CELEBRATION, Fla.— Hogan is the reformed juvenile delinquent canine of the Launch event. Rescued from euthanization for aggressive behavior not once, but twice, this black Lab walked calmly onto the dock and crouched into the down position as he prepared for this inaugural event at the Great Outdoor Games. He gave his handler and owner Mark Stuart a glance, then took off down the dock, wrapped his toes around the edge, and sprung 6 feet, 2 inches into the air to snatch a white bumper suspended from a crane. The crowd cheered and a proud Stuart praised him with a loud whoop as the jumper swam back to the dock.

	A one-time world-record holder, Hogan is leaping for gold in the Launch event.

Stuart adopted Hogan from the San Diego Lab Rescuers (labrescuers.org) and took him home as a companion for his family's golden retriever, Finn. But Hogan wasn't such a good friend at first. He sent Finn to the veterinarian more than once. The dog was terrified of physical contact with humans, which led the Stuarts to suspect a history of abuse. When Hogan began to exhibit aggressive behavior toward Stuart's wife and family, the only solution seemed to be to put him down. But something told Stuart to give his dog a little more time.

He started by working with Hogan and a tennis ball. "When Hogan was good, we'd give him the ball to play with. When he was doing something not so good, we'd take it away." It worked. "To this day, he won't ever drop a tennis ball — except when we're on the dock. That's when he really listens." The pair began training for the jumping events when Stuart saw Mike Jackson and Little Morgan break the Big Air world record on TV at the 2002 Great Outdoor Games.

"I made lots of mistakes," said Stuart, who taught himself how to train his dog by reading books. "But it really built up his confidence." Through training and play, Stuart was able to channel the dog's aggression into sport.

Today, Stuart holds seminars to teach other dog owners how to train their dogs for competition. He also sells a chili sauce named after his dog, "Hogan Fly's Chili Sauce," and donates proceeds to rescue organizations. This year's total sum of $2,000 went to the organization that rescued Hogan. "Dogs are not our whole lives," Stuart said, "but they can make our lives whole."

Hogan qualified for this year's Games at the Dock Dogs Western Regional in May with a world record jump of 6 feet, 4 inches (this record has since been broken). He could be on his way to making that height at this year's Great Outdoor Games, after nailing the jump required to advance into round two this afternoon.

"Hogan feeds off the crowd," said Stuart after the competition. He believes the dog senses that there are throngs of people out there watching. "When we're out on the dock practicing, it's one thing. But when we get up on stage, it's a different story. He gives me this look and a little smile, and I know it's time."

Hogan will jump again tomorrow in the semifinals of the Launch.

The Games will be aired on ESPN and ABC Sports July 13-17, 2005. Click here for the broadcast schedule.

This article on the Great Outdoor Games 2005 Web site is brought to you by the editors of Field & Stream and Outdoor Life. For more information, visit www.fieldandstream.com and www.outdoorlife.com.