Test Opportunities

The three UK Newfoundland breed clubs hold regular tests at various locations around the country. You'll find links to their web sites on our Links page.

Muddy Paws are hosting two Test Events at Grangewaters during 2009, the next being on Sunday 16 August.

Newfoundland Club Water Tests
Each dog has to pass level ‘A’ before attempting level ‘B’ and so on up to Level ‘E’. The exercises within each test level are designed on the ‘building block’ principle. This means that what the dog and owner have learnt in the lower levels is expanded upon in training for the higher levels. The exercises within each test level are briefly summarised below;

SECTION A

Exercise 1 - Swim out 15 metres to boat
Exercise 2 - Swim out 15 metres to handler or stranger
Exercise 3 - Retrieve familiar object from 6 metres

SECTION B

Exercise 1 - Tow boat back 20 metres
Exercise 2 - Tow handler or stranger from 20 metres
Exercise 3 - Retrieve provided object from 6 metres
Exercise 4 - Retrieve of object from 20 centimetres under water
Exercise 5 - Controlled swim

SECTION C

Exercise 1 - Jump from boat and tow from 25 to 30 metres to shore
Exercise 2 - Tow stranger from 25 metres
Exercise 3 - Retrieve object from 15 metres
Exercise 4 - Controlled swim

SECTION D

Exercise 1 - Take coil of rope out to a boat and tow it back to shore
Exercise 2 - Tow stranger to a boat
Exercise 3 - Directed retrieve of one of two objects
Exercise 4 - Search for hidden stranger and tow to shore

SECTION E

Exercise 1 - Take out life buoy/jacket to stranger
Exercise 2 - Search for hidden rope and tow boat to shore
Exercise 3 - Directed tow of one of two persons
Exercise 4 - Jump and take a rope to a stranger in another boat

The Newfoundland Test Regulations can be found on the Newfoundland Club website and it is important to read these if you wish to enter your dog, as the specific requirements of the dog and handler are detailed. Also, the roles and responsibilities of the test manager, referee, judges and stewards are laid out.

Towing a boat back to shore

Towing a stranger back to shore

Taking a life ring to a stranger