Dustin Krempin’s mother, Terri, suggested he try dock diving with his first dog, Sniper. However, that plan was put on hold when Sniper was diagnosed with Lyme disease and later passed away in July 2021. A month later, the Shakopee, Minnesota, resident got a 13-week-old black Labrador/Blue Heeler mix named Reaper. The idea of dock diving persisted until they signed up for their first dive in November 2021.
“Reaper loves jumping,” Dustin said of his now-3-year-old dock diving partner. “He is constantly begging to get on the dock. We train in Mendota Heights with Steve and Kristin Powell, and Reaper drags me to the dock when Steve calls his name for his turn to jump. He’s exciting to watch – he’s a small dog but jumps like a big dog.”
Dustin competes in the sport with his father, Emil (Zimmerman, Minnesota), who throws for Reaper’s jumps. The trio attended Game Fair in Ramsey, Minnesota, for the last two summers, walking away with third place in distance in 2022 and first place in 2023. They also competed at the 2023 Regionals in Amana, Iowa, and Nationals in Springfield, Missouri.
“It was an honor to be invited to those events, and we had a blast,” Dustin said. “I honestly like everything about the sport, from the amazing people I have met to doing something Reaper absolutely enjoys and sharing it with my dad. I’ve overcome many challenges in life, so being able to get to where we are today is honestly a blessing for which I’m so grateful. I haven’t worked at an event yet, but hopefully, at some point, I’ll be able to!”
Outside the sport, Dustin is a diesel technician for the school buses of Bille Bus Transportation. He has also played hockey for the last 29 years and enjoys deer hunting and hiking with his wife, Erin, and their other dogs, Tesla and Lambo.
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| Dustin (left) with Reaper and Emil |