As we head into spring, we are sharing a very exciting new development for this water test season with you today.
New Beginner Water Dog Test and Title!
We are SOOOO thrilled to announce that The Newfoundland Club of America Working Dog Committee and Board of Directors have approved a new beginner level of water testing. This level can be held at water tests this year! It is optional titling division just like the BDD division in draft. It is up to the regional clubs to include the division or not.
This action has been taken after seeing the popularity of the Beginner Draft Dog test and receiving requests for a beginner level for water. The Working Dog Committee held discussions as to what a beginner water level could look like and the type of exercises that could be included. We are incredibly excited to be able to develop a level to give those new to the sport of water work a sound foundation and solid achievable goals for beginners.
Since passing the beginner level will earn a title it needed to be grounded in foundational work that will give new water dogs a firm grasp on future skills.
It was decided that some of the most difficult training for the junior level involved getting dogs to leave their handler and commit to the water to complete the exercises. With this in mind, it was decided that for the beginner level the handler could attach a short, tab leash onto the dead ring of the dog’s collar and could gently use that leash as they walked into the water to get the dog started. Handlers have the choice to use the leash, or not, and walking the dog in until they start to swim then its hands off and the handler will use voice and hand signals to get the dog to complete the exercise. The handler can wait in the water and meet the dog when the dog returns to just before wading depth and again use the short leash to maintain control when leaving the water. The short leash may not be used to drag the dog into the water or control the dog.
Below is a synopsis of the new exercises for Beginner Water Dog. These descriptions are not complete but just a short description. See the new regulations which are now posted here https://www.ncadogs.org/forms.html for the complete exercises.
Basic Control: this is done exactly the same as in Beginner Draft Dog. Controlled Walking on leash and a recall on a 15 foot leash provided by the test.
Take, Hold and Give: While on leash the handler tells the dog to take their bumper, the dog must hold the bumper while the judge counts out loud to five. The handler then takes the bumper from the dog. If the dog drops the bumper the handler can instruct the dog to pick it back up and hold it for 5 seconds.
The judge will watch the dog enter the water to judge where wading depth is for the dog.
Single Retrieve: The handler removes the six foot leash and has the option of attaching a short leash to the dead ring of the dog’s collar. The handler throws the bumper 30 feet out and then either sends the dog to retrieve it or walks the dog into the water and sends them to retrieve. When the dog returns with the bumper the handler can meet them just before they reach wading depth and take the bumper. The handler may then use the short leash to leave the water.
Drop Retrieve: The handler will choose the article that the dog retrieves; a life jacket or boat cushion. A steward will paddle a canoe or kayak across the test area 40 feet from shore. The steward will splash the article twice on the shore side of the canoe/kayak and drop it. The handler will either send the dog or, using the short leash, lead the dog into the water and send the dog when they start to swim. The dog retrieves the article and returns to just before wading depth where the handler takes the article from the dog. The handler may then use the short leash to leave the water.
Swim to Steward: A steward will meet the dog and ask its name. The steward then swims out to 40 feet from shore. On the judges signal the steward splashes and calls the dog. The handler will send the dog or lead the dog into the water with the short leash and then send the dog to the steward. The dog does not have to circle the steward, but the dog must get close enough so that the steward can touch the dogs head or body without moving out of position. The steward will signal the judge when they can touch the dog and the exercise is finished. The handler calls the dog back to shore or meets the dog and uses the short leash to take the dog to shore.
Tow A Boat: The handler’s eight foot line with bumper attached will be placed in a rowboat. The boat will be positioned facing shore with the bow at 40 feet. A judge will signal the steward in the bow of the boat to splash the bumper and call the dog. The handler may send the dog or using the short leash walk the dog into the water before sending. The dog will take the bumper from the steward and tow the boat towards shore. Just before the dog reaches wading depth the judge will blow the whistle indicating that the exercise is finished and the steward will let go of the line. The handler may be in the water at the dog’s wading depth to meet the dog and take the dog to shore. The handler may take the bumper or let the dog carry it to shore.
Swim with Handler: The dog and handler enter the water together and swim out 20 feet together. The handler may use the short leash to enter the water but must release it when the dog starts to swim. The handler may bring a bumper with them to splash in front of the dog or to splash to guide the dog around the handler when turning. The handler may also give the bumper to the dog while swimming out or back to shore. The bumper may not be thrown at any time. When the team reaches 20 feet the judge blows a whistle and the team heads back to shore with the dog towing the handler until the dog reaches wading depth.
It is the hope of the Working Dog Committee that all regional clubs will consider adding this to your current water plans, and our goal is to increase participation in our most loved water events nationwide.
Regional club contacts, please share this with your regional club board and those who are working on your events but may not have submitted test paperwork for the coming water test season.
Again, here’s the link to the latest approved version of the regulations. If you keep a hard copy with you, please do print out this version of our regulations. As always, all new modifications to the regulations appear in red in this text.
https://www.ncadogs.org/forms.html
Special thanks to Karrie Cook for an incredible job updating our regulations document with all these changes, and special thanks for Sue Marino’s very concise synopsis of the new division used in this email.
And we can’t say it enough — without all of you, your mentoring of new water work enthusiasts, your dedication to the sport, and the time you gift to the NCA for test preparation and your support of all things NCA — there wouldn’t BE water tests without you!! Thank you for all you have done for our wonderful sport, and thank you in advance for your embracing this new level. We welcome your feedback this coming summer and look forward to further conversations about water tests.
As always, please send any questions to the WDC at [email protected]
New Beginner Water Dog Test and Title!
We are SOOOO thrilled to announce that The Newfoundland Club of America Working Dog Committee and Board of Directors have approved a new beginner level of water testing. This level can be held at water tests this year! It is optional titling division just like the BDD division in draft. It is up to the regional clubs to include the division or not.
This action has been taken after seeing the popularity of the Beginner Draft Dog test and receiving requests for a beginner level for water. The Working Dog Committee held discussions as to what a beginner water level could look like and the type of exercises that could be included. We are incredibly excited to be able to develop a level to give those new to the sport of water work a sound foundation and solid achievable goals for beginners.
Since passing the beginner level will earn a title it needed to be grounded in foundational work that will give new water dogs a firm grasp on future skills.
It was decided that some of the most difficult training for the junior level involved getting dogs to leave their handler and commit to the water to complete the exercises. With this in mind, it was decided that for the beginner level the handler could attach a short, tab leash onto the dead ring of the dog’s collar and could gently use that leash as they walked into the water to get the dog started. Handlers have the choice to use the leash, or not, and walking the dog in until they start to swim then its hands off and the handler will use voice and hand signals to get the dog to complete the exercise. The handler can wait in the water and meet the dog when the dog returns to just before wading depth and again use the short leash to maintain control when leaving the water. The short leash may not be used to drag the dog into the water or control the dog.
Below is a synopsis of the new exercises for Beginner Water Dog. These descriptions are not complete but just a short description. See the new regulations which are now posted here https://www.ncadogs.org/forms.html for the complete exercises.
Basic Control: this is done exactly the same as in Beginner Draft Dog. Controlled Walking on leash and a recall on a 15 foot leash provided by the test.
Take, Hold and Give: While on leash the handler tells the dog to take their bumper, the dog must hold the bumper while the judge counts out loud to five. The handler then takes the bumper from the dog. If the dog drops the bumper the handler can instruct the dog to pick it back up and hold it for 5 seconds.
The judge will watch the dog enter the water to judge where wading depth is for the dog.
Single Retrieve: The handler removes the six foot leash and has the option of attaching a short leash to the dead ring of the dog’s collar. The handler throws the bumper 30 feet out and then either sends the dog to retrieve it or walks the dog into the water and sends them to retrieve. When the dog returns with the bumper the handler can meet them just before they reach wading depth and take the bumper. The handler may then use the short leash to leave the water.
Drop Retrieve: The handler will choose the article that the dog retrieves; a life jacket or boat cushion. A steward will paddle a canoe or kayak across the test area 40 feet from shore. The steward will splash the article twice on the shore side of the canoe/kayak and drop it. The handler will either send the dog or, using the short leash, lead the dog into the water and send the dog when they start to swim. The dog retrieves the article and returns to just before wading depth where the handler takes the article from the dog. The handler may then use the short leash to leave the water.
Swim to Steward: A steward will meet the dog and ask its name. The steward then swims out to 40 feet from shore. On the judges signal the steward splashes and calls the dog. The handler will send the dog or lead the dog into the water with the short leash and then send the dog to the steward. The dog does not have to circle the steward, but the dog must get close enough so that the steward can touch the dogs head or body without moving out of position. The steward will signal the judge when they can touch the dog and the exercise is finished. The handler calls the dog back to shore or meets the dog and uses the short leash to take the dog to shore.
Tow A Boat: The handler’s eight foot line with bumper attached will be placed in a rowboat. The boat will be positioned facing shore with the bow at 40 feet. A judge will signal the steward in the bow of the boat to splash the bumper and call the dog. The handler may send the dog or using the short leash walk the dog into the water before sending. The dog will take the bumper from the steward and tow the boat towards shore. Just before the dog reaches wading depth the judge will blow the whistle indicating that the exercise is finished and the steward will let go of the line. The handler may be in the water at the dog’s wading depth to meet the dog and take the dog to shore. The handler may take the bumper or let the dog carry it to shore.
Swim with Handler: The dog and handler enter the water together and swim out 20 feet together. The handler may use the short leash to enter the water but must release it when the dog starts to swim. The handler may bring a bumper with them to splash in front of the dog or to splash to guide the dog around the handler when turning. The handler may also give the bumper to the dog while swimming out or back to shore. The bumper may not be thrown at any time. When the team reaches 20 feet the judge blows a whistle and the team heads back to shore with the dog towing the handler until the dog reaches wading depth.
It is the hope of the Working Dog Committee that all regional clubs will consider adding this to your current water plans, and our goal is to increase participation in our most loved water events nationwide.
Regional club contacts, please share this with your regional club board and those who are working on your events but may not have submitted test paperwork for the coming water test season.
Again, here’s the link to the latest approved version of the regulations. If you keep a hard copy with you, please do print out this version of our regulations. As always, all new modifications to the regulations appear in red in this text.
https://www.ncadogs.org/forms.html
Special thanks to Karrie Cook for an incredible job updating our regulations document with all these changes, and special thanks for Sue Marino’s very concise synopsis of the new division used in this email.
And we can’t say it enough — without all of you, your mentoring of new water work enthusiasts, your dedication to the sport, and the time you gift to the NCA for test preparation and your support of all things NCA — there wouldn’t BE water tests without you!! Thank you for all you have done for our wonderful sport, and thank you in advance for your embracing this new level. We welcome your feedback this coming summer and look forward to further conversations about water tests.
As always, please send any questions to the WDC at [email protected]