“Saffron” Is the Oldest Dog at Diving Dogs Premier Cup

Bold flavors and vibrant colors are likely what come to mind when you hear the words “Cajun” and “saffron.” It’s what owner-handler, Rinn Siegrist, was thinking when she named her All-American Dog, “Cajun Saffron Sunrise.” She chose the name Sunrise in honor of her dog’s sunny coat and matching disposition. “Saffy,” as she’s also known, is up for just about anything.

The Right Handler for Her Temperament

Back in 2016, Siegrist was enjoying life with her Labrador Retriever, “Reesie.” They were doing agility and dock diving, which made Siegrist wonder how a younger dog might take to these sports. She was also curious what it would be like to have two dogs in the family.

Siegrist got in touch with a rescue organization in Louisiana. She was looking for a dog who was energetic, full of drive, and a big fan of the water. And that’s what she got with Saffron, who was 2 years old at the time and was looking for a new home. “The family she was with could not handle her energy level,” Siegrist says. A mixed-breed, Saffron needed a job and someone who could keep up with her.

“She came home, and she and my Lab, who I no longer have, just played like crazy,” recalls Siegrist. “It gave new life to my older dog.” Ever since, Saffron has been her constant companion, whether they’re training for agility or traveling around the country.

Siegrist herself is a NADD Senior Judge. For her, it’s fun to be on the other side. “It’s humorous to watch sometimes because the handlers are out there jazzing their dogs up,” she notes. In addition to helping run events at their local dock at Walnut Hill Farm K9 Sports, she has been coordinating an annual mobile dock event with her AKC club, Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club.

A House of Dock Diving Dogs

“Reesie,” Siegrist’s other dog, was the first to try out dock diving. When Saffron came into the picture, Siegrist was hopeful about getting both dogs involved in the sport. “I just wanted to see what Saffy could do,” she says. It wasn’t about having the fastest dog, but finding an activity they could all enjoy together.

“Saffron seemed like she was really athletic and would do well,” she Siegrist says. The only challenge she anticipated was getting Saffron accustomed to jumping into a swimming pool. “She was already used to playing in rivers and ponds, but pools are a little bit different because it’s clear water,” she adds. But once she got the hang of it, she would take off and fling herself into the air.

Thrilled with Saffron’s progress, Siegrist signed her up to compete in a dock diving event. When they got there, they hit a small snag. At first, Saffron didn’t want to jump. It took some convincing, but they finally got her off the dock. From there, she was hooked.

Not long after, they were doing practice jumping with NADD. “They let me bring Reesie, who was already nuts for water,” Siegrist recalls. Seeing Reesie jump gave Saffron the confidence to take that first leap. “I had both dogs on the dock, and for Saffron, it was like, oh, you can do this, I can do this too, and suddenly she’s the dock diver.”

Since then, Saffron has earned several titles, including Hydro Dash Junior, Air Retrieve Master Excellent V, Dock Senior Excellent V, and Dock Master Excellent III in 2025. The year before, she earned Hydro Dash Senior Excellent and Air Retrieve Elite Excellent.

“They’re nice milestones to have while you’re competing,” Siegrist says. But mostly, she’s just happy to have Saffron by her side.

Saffron’s Favorite Game Is Air Retrieve

Saffron loves to grab the bumper off the rig. “She goes farther for that than she does for Distance,” Siegrist says. At their local dock, Saffron achieved her personal best in Air Retrieve.

For Distance, Siegrist uses a method called “place and send,” where she throws a toy from the front of the dock, and Saffron runs and jumps for it. “A lot of people do the chase method where you throw the toy as the dog is running off the dock, but Saffron has never wanted to do it that way,” she says. One toy in particular, a large pink flamingo, really gets Saffron moving. “She gets really excited about it, so that has gotten her more energized about distance jumping,” Siegrist adds.

Another sign that Saffron is ready to compete is when she goes to the front of the dock and she starts howling and barking at the bumper. It’s almost like she’s singing her signature pre-jump song before she heads to her spot on the dock and goes flying. “People know when she’s on the dock because of her singing, or at least the local people who know her,” Siegrist says.

Adjusting Her Strategy as a Handler

When they started agility, Siegrist quickly took note of Saffron’s speed, referring to how she would “run like a deer” when she was going over a jump. “She would just sail over things,” she says.

As a handler, Siegrist had to learn how to work with a dog that needed the information much sooner. “It was a learning curve for me, and Saffron would be running around, so it took a little while to contain that excitement and focus it,” she says. But their hard work paid off when, for the first time, they qualified for the AKC National Agility Championship in 2025.

It was a new experience, competing in a big stadium. “We ask them (dogs) to do a lot, and she’s always out there giving it her best,” she says. “We had one qualifying score, and I was elated by that.” Whether she’s successful or not, Saffron always tries her hardest.”

When they’re not training or competing, Saffron enjoys exploring the woods, chasing a ball, or barking at the deer. She loves Siegrist’s cats, and is always willing to do a trick in exchange for cheese or peanut butter.“We really have a lot of fun just trying different things,” Siegrist says.

The Decade’s Flown By

With Saffron’s yellow coat, you can hardly see the white fur coming in on her face and body. “She just had a vet appointment yesterday, and they’re like, ‘How is she 11?’” Siegrist says as Saffron starts howling in the background. “Thankfully, she’s in good condition, and it’s probably because we do a lot of training for agility over the winter.” The main difference now is that Saffron runs at 20 inches to avoid putting stress on her joints.

Another change is thinking more strategically about where to start when they’re doing Air Retrieve. She wants Saffron to have success on her first jump and conserve her energy for longer distances. “She doesn’t go as far now, and I’m completely comfortable with that because I’m just thankful to have her,” she says. “The cool thing about dock diving is that you can still earn titles at a lower division.” Your dog is still thriving and excelling, just at a different level.

With the weather warming up, their dock diving season is just getting started. The biggest lesson she’s learned from watching Saffron dive is to do things with your whole heart. “Saffron is in the moment, and she’s not worried about what’s coming next,” she says. “She’s ready to do her thing as best as she can, and if she doesn’t get it the first time, she’s going to keep trying.”