's not your normal dog," said Tracy Mapes as she watched her husband Matt toss a tennis ball for the excited dog.

Mossberg and the Mapes leave their home in Shiawassee County's Antrim Township 10 to 12 times a year for competitions throughout the country.

In the diving event, dogs start on a dock and get a running start before jumping into a pool after a toy tossed by a handler.

Depending on the organization hosting the event, the dogs must compete in rounds to qualify for a final series of jumps. In most cases, the distance of the jump is measured from the edge of the dock to the dog's tail.

Not all of the events have prize money; what he wins goes back to the expenses of competing.

Just two weeks shy of 3 years old, Mossberg has already qualified and competed in three Purina Incredible Dog Challenges - in 2007 taking second place in the nationally televised finals event. He's qualified for the elite division with most organizations, beating the 23-foot mark consistently in his jumps.

"I'm like a proud soccer mom," Tracy said.

But the Mapes didn't get Mossberg with the intention of competing. At just 8 hours old, Matt picked him out.

At 4 months old, Mossberg showed a natural drive for diving when he started jumping on his own in a friend's pool. And at 7 months old when he broke 20 feet, Matt said they thought, "maybe we got something here."

Now Matt, a die setter, and Tracy, a veterinary technician, spend all of their free time working with the dog. "As soon as he sees the pool and the dock, he forgets about everything else. He gives you 100 percent every time," Matt said. "He's focused. The only time he gets upset is when another dog gets on the dock - he thinks it's his dock."

But Mossberg is much more than an athlete to the couple.

"He's the most lovable, cuddly dog," Tracy said. "He sleeps in bed with us under the blankets."

After every single dive, Matt pours praise over him, sealing it with a kiss on the top of Mossberg's head.

For now they have a goal of returning to the Purina finals this year, but as soon as Mossberg's love for diving ends, so will the competitions.

"There's no better feeling than when you get home each day and he's waiting for you," Matt said. "The day he doesn't want to do it no more, we'll quit."

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