Water Dog & Water Rescue Dog Regulation Updates - 2007

Effective April, 2007:
The NCA Board has recently looked at ways to make our Water tests more efficient.  We have had some tests where few spectators have stayed to the end because the tests have gone on so long.  Some of the handlers have not even stayed until closing ceremonies due to the length of time involved in putting on the entire test.  The following items have been approved by the Board:

*Individual clubs will decide in what order the WD, WRD and WRDX levels should be offered each day, based on their site, any current issues and manpower considerations. 

*Bitches in season will continue to be tested last, with the least experienced bitches (WD level) followed by WRD level, and up to the “girls” most experienced (WRDX) for the given day.

*Each division will continue to have their own pre-swim time.  However, all pre-test swim times will now be limited to 15 minutes for each division.  It is strongly suggested that judges use the pre-swim time to meet with the stewards.  Or, test committees might have the handlers bring their equipment up to the designated location prior to pre-swim time, with judges checking the equipment of each handler as they come out of the water after having finished their individual pre-swim.  These suggestions should positively impact the pre-testing time.

*Dogs that fail an exercise while being tested at the WD and WRD levels will now be given a very short window in which to complete an exercise once failed.  If stewards are involved in a particular exercise that has been failed, they should be signaled by the judges to immediately move in closer to the dog.  Once the failing whistle has blown, the handler will have ONE brief opportunity to go in and gently take the dog by the collar to finish the exercise WITH the dog.  The exercise is to be called off and the testing area immediately re-set to the next exercise if this single attempt of assistance is not successful, or if the exhibitor does not go in quickly to assist the dog after the whistle is blown.  It is recognized that dogs may have another test coming up and the handler may not want the dog to go on without completing each exercise.  If this is the case, the handler should move quickly to help the dog to be a success, rather than using additional time to attempt to persuade the dog verbally from the beach to complete the exercise once the failing whistle has been blown by the judges.

*As a result of judging concerns about the changes they see in equipment, please note the section in the Water Test Regulations dealing with equipment.  A slight variance of ¼ to ½ inches is allowed for the oars used in the senior division based on differences in manufacturing of these items.  Cushion and jacket straps may be tied up or tied together for safety.  However, the overall appearance of the articles should be as they were purchased from the store, and should meet the intent of the Regulations for their use in so far as possible. 

Water Rescue Dog Excellent Regulation Updates - 2007

Effective April, 2007:
The NCA Board has recently looked at ways to make our Water tests more efficient.  We have had some tests where few spectators have stayed to the end because the tests have gone on so long.  Some of the handlers have not even stayed until closing ceremonies due to the length of time involved in putting on the entire test.  The following items have been approved by the Board:

*Individual clubs will decide in what order the WD, WRD and WRDX levels should be offered each day, based on their site, any current issues and manpower considerations. 

*Bitches in season will continue to be tested last, with the least experienced bitches (WD level) followed by WRD level, and up to the “girls” most experienced (WRDX) for the given day.

*At the WRDX level of testing, each exercise is considered “over” as soon as a failing whistle is blown.  Judges will signal to the stewards to begin to prepare for the next exercise as soon as any WRDX dog fails to complete an individual exercise.  Time is not allowed at this level for training or to see if the dog can complete the exercise with a little help from the handler.  The average time for each dog who is successful in earning a WRDX title is one half hour per dog.  Test committees plan the testing of other divisions, departure times for the judges, etc. with this in mind.  Allowing extra time for dogs who are not passing one or more WRDX exercise can throw the schedule off for the day.  In some cases several hours in addition to what has been planned for the entire Water test event are added when WRDX level dogs are allowed time beyond clear failure of an exercise to continue to work.  In addition, the FITNESS CERTIFICATION requirement was established with the amount of time for dogs to pass their WRDX test in mind.  Dogs who might otherwise be considered to be in shape might end up in a distress situation because of an unplanned length of time in the water trying to finish each exercise if allowed to continue to practice after failing.  Once the whistle is blown the dogs should be brought in quickly so that the next exercise can be set up.

*Please remember that the “COMFORT BREAK” time allowed once during testing for WRDX dogs is not intended to be used as a rest period.   Should the handler ask the judges to be allowed to take their dog off the beach ONCE for the purpose of the optional “COMFORT BREAK”, the dog will be expected to respond to the suggestion given by the handler to take advantage of this opportunity very quickly.  Otherwise, the handler will be asked by the judge to immediately bring their dog back to the beach to continue testing.   The “COMFORT BREAK” is intended for those WRDX level dogs carrying  a lot of water to have one very brief moment to leave the beach and relive themselves if they need to.  There should be almost no interruption in the flow of testing.  As a reminder, dogs who relieve themselves on the beach at any level of water testing do not fail.

*WRDX potential dogs may be certified for fitness using retrieves thrown from a boat, with the exhibitor swimming with the dog, with the dog swimming behind or alongside of a boat, or with the exhibitor standing beyond swimming depth for the dog while throwing multiple retrieves for the dog within the 6 minutes being timed by the judge.  These are all acceptable variations to evaluate fitness.  The judges will always be certain that the dog does not touch bottom while in the process of the fitness evaluation, or the timing will have to be re-started.  Once the dog has completed swimming for 6 minutes, the dog should be brought to land and evaluated to be certain they are able to resume normal breathing within a few minutes.  The judge will picture completion of the longest exercise, followed by normal time to set up the boat or stewards for another exercise, which usually takes a few minutes.  The dogs should be fit enough to be ready to swim again in the normal time that it takes for everything to be in place for another testing exercise to begin.

*Remember that your entry into a water test at the WRDX level is not valid without the fitness certification, signed by a Water test judge attached.  The only exception would be those very rare instances where the potential handler indicates to the test secretary in advance that arrangements have already been made with one of the two judges for a fitness certification evaluation to take place the night before the water test.  If this is the case for your dog, you will need to provide a copy of the fitness certificate, signed by one of the judges to the Water test secretary before the start of the Water test.  The fitness certificate is good for that entire water test season.  However, dogs who have not been deemed to have adequate fitness must wait the required 30 days to obtain additional strength and endurance prior to being re-tested.

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