Page 95 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

Working Activities
The Breed Clubs in the U.K. have an agreed
set of both Water and Draught tests that aim
to replicate some of the early functions of
the breed. The tests are designed to be non-
competitive and work on the building block
principle, so the basic elements that need to
be achieved in the lower level tests provide the
foundation for the more advanced levels. The
Water tests start at the basic level ‘A Test’ which
includes activities such as swimming out to a
boat or a simulated drowning stranger, a basic
retrieve of an article from the water and dogs
progress through the levels where they need
to demonstrate activities such as being able to
swim safely alongside their owner through to
the highest level where at ‘Test E’ dogs, who
must be at least 2 years old to attempt this level,
complete much more complex exercises and
include the following elements: taking out a life
jacket from the shoreline to a drowning stranger,
search for a hidden rope and using it to tow the
boat to shore, following the commands of the
owner to perform a directed retrieve from the
water of a stranger and jumping from a boat and
taking a rope to a person in another boat. All
exercises have to be performed within a set time
limit.
Some dogs just love to swim – and that’s fine
too, training for the tests is not essential and
there are many working groups training across
the UK and their details can be found on the
Newfoundland Club’s website. Water safety
is of paramount importance and owners are
encouraged to train with a recognised group
rather than embarking on water work on their
own.
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020
In the Draught (Carting) tests there are again 5
Levels, ‘Beginners’ and Levels 1 to 4. A degree
of general obedience is essential if a dog is to
pull a cart, and this is assessed in ‘Beginners’
along with a very basic ‘haul’ of a log or a cart.
Again, the levels progress in difficulty through to
‘Level 4’ where there are three main elements,
the ‘Control Section’ which essentially is an
off lead obedience type course and includes
the demonstrating of safe harnessing and
unharnessing of the dog, a Group ‘Down Stay’
and ‘Manoeuvring Section’ where the dog,
harnessed and pulling his cart, follows a set
course of turns, circles, obstacles, narrow areas
and demonstrates the ability of reversing. The
final element is the ‘Haul’, part which includes
the cart laden with a 20 kg weight, over varying
terrains and encountering natural obstacles
some of which require the unhitching of the cart.
The distance for this element is 3 to 4 miles and
it is essential that ‘man and dog’ work together
in unison.
A Certificate of Merit is awarded to dogs that
have passed a test on five separate occasions
at different venues and involving at least four
different judges. This certificate is awarded
in recognition of the dedication of the owner
and the consistency of the dog in being able
to perform at the pass level over a number of
months and in differing circumstances.
A Diploma is awarded to dogs who pass at
Section E or Level 4 on multiple occasions with
95