If you’re watching the coverage of the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup, one competitor that will stand out from the crowd is ten-year-old “Sully” the Saint Bernard. The veteran competitor continues to defy expectations, demonstrating that giant breeds can thrive in sports often dominated by leaner, faster dogs.
Sully has already cemented his place in dock diving history. So, for his owner and handler, Kim Goodwin of New Hampshire, attending this prestigious event is all about having fun together and showcasing the potential of this unconventional dock diving breed.
A Lifelong Love of Giant Breeds
Goodwin’s passion for big breeds began in early childhood. “I grew up with a Great Pyrenees named Buddy,” she says. “I was three or four when we got him, and when you grow up with a big fluffy dog, it’s hard to go smaller after that.”
When Goodwin was 21 and ready to get her own dog, she drove five hours to Maine to meet a litter of puppies and came home with Sully and his brother, Daryl. “I picked Sully immediately. Or really, Sully picked my brother and sat at his feet,” she explains with a smile. “But on the drive home, we kept thinking about Daryl, so I went back and got him too.”
Raising two big pups together was more challenging than expected. Sully and Daryl experienced littermate syndrome. Luckily, Goodwin was dedicated to managing their relationship and sought advice from a reputable Saint Bernard breeder and trainer. When Sully and Daryl were a year old, the breeder had a litter of puppies, and Dino joined the family.
Goodwin’s introduction to dock diving came unexpectedly while spectating at a dog show. “The breed ring was cool, but dock diving was the main attraction, and there was this huge crowd watching,” she explains.
One competitor had a Rottweiler jumping over 20 feet and this immediately caught her attention. “He said they wanted to see a Saint Bernard do it,” she says. “And I thought, ‘Well, I have three of them. Let’s see what happens.’”
A Dock Diver That Was Learning How to Swim
Although Sully loved the water from the start, the 100-pound dog couldn’t swim yet. Fortunately, a nearby pet care facility and show event center, American K9 Country, had a pool where Goodwin could practice. She spent hours in the water helping her dogs build confidence and body awareness.
“Sully didn’t have a toy drive at first,” she explains. “But he had a really strong prey drive.” To motivate him, Goodwin tied real feathers to the toy being thrown into the pool. “He thought he was chasing an animal,” she says. “Every session, I removed a few feathers until eventually it was just the toy.”
Her creative strategy worked, and Sully’s skills and enthusiasm for dock diving soared. “When we first started, he was jumping five or six feet, and I thought that was amazing,” Goodwin says. “Now his personal best is 19 feet, 1 inch.” Even now, at nearly 10 years old, he’s still jumping 15 to 16 feet and loves being in the water.
Goodwin’s passion for dog sports eventually led to a job offer at American K9 Country, where she still works. This gives her the opportunity to train at a world-class facility with experienced competitors and trainers.
Challenging the Saint Bernard Stereotype
Saint Bernards often have a reputation for being stubborn or lazy. But Goodwin says that in her experience, they’re anything but. Training giant breeds may require adjusting your expectations and techniques, but they’re still full of potential and respond well to praise.
“You can’t expect them to be like a Border Collie or you’ll be disappointed,” she says. “Saints will do anything you ask of them. They might do it slower than most breeds, but they’ll try.”
Daryl, Dino, and Sully all took part and excelled in dog sports. “I just kept trying all the sports to see which ones they liked more,” Goodwin says.
Dino became the most titled breed champion in history. “I think he ended his career with about 45 AKC titles,” Goodwin says proudly.
Daryl, who she describes as a “nervous Nellie,” took longer to gain confidence traveling to shows, but he ended up loving Fast CAT and lure coursing.
“However, Sully is my boy who will do anything you ask of him, not just dock diving,” she says.
Hall of Fame Induction
Sully is the most AKC-titled Saint Bernard in breed history and is approaching 100 titles across multiple disciplines. As well as dock diving, he has competed in agility, Barn Hunt, Fast CAT, Rally, lure coursing, and tried scent work.
“He loves the crazy sports,” Goodwin says. “The sports people don’t expect Saint Bernards to do, those are all his favorites.”
One of Goodwin’s proudest moments came when Sully was inducted into the North American Diving Dogs Hall of Fame last year. Only three dogs receive the honor each year, and applicants need to meet strict criteria, including at least 300 jumps. Sully exceeded those requirements with ease, recording more than 600 splashes and nearly 40 NADD titles, and his dock diving career is still going strong.
Goodwin feels especially lucky because she lost both Dino and Daryl when they were seven years old. Sully also experienced a bloat scare when he was younger, but at his most recent veterinary checkup, all was looking good.
“His blood work was phenomenal,” Goodwin says. “He does have some tumors in his mouth and ears, but other than being unsightly, they don’t bother him.”
She says he still enjoys tugging on toys, eats well, and loves to compete. “The fact that he’s turning almost 10 years old is incredible,” Goodwin says. “The St Bernard Club actually offers a Lifetime Achievement Award for any St Bernard that turns 10 years old, because that’s how rare it is.”
Giving Big Breeds the Opportunity to Explore Their Potential
As Sully heads to the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup, Goodwin says she never imagined her journey with giant breeds would lead to opportunities like this. However, winning isn’t what motivates her most. “At the end of the day, it’s really about the memories,” Goodwin says. “Seeing your dog happy doing something they love, that’s the best part.”
She hopes Sully’s accomplishments will inspire more owners of large breeds to explore dog sports. “I see so many Saint Bernards with so much potential,” she says. “People assume they’re just couch potatoes, but they’re a working breed.”
Her advice to owners is to get out there with your dog. “Their lives are short, and their world is only as big as you make it,” she says.
Going forward, Goodwin plans to continue competing with her Great Pyrenees, Appa, and hopes to welcome another Saint Bernard puppy in the future. But there will only ever be one Sully.