At 7 months old, Weimaraner “Gauge,” a Weimaraner, launched herself off the front of a pontoon boat into the water below. She jumped without hesitation, much to the delight of her owners, Anna and Chris Brown. “My husband always wanted a dog so he could jump off the boat and have the dog follow, and she did,” Anna says.
It wasn’t long before they started taking Gauge to dock diving events in Southern California. “She was bred to be a field dog and has a strong prey drive,” she says. “We discovered with dock diving that if anything moves, she has to get it.”
After a difficult battle with Valley fever, Gauge has made an incredible comeback. At 8 years old, she doesn’t seem keen on slowing down. Gauge, and remains the #1 Weimaraner in Air Retrieve. You can see her competing at the AKC 2026 Diving Dogs Premier Cup in Temecula, California.
A Fondness for the Weimaraner Breed
Before welcoming Gauge, Anna and Chris the Browns had lost their previous Weimaraner to cancer at just six years old. “We were looking into fostering, because we weren’t really ready to get another dog,” she says. That’s when they found a breeder in Arizona who had a seven-month-old Weimaraner puppy available. “It just seemed like the perfect fit for us,” she adds.
As it turns out, Gauge is the couple’s third Weimaraner. “I had one growing up, and she was the best dog. Very loyal, protective, and family-oriented to us kids,” she says. “As an adult, you kind of want the same dog you had when you were a child.” After they got married, she they decided it was time for a dog.
The Weimaraner appealed to Anna and Chris the couple because of their beauty and temperament. Plus, they don’t shed much. “They call them the dog with the human brain,” Chris says. “They’re almost more like a child than a dog.”
Of the their three Weimaraners, they’ve had, Gauge stands out. for her athleticism. “She’s the most athletic, high drive dog we’ve ever had,” she says. “She loves to fly through the air,” he adds. In 2020, she won the Dueling Dogs in her division and the Fred Hall Ultimate Air Dogs “Chase It.” That same year, she earned her Air Retrieve Master title.
Gauge gives it her all when she’s dock diving. “If she doesn’t go far enough on the first trial, the next time she’ll hit it hard and just about fly over the top of it,” says Chris. “It’s fun to watch, and she’s just a nut.”
Gauge’s Journey: A Scare with Valley Fever
When Gauge turned three, they were at a dock diving event where she refused to jump. “I could tell she wasn’t feeling good,” Anna says. “She got extremely sick and basically had no energy.” Along with running high fevers, Gauge developed a sore on the back of her leg, which continued to get bigger.
They took Gauge to a veterinarian in Southern California. She wasn’t eating and had lost more than ten pounds. Despite being on three antibiotics, she kept getting sicker. The wound on her leg grew, requiring surgery. At first, she tested negative for Valley fever, a dust-borne fungal infection that can lead to severe illness in dogs.
Following the surgery on her leg, they discovered that her lymph node was necrotic and tested positive for Valley fever. After months of not knowing what was wrong, Anna and Chris were relieved to have an answer. “We were trying all sorts of medicine, and it was just heartbreaking,” she says. “This is a dog who I would run 10 to 12 miles with, and now she could barely walk around the house.”
A Road to Healing
She had painful sores on her paws and had to be hand-fed. It took about six months for her leg wound to heal and for her to start feeling better. At first, it seemed like Gauge was heading in the right direction until a blood test revealed that her liver enzyme levels were very high. “The vet said let’s just take her off the meds, rest her, and see how she does,” she says. “She’ll have Valley fever the rest of her life and could have a flare-up at any time.”
It’s been almost two years since Gauge has been off her medications. “She’s like a little miracle dog,” Anna says. Gauge is part of the Valley fever project and gets bloodwork done every three months. She still struggles with ear infections and vestibular disease, including a noticeable head tilt.
“When she’s doing air retrieve, she’ll look at the bumper and tilt her head,” she says. She tilts her head the same way when she’s begging for a biscuit in the coffee-shop drive-thru. “She always gets two biscuits because they think it’s so cute,” he says.
Gauge’s Return to Dock Diving
Gauge’s dock diving career came to a halt during her illness. “We have a pool, and we would throw her toys, and she had no interest in diving for about two years,” Anna recalls. “She’s playing catch-up now on those years she lost.” Chris calls her a “ball of fire” because of her love of speed and excitement.
In 2025, Gauge received her Dock Master title with 22 feet. In addition, she was the #1 Weimaraner in Air Retrieve for 2025. Her average is 18 feet.
“Dock diving was what helped save her life,” she says. “She could have died several times with this Valley fever. With the right medication and doctors, she’s thriving now.” Any time they’re approaching a dock, Gauge can’t hide her excitement. She’s just rearing to go.
One of the reasons she likes air retrieve is that the toy is suspended, so and that she can get it. There’s no human error in throwing the toy. “It’s just her against the toy,” Chris explains.
Weimaraners Need to Have a Job
“Weimaraners are great dogs, but they’re not for everybody,” Chris says. “Any breeder will tell you that they need a job, and that’s really true.” He adds that they’re a high-energy dog and need some type of daily physical activity, or they can get a bit stir crazy. “Gauge is always running around with the ball in her mouth, inside or outside,” she adds.
They especially enjoy taking Gauge for runs and bike rides in the trails. “I’m a runner, so we might do 8 to 10 miles, and she’ll probably do 14 miles when we mountain bike.” Another favorite is Frisbee the flying disc. Gauge belongs to a nationwide Frisbee league Disc Dog league and was the number one dog in her group for the year with the highest point total.
In addition, they participate in AKC Fast CAT. Gauge was the #9 Weimaraner in 2022 with a speed of 27.05 mph, and #8 in 2023 with a speed of 27 mph. In 2024, Gauge earned her DCAT.
Caring for a Senior Dog
Whether she’s playing Frisbee disc or leaping off a dock, Gauge always needs to be doing something. In fact, Anna and Chris often have to remind themselves that Gauge is really 8 years old.
The couple does everything they can to keep her in shape. Anna makes all of Gauge’s food at home and gives her a supplement to keep her joints healthy. They also make sure not to overexercise her.
“It’s so hard to think of her as older, and people still think she’s a puppy or a younger dog,” she says. “We’ll play shorter games of Frisbee or go for a shorter walk with her to rest her in between.”
Gauge Always Has a Soft Landing
Without a doubt, dock diving is Gauge’s favorite sport. “When we get close to a dock diving event, she just starts howling in the back of the car,” she says. It’s like she’s saying, “My turn.”
As for the Diving Dogs Premier Cup, Anna and Chris are thrilled to see Gauge do what she loves. “People think Weimaraners are just hunting dogs, but they’re very fast and powerful,” he says. “Whenever we show people videos of her jumps, they say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen anything like that.’” The event is also an opportunity to see their diving dog friends and meet new people.
Wherever the Browns go, Gauge is never far behind. They take her everywhere, whether they’re camping or dining at a restaurant or dog-friendly patio. “She’s a really fun dog,” Chris says. He adds that having a dog is such a great addition to your life and retirement. “We’re very blessed to have her,” Anna says. “What she’s been through, it’s just amazing.”
The AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup is airing on ESPN2 on April 26. Tune in at 11 a.m. ET to see these dogs make a splash!