Section E Water Test

EXERCISE 1 - Take out life buoy / jacket to stranger

• excessive anticipation or lack of control;
• hesitation in entering the water;
• not swimming directly to the water steward;
• not turning when instructed;
• not keeping hold of the article;
• not swimming directly back to the shore;
• not bringing the steward to shallow water
• not leaving the water when instructed.

• exceeding the 4 minute limit for completing the exercise.
• attempting to climb on the water steward.
• physical redirection.

• The Judge on the day will select either,
  1. a life ring/buoy
  2. a life jacket/buoyancy aid
  to be the article for the day and it will be the same for each dog. When making his selection the Judge will take into account their suitability having regard to all the circumstances.
• The selected article can be given to the dog before it enters the water or thrown no more than 6 metres so that it is slightly in front of the dog as it leaves the shore.
• To effect a safe pick-up the dog should preferably turn behind the water steward but it may turn in front or to the side; however it must be a close turn as the article must be presented within arms reach of the steward so that he can easily take hold of it.

EXERCISE 2 - Search for hidden rope and tow boat to shore

Desired performance - Out of sight of the dog, the boat will be positioned at least 30 metres from the shore with a steward holding the boat in position. The boat steward must make himself as inconspicuous as possible so as not to attract the dog's attention in any way, but still be able to see the dog. The dog will remain on shore under control, at the side of the owner, until instructed to begin. When instructed, the owner will command the dog to swim out to the boat. On reaching the boat, the dog will swim around the boat to find the rope that will be hanging loosely with the end in the water. The dog will take up the rope and use it to tow the boat back to the shore. The Judge shall indicate that the exercise is complete when the boat is within reach of the owner.

• excessive anticipation or lack of control;
• hesitation in entering the water;
• not swimming directly to the boat;
• not circling close to the boat when instructed;
• not swimming directly back to the shore;
• dropping the rope on the swim back;
• not bringing the boat to shallow water;
• not leaving the water when instructed.

• exceeding the 4 minute limit for completing the exercise.
• attempting to enter the boat.
• physical redirection.

• The tow rope must float and not have anything at the towing end, as approved by the Judge, other than a plain back-splice or whipping. The rope shall be between 35 and 65 mm in circumference and heat sealed where necessary.
• The rope will held (firmly) by a steward at one end, it will not be attached to the boat, one end will be left loosely hanging over the side with at least the end in the water; the rope may not be over the side facing the shore at the start of the exercise.
• The boat steward should ensure that there is only one rope hanging over the side; all extraneous ropes must be removed or moved out of the way.
• 'Out of the view of the dog' is at the choice of the owner and could just be facing away from the water, or taking the dog away from the test area while the exercise is set up.
  
  

EXERCISE 3 - Directed tow of one of two persons

Desired performance - The exercise will be set up out of sight of the dog. When called forward the dog will remain on shore under control, at the side of the owner until instructed to begin. Two water stewards (who are strangers to the dog) will have entered the water from a boat so that they are both at least 30 metres out, about 10 metres apart and both vertical in the water, facing the shore. The Judge will inform the owner which steward the dog has to tow. Depending on the random selection, both stewards will be either noisy and splash in the water or both will remain calm and quiet. When instructed, the owner will command the dog from its position mid way between the two water stewards to swim out to the randomly selected steward. In this particular exercise the owner must stay on land at the midway point, directing the dog only by verbal/visual commands and not move until the dog commences the exercise. The dog will swim directly to the selected steward, effect a safe pick-up and return with him back to the shore. The Judge shall indicate that the exercise is complete when the steward is in shallow water near the shore. The other water steward will then return to the shore.

• excessive anticipation or lack of control;
• hesitation in entering the water when commanded by the owner;
• not swimming directly to the person;
• not effecting a safe pick-up;
• not swimming directly back to the shore;
• not bringing the steward to shallow water;
• not leaving the water when instructed.

• exceeding the 4 minute limit for completing the exercise.
• attempting to climb on either water steward.
• physical redirection.
• coming within arms reach of the 'wrong' steward.

• Prior to the boat leaving shore the water stewards will find out if they are both to be noisy or quiet, by random selection. The steward to be collected (Left or Right) will also be randomly selected and will be known to the owner just before the water stewards get out of the boat and into position; they will, therefore, not necessarily be the same for each dog.
• The dog is encouraged to wear a harness to provide a safe handhold when towing. To effect a safe pick-up when approaching the steward, although the dog may turn either close enough in front or to their side for him to take hold, it is preferable for it or turn safely behind him.
• The owner is not permitted to launch the dog into the water by moving with the dog in the direction of the selected steward.
• If the dog comes within reach of the 'wrong' steward then they will hold on and get towed back to the shore.
• Attention is drawn to the Explanatory Note 7 at the front of these Regulations which explains the situation concerning dogs taking hold with the mouth.

EXERCISE 4 - Jump and take a rope to a stranger in another boat and be pulled in.

Desired performance - The dog will enter the boat and be taken about 25 metres from the shore with the owner, the boat steward and a Judge; another boat with a steward and its boat steward, neither of which are known to the dog and the other Judge will be the same distance from the shore but at least 15 metres away. To ensure the boats remain in their set positions of at least 15 metres apart they will be anchored, where possible. When given the signal to begin, the owner will command the dog, with the steward in the other boat calling out for the dog to come to the boat, the steward will continue to call the dog until the dog is within touching distance. The dog will enter the water, be handed or take one end of the rope in its mouth and swim directly to the other boat. As the dog gets sufficiently near to the other boat the steward will actively attempt to get hold of the rope but without endangering himself or the dog. When the steward has the end of the rope, he will secure it to the boat. While he is doing this the dog will be required to swim calmly in the water until instructed to approach the boat again, when it will be carefully pulled aboard in a safe manner. The Judge shall indicate that the exercise is complete when the boats are connected by the rope and the dog is in the second boat.

• not entering the boat safely at the shore;
• excessive anticipation or lack of control;
• hesitation in entering the water when commanded by the owner;
• not taking the end of rope when instructed;
• not swimming directly to the other boat;
• dropping the rope during the swim;
• not taking the rope directly to the steward;
• not swimming calmly while waiting to be taken aboard.

• exceeding the 4 minute limit for completing the exercise.
• not exiting the boat in the first 30 seconds of the exercise.
• owner physically assisting in the exit from the boat.
• attempting to enter or re-enter either boat.
• physical redirection.

• The rope must float and not have anything at the end other than a plain back-splice or whipping. The rope shall be between 35 and 65 mm in circumference, heat sealed where necessary and be of sufficient length (at least 20 m) to reach between the two boats.
• The dog can be given the end of the rope before it jumps overboard or have its commands supplemented by splashing or tossing the end of rope into the water. The boat steward is not permitted to use the dog's name.
• The owner must remain in the first boat until the test is completed.