Section 3 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3

   the water together and must start swimming within thirty feet of
   shore. They swim together for 20 feet, and the dog must not interfere
   with the handler in any way. At 20 feet, the judge will blow a
   whistle, at which point the dog and handler turn towards shore, again
   with the dog usually swimming around the handler. The handler then
   takes hold of the dog, usually to the rear feathering or hair on the
   dogs sides or back, and the dog must tow the handler to wading depth.
   The handler's feet must be out of the water to show that they are
   indeed being towed.
   
  Senior test
  
   In the senior exercises, the major difference is that the stewards may
   not call the dog by name, only by calling "dog," "help," etc. The
   first senior exercise is a "directed retrieve." A steward rows through
   the test area at 50 feet from shore. At a designated spot, he drops
   one article, either a boat cushion or a life vest, and at a second
   designated spot he drops the other article. The judge will direct the
   handler to send the dog for one article, which the dog must deliver to
   hand. Then the handler will send the dog for the second article. This
   is similar to the "directed retrieve" in AKC Utility Obedience, except
   you are using only two articles, and the dog must be sent out for both
   articles.
   
   The next exercise is a "drop retrieve." The dog and handler are placed
   on a platform on the back of a row boat, which is rowed out 75 feet
   from shore. The handler will toss an oar into the water, and direct
   the dog to jump from the boat and retrieve the oar. The dog must
   deliver the oar back to the boat, at which point the handler may
   either help the dog back into the boat, or may enter the water and
   swim to shore with the dog.
   
   The next senior exercise is an "underwater retrieve." The dog and
   handler enter the water to chest deep on the dog. A non-floating
   object is dropped into the water 3 feet in front of the dog. The dog
   may either go underwater to retrieve the object at that point, or may
   "paw" the object closer to shore and then retrieve it. Again, the dog
   must deliver the article to hand. The next exercise is "directed
   rescue." Three stewards enter the water and swim out to 75 feet from
   shore. The judge will determine which steward is the "drowner." The
   handler gives the dog a line with a life ring attached. The dog must
   swim out to the designated "drowner," close enough so the steward can
   grab the life ring (again we usually teach the dog to swim around the
   steward). The dog must then tow the steward back to wading depth, with
   the steward's feet out of the water to show that they are being towed.
   
   Next is the "take a line, tow a boat" exercise. A steward and the
   rower are in the row boat 75 feet from shore. The steward calls the
   dog, again not using the dog's name. The handler gives the dog a boat
   bumper with a rope attached. The dog must swim out close enough to the
   boat so the steward can grap the rope. The dog must then tow the boat
   back to shore, close enough to ground the boat.
   
   The last exercise is the "rescue off boat." The handler and dog are
   again placed on a platform on the back of the row boat, which is then
   rowed out 75 feet from shore. The handler "falls" into the water, then
   calls the dog to "rescue" him. The dog must jump off the boat, swim to
   the handler, then tow the handler to wading depth.
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
Drafting Dogs

   Dogs have long been used as drafting and carting dogs. There are many
   variations of this activity, which is also in some cases a sport (such
   as weight pulling). I've outlined a few below [This could use
   expansion/description of other activities appropriate for this
   section.]
   
  Newfoundland Club of America "Draft Dog"
  
   This information was kindly supplied by Carol Norton-Miller and/or
   Darlene Stever . Again, the Newfoundland Club of America has a test to
   award the title "Draft Dog" to Newfoundlands. All exercises are done
   off lead, but the handler may give verbal commands, encouragement, or
   hand signals all they want, as long as they don't touch the dog. All
   exercises are judged by two judges, and the dog must pass all
   exercises by both judges to be awarded a Draft Dog title.
   
   The first part of the test is "Basic Control," which consists of heel
   off lead (including fast, slow, turns and stop), a recall (the dog
   must start to move on the first command, after which the handler may
   call and encourage the dog all they want), and a three minute long
   down, with the handler in the ring.
   
   The second exercise is "Harnessing and Hitching." In a designated
   area, the handler leaves the dog on a stay command, walks at least 20
   feet to pick up his harness (usually being held by a steward), returns
   to the dog, and using only voice commands or hand signals, places the
   harness on the dog. This is the only time during the test when the
   handler may touch the dog, and then only to the extent necessary to
   safely put the harness on the dog. Then, using voice commands and hand
   signals only, the handler takes to dog to an area near where his
   "vehicle" is waiting. He must command the dog to back up, at least
   four feet, preferably backing the dog into the traces of the vehicle
   (although this is not necessary to pass). The handler then hitches the
   dog to the vehicle, and moves the dog forward a few steps. At this
   point the judges will inspect the harness and vehicle for safety. The
   next exercise is "Basic Control." At the judges command, the handler
   will move the dog forward, slow, and halt. The next exercise is an
   obstacle course, which must include 90 degree turns, 360 degree turns,
   a "fixed narrows" (the judges measure all vehicles being used in the
   test, and this obstacle is 1 foot wider than the widest vehicle), a
   "movable narrows" (the judges measure each vehicle, and the narrows
   are reset to 1 foot wider than the vehicle being tested), a back up of
   at least three feet, and a movable obstacle, where the handler must
   put the dog on a stay, move the obstacle, move the dog past the
   obstacle, put the dog on a stay, and replace the obstacle. At this
   point, the dogs and handlers are usually given a short break while the
   judges check equipment and weight for the 1 mile cross country freight
   haul! The weight pulled depends on the type of vehicle, with a travois
   pulling 5-15 pounds, a two-wheeled vehicle pulling 25-75 pounds, etc.
   Most competitors use a two-wheeled vehicle, and usually use 25 pound
   weight. The judges must watch the handler load the weight into the
   vehicle, and the weight must be secured for safety, as the cross
   country course includes uphill and downhill maneuvers. The final test
   is the 1 mile cross country freight haul. Again, the dog is off lead,
   using only voice commands and/or hand signals for control. The course
   includes uphill areas, downhill areas, and various footing, usually
   including dirt, grass, blacktop, gravel, sand, etc. At the conclusion
   of the 1 mile freight haul, the judges must observe each handler
   unhitching the dog, in a safe manner. One other "exercise" that is
   included in the test is an "intriguing distraction." This may occur
   anywhere during either the obstacle course or the cross country
   freight haul. It may be almost anything, within certain safety
   restrictions. This has included such things as kids and other dogs
   playing, a rabbit on a leash, and even a radio-controlled car!
   
   The Draft Dog title and the Water Rescue Dog title are included in the
   requirements for an NCA Versatility Newf title. The dog must also
   obtain an AKC Championship and a minimum of an AKC CD title. At this
   point, they are awarded an NCA Versatility Newf title.
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
   
    Working Dogs FAQ
    Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com
    
                                 Hosted by
                                  K9 WEB 

Section 3 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3

© allanswers.org | Terms of use