Waterwork

Waterwork

General Information

The Newfoundland has historically functioned as a working companion to its owner, and members of the breed have participated in many heroic rescues. Performance of these exercises is intended as a demonstration of skills developed through both natural ability and training rather than a competition between dogs or handlers. The emphasis in the Water Tests is on teamwork between dog and handler in realistic work and rescue situations. Efficiency in accomplishment of tasks is essential; however, it is also desirable that the dog evidence willingness and enjoyment of its work in a combination of controlled teamwork and natural independence.

WRDX…Water Rescue Dog Excellent (AKC - NCA)

The following is a rough draft of the proposed exercises for a new level of water rescue. This level is not intended for every dog or for every handler. Instead, these exercises are designed to simulate possible situations in real life as well as to challenge both the instincts of the dogs and the working bond between the handler and dog. In several of the exercises, little room for error is permitted in order for the dog to pass. In a real rescue situation, this would also be the case.

The Working Dog Committee would like to receive feedback from those who have an opportunity to practice the proposed exercises before making revisions to the requirements and before fine tuning the wording of the rules. This includes the indicated possible options for the exercises as well as the proposed time limits.

Please provide your comments and suggestions in writing by 10/10/02. These comments will be discussed within the committee before recommendations are submitted to the NCA Board for approval. We hope to have the new title in place for the 2003 water test season. Again, the following represents a ROUGH DRAFT form of the proposed WRDX exercises:

Exercise #1: Multiple Person Rescue

Standard of Performance

A boat with two persons on board is rowed out 75 feet from shore. An anchor may be dropped or a permanent anchor may be previously set and the boat clipped in place to the anchor. At a signal from the judge, both stewards will go over the side of the boat, simulating an accident taking place as the dog and handler enter the testing area with the dog off leash. Both stewards will hang onto the back edge of the boat. With the presence of wind and the waves at some test sites, the persons in distress may occasionally be seen by the dog/handler team, or this may be a semi-blind exercise for the dog. The stewards may not call the dog by name. Calls by the stewards should be for help, rather than this exercise appearing to be a recall exercise.

When the dog is sent by the handler, he must swim directly to the boat and may not head back towards shore for re-direct by the handler. The dog must swim close enough to either victim for that steward to take hold of the dog without losing his/her grip and having to lunge for the dog. The victim will be towed back to wading depth for the dog. While the dog is in the act of rescuing the first victim, the second steward may quietly hold onto the boat.

The handler should wade into the water to greet the victim and dog as they are reaching wading depth for the dog in order to assist/complete the rescue. Once the victim grasps hands with the handler and is helped to his/her feet, the dog should be sent from that point back to rescue the second victim. The second steward will begin calling for help as soon as the dog is commanded to return to the boat by the handler. The dog shall swim directly to the second steward without turning back for re-direct by the handler. The dog must swim close enough to the victim so that he/she may reach for the dog without the steward having to lose his/her grip on the boat and having to lunge for the dog. As with the rescue of the first steward, the handler should be at wading depth for the dog in order to assist the victim. The handler shall grasp hands with the victim and help the steward to his feet. The judge will signal completion of the exercise.

*An option for the dog would be to bring in both stewards at the same time to wading depth for the dog, where the handler waits to assist the stewards to their feet prior to the judge signaling completion of the exercise.

Principal Parts of the Exercise

1. The dog swims directly to the stewards in distress without turning back for re-direction.

2. The dog swims close enough for the stewards to reach the dog without losing their grip on the boat.

3. The handler grasps the hand of the victim and helps the steward to his/her feet before sending the dog back for the second victim from that spot.

4. The handler grasps the hand of the 2nd victim and helps that steward to his/her feet, at which time the judge will signal completion of the exercise.

5. The dog has the option of bringing in both victims at the same time.

Failing Performance: The dog will fail for any of the failures common to all exercises in the general Water Test Regulations as well as:

1. The dog does not go directly to the boat to rescue the victims.

2. The dog does not swim close enough to the victims so that they can take hold of the dog without leaving the safety of the boat.

3. The dog returns to the boat before completing the rescue of the first victim.

Suggested Time Limit: 4 minutes

Exercise #2 Search for Hidden Rope

Standard of Performance:

A steward will row out 75 feet from shore with the boat positioned with its sides parallel to shore. Either an anchor will be dropped or the boat attached/clipped to a permanent anchor previously set. A 10 ft. floating rope containing a few knots in the rope will be dropped over the side of the boat and out of view of the dog., who will be on shore, under verbal control, and at the side of the handler until instructed to begin. An option being considered is having a bumper attached to the line. The steward will turn away from any eye contact with the dog. If possible, the steward will crouch down in the boat so that the dog will complete this exercise without the aid of a steward in any way. The steward will not call to the dog.

When the judge gives the command to begin the exercise, the dog shall be sent by the handler to swim around the boat to find the rope. The anchor will be quietly pulled up by the steward when the dog grasps hold of the rope so that the boat may be towed. The dog may be re-directed one time provided the dog does not leave the water, using the 3 feet rule.* The judge shall indicate that the exercise is completed when the boat is grounded. The handler must remain on shore.

Suggested time limit: 3 minutes

*Whether the dog should be allowed to turn back for re-direction on any WRDX exercise will later be considered.

Principal Parts of the Exercise:

1. The dog is sent to find the rope, which is to be floating on the far side of the boat.

2. The dog shall tow the boat to shore.

Failing Performance:

The dog will fail for any of the failures common to all exercises within the general Water Test Regulations, and also if:

1. The dog has to be re-directed to the boat more than once.

2. The dog leaves the water before beaching the boat.

Exercise #3: Rescue of an Unconscious Victim

Standard of Performance:

The dog and a designated steward will wait on shore with their backs toward the water. The handler will command the dog to stay in position with the steward and will then swim out 50 feet.* When the handler reaches the required distance, he/she will float on his/her back, as if unconscious, with arms outstretched and eyes closed. The handler will have padding on the arms or hands, in the location where the dog has been trained to rescue a victim.**

The judge will signal the steward holding the dog to “Turn Around” and “Begin”. The steward will “mark” the location of the body in the water for the dog and direct the dog to “Save”. The dog must swim directly to its “unconscious” handler and will grasp a padded arm or hand. The handler must NOT speak to the dog during the rescue. The dog will tow the handler back to wading depth for the dog. When back in wading depth, the handler may “revive” and praise the dog.

Suggested Time Limit: 3 minutes

Principal Parts of the Exercise:

1. The dog will remain on shore with a steward, facing away from the water.

2. The handler tells the dog to “stay” and then swims out 50’ from shore. When the required distance is reached, he/she will float on his/her back with eyes closed and arms outstretched, as if unconscious.

3. Upon direction from a judge, the steward will send the dog to rescue its “unconscious” handler.

4. The dog will swim directly to the handler and will take hold of the designated padded area of the victim’s body (either arm or hand).

5. The dog will tow its handler back to wading depth for the dog.

Failing Performance:

The dog will fail for any of the failures common to all exercises within the general Water Test Regulations, and also for the following:

1. The dog will not “stay” in position with gentle restraint by a steward.

2. The dog does not swim directly to his handler when directed by the steward.

3. The dog turns back after being sent and having entered the water.

4. The dog climbs on the handler or otherwise inflicts pain or injury on the handler (e.g. bites down too hard during towing).

5. The dog fails to tow the handler back to wading depth.

*Another steward may stand behind the dog to block the dog’s vision, should it turn its head.

**Handlers have the option of having their dogs tow them by the arm or by hand, covered by a glove.

"An option being considered is to have the handler send the dog to a steward,
rather than having the hander be rescued. Safety for the steward, however,
is the primary concern. Those who practice this option are urged to share
their comments and experiences regarding the dogs climbing onto or scratching
the steward, who is unable to protect himself."

Exercise #4: Rescue of Victim Under a Capsized Boat

Standards of Performance:

A steward who is a stranger to the dog paddles out in an inflatable boat (rated for 3-4 persons) to the 75 foot marker.* The steward signals the judge when he is in position and ready to capsize the boat. The oars will be attached to the boat in a pre-determined manner. The judge asks the handler, “Are you ready”; then signals the steward to overturn the boat. By shifting his weight to one side, the steward overturns the boat and waits under the boat (by holding on to the inside), completely invisible to the dog. The steward may call “Help” as he would do in a real-life situation; however, it should be understood that the sound will be muffled from under the boat and may be inaudible on shore.** As soon as the boat is overturned, the handler may send the dog. Because of the urgency of the rescue, the dog will not fail for anticipation, provided it does not enter the water before the boat is capsized. The dog swims out immediately and goes under the side of the boat in search of the victim.*** When the dog appears under the boat, the steward will hold onto the dog, and the dog will tow the steward to shore.**** The exercise is complete when the dog reaches wading depth for the dog. A test steward will retrieve the overturned boat in a manner determined by the Test Committee and return it to shore.

*The Test Committee will determine how to get the boat out to the designated location based on the conditions at the site. The boat may be towed out, rowed out by the steward and then the oars attached to the boat in a pre-determined manner, or the boat may be pushed out by stewards and then paddled out the rest of the way by the steward, etc.

**A trained dog will respond to the visual cue of the capsized boat, rather than to the cry for help.

***A trained dog, worthy of a WRDX title should not need to be re-directed in this exercise.

****Instinctively, many dogs will swim under one side of the boat and then out the other side. The steward will need to be prepared to grab onto the dog as it swims under.

Principal Parts of the Exercise:

1. The dog will witness a simulated boating accident of a capsized boat.

2. The dog will swim out to the overturned boat, go under the side of the boat, and rescue the person who is beneath the boat.

3. The “victim” will hold onto the dog, and the dog will tow the victim back to wading depth for the dog.

Failing Performance:

The dog will fail for any of the failures common to all exercises in the Water Test Regulations as well as if:

1. The dog turns back after it has been sent and enters the water.

2. The dog enters the water before the boat has been capsized.

3. The dog does not bring the victim back to wading depth for the dog in the time allowed.

Suggested Time Limits: Ninety (90) seconds is allowed to complete the exercise.

Exercise #5: Rescue of a Stranger

Standards of Performance:

The dog and handler will be on shore. The judge will ask “Are you ready?” and then will instruct the handler “You may proceed”. At that point, the handler must have hands off the dog and/or the dog’s collar. The dog will board a boat and travel with the handler in a safe and controlled manner. The dog and handler have thirty (30) seconds to board and be ready for departure. The thirty (30) second boarding time is separate from the suggested time for completing the exercise itself.

The dog must willingly board the platform on the boat without physical assistance from the handler within the 30 second time limit and remain on the platform, under control, until required to exit. The dog must exit from the platform. The handler is allowed to sit on the platform with his/her feet in the water.

The dog and handler go out in the boat rowed by a steward. The handler may place an arm on the dog during the ride out as long as he/she is not restraining the dog. They will go out 50 feet from shore, and the boat is positioned parallel to shore. As the boat is being rowed out to the required distance, a designated steward will swim quietly out 50 feet from shore and 50 feet from the boat. When directed to do so by the judge, the steward will begin to splash and call for help in a manner realistic for a person in distress. The steward will not call the dog by name. The handler will command the dog to jump from the boat to rescue the steward. The dog must willingly jump without assistance within 15 seconds from the time the judge signaled to the steward to begin the exercise by calling for help. The steward rowing the boat will maintain the general position of the boat by use of an anchor dropped before the victim begins to call for help.

The dog must swim close enough to the victim to allow the steward to grab hold of the dog, and will return to the boat with the steward in tow. When the victim is able to touch hands with the handler at the boat, the judge will blow the whistle to signal completion of the exercise.

Principal Parts of the Exercise:

1. The dog will board the boat willingly, without physical assistance, within the thirty (30) second time limit for boarding.

2. The dog will remain on the platform, under control, until required to exit.

3. The dog will willingly, and without assistance jump from the boat when commanded to do so by the handler within 15 seconds after the signal from the judge to begin the exercise.

4. The dog will swim directly to the victim, without turning back for further direction from the handler, other than to orient himself/herself after the jump.

5. The dog will return to the boat with the victim, who will grasp hands with the handler.

Failing Performance:

The dog will fail for any of the failures common to all exercises within the general Water Test Regulations, and also if:

1. The dog refuses to willingly board the boat. The dog and handler are not aboard and ready for departure within the thirty (30) second time limit.

2. The dog refuses to jump from the boat within 15 (fifteen) seconds.

3. The dog jumps before being commanded to do so by the handler.

4. The dog turns back to the boat before completing the rescue, other than to orient himself after jumping into the water.

5. The dog does not exit the boat from the platform or does not remain under control on the platform during the exercise.

6. The dog is restrained while on the boat.

7. The dog does not return the victim directly to the boat other than after orienting himself to identify the location of the boat after making contact with the victim.

Suggested Time Limit: 90 seconds is allowed to complete the entire exercise; however, the dog MUST jump within 15 (fifteen) seconds. The timing starts when the judge signals the begin of the exercise by having the steward begin to call for help.