|
 As a working dog the Newfoundland is at home on the water as on land. They possess a natural instinct to rescue and to be a nurse maid. Strong and muscular with a heavy coat needed for protection from the cold water. Newfs are also intelligent, very loyal, rounded out by a sweet disposition. They love kids and water. There are many historic accounts of newfoundlands in rescue situations.
The NCA has a two part test for water rescue, which once complete gives the dog another title or two. These are Water Dog (WD) and Water Rescue Dog (WRD) or JR. and Sr. levels. These are based on a pass/fail test to a standard of exercises.
 Junior Exercises:
Basic Control; off lead controlled walking, recall, downstay.
Single Retrieve,
Drop Retrieve,
Take a Line,
Tow a Boat and
Swim with handler.
Pull Poz...Pull!!
 Senior Exercises:
Double Retrieve, Take a Lifering, Underwater Retrieve, Take a Line/Tow a Boat, Retrieve from Boat and Rescue from boat
Drop Retrieve- Jr. Water
 The Newfoundland being a working dog was bred for many duties. They were used by fisherman not only for their water abilities but also helped cart the fish to market. Today the NCA has a test for a draft dog title.
This can also be performed as a team. (2dogs)
There are also other ways to have fun carting with your newf some are (but only limited by your imagination) parades, sledding, skijoring (being pulled by dogs in
harness while cross-country skiing) and therapy work. As with any activity you must have a dog that is obedient.
In the NCA draft
test handler and dog must complete certain exercises to a set of standards on a pass/fail. The criteria for a draft title are:
Basic Control; consists of heel off lead, recall, downstay. Harnessing, Hitching, and Equipment Check Maneuvering course and Basic Control Freight Load Distance Freight Haul Intriguing Distraction
In the team division the handler does the same exercises as above only with
two dogs
together.
|
A Victorian era painting entitled "Saved", by Sir Edwin Landseer in 1856, and a similar picture "He is Saved" by Currier and Ives depict a Black & White Newfoundland on a beach with a small girl who was just rescued by the dog from drowning, immortalizing this Newfoundland trait
The Newfoundland was extensively featured in the art of the Victorian age, depicted by Landseer in many paintings and drawings, as well as by other artists. A later painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir in 1878 features a Newfoundland. The black and white Newfoundland is referred to as a Landseer in respect to Sir Edwin Landseer.
Newfoundland dog - Tow a Boat - Water Test. Northern California
Newfoundland dog - Swim With Handler
Newfoundland dog - Single Retrieve - Jr. Water
Take a line to a drowning person - Newfoundland Dog Test-
|
