Newfoundland Club of America Water Test Regulations
Chapter I - General Regulations
Section 1. Application for Tests
Section 2. Duties Of the Water Test Committee
Section 3. Qualifications of Judges
Section 4. Dogs Eligible to Compete
Section 5. Dogs that May Not Compete
Section 6. Test Disqualifications
Section 7. Handling a Dog
Section 8. Bitches in Season
Section 9. Unentered Dogs
Section 10. Entering at Own Risk
Section 11. Judges Decisions
Section 12. Entry Limitation
Section 13. Entry in Junior Division
Section 14. Entry in Senior Division
Section 15. Qualifying Performance & Awards
Section 16. Changes of Judges, etc.
Section 17. Stewards
Section 18. Test Site Conditions
Section 19. Spectators
Section 20. Emergency Provisions
Section 21. Personal Flotation Devices
Section 1. Application for Tests
A Water Test Committee from a recognized regional club of the Newfoundland Club of America (NCA) may apply to the Working Dog Committee (WDC) of the NCA for permission to sponsor a water test. Application must be made using an approved WDC application. Application packets, which include a list of approved judges, are available from the designated Working Dog Committee member who processes water test applications. The completed application and a required fee (payable to NCA) must be mailed to the designated Working Dog Committee member a minimum of four (4) months, but not more than twelve (12) months, prior to the date of the proposed test. A self-addressed, stamped postcard must be included if verification of application received is requested.
The WDC's approval or rejection of the Water Test Application is usually communicated to the water test chairperson by the designated Working Dog Committee member within forty-five (45) days following the receipt of the completed application. When the Working Dog Committee is considering a regional club's application for an NCA Water Test, the committee considers any past violations of the regulations at its previous tests.
In the event the WDC denies permission for holding the test, the water test committee may appeal to the NCA Board. The Working Dog Committee shall supply the NCA Board their reasons, in writing, for not approving the requested test. The final decision shall be that of the NCA Board.
Section 2. Duties of the Water Test Committee
The water test committee will act as the official representative of the NCA and must enforce these Regulations. Any violations of these Regulations shall be reported in writing and attached to the water test committee's report to the WDC.
The Water Test Committee will prepare a premium list for the water test to distribute to those who request it. The premium list must include the following information:
The date and location of the water test with a detailed description of the test site and other features specific to the test site. This must include information regarding water conditions and the distance from shore where the average Newfoundland dog begins swimming.
The judges' names.
The entry limit, that there will be an alternate list if the entries exceed the limit, and the method for determining alternates as specified in Section 12 Entry Limitation.
The beginning date for accepting entries, which must be no less than ten (10) days after the mailing date of the premium list.
The closing date for accepting entries.
A statement regarding entrant's responsibility for obtaining the current NCA Water Test Regulations.
The name and address of the WDC Publications Secretary from whom entrants can order the NCA Water Test Regulations and notification that the Regulations are also available on the NCA website.
The name and address of the Water Test Secretary to whom the entries shall be sent.
Additional information such as the following: officers and directors of the NCA and regional club; awards; accommodations; directions to test; advertising; any special events and additional activities.
An official NCA entry form containing the notice that a copy of the entered dog's AKC, ILP, or foreign registration paper must be attached.
The Premium List must not be mailed before the regional club receives approval from the NCA WDC to conduct the test.
After the closing date for entries, the Water Test Secretary will notify each exhibitor, at least ten days before the test, of the following information: water test location (including a map and/or written directions), judging time, judges' names, exhibitor number, and any changes in the water test information that occurred since the premium list was sent. If entries exceed the published entry limit, the Water Test Secretary will notify alternates of their position on the alternate list.
The Water Test Secretary will keep a copy of the current NCA Water Test Regulations and Grievance Procedures at the test site for reference.
The Water Test Chairperson will appoint a safety officer. The Safety Officer will be responsible for ensuring that no unentered dogs are permitted in the main testing area at a water test. The Safety Officer will see that all personnel are properly equipped with approved Coast Guard (American or Canadian) flotation devices and are wearing adequate foot protection prior to entering test waters. Each exhibitor is responsible for providing his/her own flotation device as well as proper footwear.
The Water Test Chairperson and Water Test Secretary must each submit reports to the designated Working Dog Committee member within thirty (30) days after the test. The Chairperson's report will include a description of the test, a summary of any problems or complaints registered with the Water Test Committee, and other information requested by the WDC. The Secretary's report will include the judges' report sheets, entrant evaluations, judges' evaluations, marked catalogs, premium lists, and any other materials requested by the WDC.
All required reports submitted to the designated Working Dog Committee member must be postmarked within thirty (30) days from the date of the test in order to receive approval for a subsequent test. The designated Working Dog Committee member may grant an extension provided he/she is contacted prior to the deadline and there is a valid reason.
Section 3. Qualifications of Judges
Before the Water Test Committee applies for permission to sponsor an NCA Water Test, it must select a judging panel from the list of judges who have met the qualifications approved by the WDC and the NCA Board. A current list is available from the designated Working Dog Committee member who maintains the judges’ qualifications records.
Section 4. Dogs Eligible to Compete
The NCA Water Tests shall be open only to purebred Newfoundland dogs at least six (6) months of age by the date of the test. As used in these regulations, the word "dog" refers to either sex. All entries must have an AKC individual or litter registration number, an ILP number, or a foreign individual or litter registration number.
Section 5. Dogs that May Not Compete
No dog belonging wholly or in part to the water test judge, or to any member of such person’s immediate family, shall be entered in any water test at which such person officiates. Lame dogs or dogs that have been taped or bandaged in any way, or have anything attached to them for medical purposes, shall be ineligible to be tested.
Section 6. Test Disqualifications
Judges must immediately disqualify and remove the following from further competition:
Any dog which its handler cannot control.
Any dog which attacks a person or dog on test grounds.
Any handler who deliberately interferes with another handler or dog.
Any handler who behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner in or outside the testing area. (Unsportsmanlike behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following: directing angry or abusive language at a person or dog, mistreating a dog, showing discourtesies to judges, test officials, stewards or others.)
The judges will mark the dog disqualified and state the reason on the official judges' form. The Water Test Secretary will also note the disqualification in the test report to the WDC.
Section 7. Handling a Dog
Each dog shall be handled by the same handler for all exercises.
Section 8. Bitches in Season
Bitches in season will be kept out of the test area and away from all other dogs until called for by the judges. They may perform the Basic Control Exercise after all other dogs have been judged on that exercise. At least one other "volunteer" female will perform the One Minute Down with the bitch in season.
Bitches in season shall be judged on the water exercises at the conclusion of judging for that day. When Junior and Senior Division entries are judged on the same day, any Junior Division bitches in season shall be judged after other regular judging for both divisions has been completed, followed by the Senior Division bitches in season. This applies to two (2) day tests which are held back to back as well. For two (2) day tests where the Junior Division entries are judged on one day and the Senior Division entries on another, any Junior Division bitches in season will be judged at the conclusion of the Junior judging and any Senior Division bitches in season will be judged at the conclusion of the Senior Division judging.
Section 9. Unentered Dogs
The appointed Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that all unentered dogs are kept outside and away from the designated test area.
Section 10. Entering at Own Risk
Entrants participate in an NCA Water Test at their own risk. Entrants agree to abide by the NCA Water Test Regulations and the Constitution and By-laws of the NCA.
Section 11. Judges' Decisions
At the test, the decisions of the judges are final in all matters affecting the scoring and working ability of the dogs and their handlers. The judges are in sole charge of the Water Test area until their assignment is complete. A dog must be marked passing on every exercise by both judges in order to qualify for a WD or a WRD title.
Section 12. Entry Limitation
Once test approval is received from the NCA Working Dog Committee, the Water Test Committee can determine the date it will accept entries, and the date will be published in the premium list. This date must be at least ten (10) days after the mailing of the premium list.
Maximum entries to be judged are thirty (30) dogs per test day. If a water test committee anticipates an entry in excess of its facilities for a water test, it may limit entries to less than thirty (30). In setting entry limits, a test committee should consider that, on the average, judges can usually judge five (5) Junior Division entries per hour and three (3) Senior Division entries per hour.
A prominent announcement of such limits must appear on the title or cover page of the premium list with the statement that entries in one or both divisions of the test will automatically close when a certain limit or limits have been reached, even though the official closing date for entries has not arrived. Priority will be given to entries that have not earned titles in the division entered. Titled dogs may be entered for judging (requalification) if entry limits have not been filled, and the entry form must state that the entry is for requalification. Under no circumstances can the published entry limit be changed.
Entries will be accepted by mail only. The entry slots will be filled according to the postmark date. If the number of entries with the same date exceeds the number of available slots, a drawing will take place to fill the vacancies and determine the alternates. All entries received after the entry limit is filled will be placed on an "alternate list" by order of those without titles, in order of postmark, followed by requalifiers in order of postmark. If absentees or withdrawals occur prior to the start of the test, the test secretary will substitute entries from the alternate list. When notifying exhibitors of their entry numbers, exhibitors on the alternate list will be notified of their position on the list. Entrants who learn they will be unable to attend a water test must contact the test secretary immediately so exhibitors on the alternate list may be notified. Entry fee will be refunded if withdrawal of entry is done before the closing date of the Water Test.
Section 13. Entry in Junior Division
Entry in Junior Division is open to dogs with the following stipulations:
Any eligible dog that has not yet earned a WD title may enter the Junior Division.
Any dog that has earned a WD may enter as a requalifying WD. However, if the dog passes the Junior Division, the dog may not be post entered in Senior Division at the same test. Any entry for requalification will be accepted only if the limit for the test (overall limit or division limit, as listed in the premium list) is not exceeded.
Any dog that has earned a WRD may enter as a requalifying WD. If the dog passes Junior Division, the dog may not be post entered in Senior Division at the same test.
If a dog earns its WD after the closing date of a subsequent test in which it is entered, the handler may choose to requalify the dog in the Junior Division at the future test if these conditions exist: A.) There are no untitled alternates available to fill the dog's space, and B.) The entry as a requalifier will not exceed the maximum entry limit of the Junior Division, if a limit is stated in the premium list. If there is no space available in the Junior Division and the handler chooses not to change the entry to Senior Division, then the entry fee will be returned to the entrant.
Section 14. Entry in Senior Division
Only dogs which have passed the Junior Division shall be eligible to be tested in the Senior Division.
If a dog entered in the Junior Division has passed a Junior Division test after the closing date for entries, the entry may be transferred from the Junior to the Senior Division. To transfer the entry from Junior to Senior Division, the handler must submit to the Water Test Secretary a signed statement listing the name of the dog, the date and location of the Water Test passed, the judges' names, and the name and address of the owners. A change of entry from Junior to Senior must be received by 6:00 p.m. the night before the test.
A dog that has earned a WRD may enter as a requalifying WRD. Any entry for requalification will be accepted only if the limit for the test (overall limit or division limit, as listed in the premium list) is not exceeded.
Dogs which successfully fulfill the requirements for a Water Dog title at a test may be post-entered in the Senior Division at that test and will be tested at the conclusion of Senior Division judging. There will be an additional entry fee. The handler will be allowed to test his dog only until it fails an exercise.
Section 15. Qualifying Performance & Awards
For a dog to receive a qualifying performance, both judges must mark the dog with a passing performance for each exercise in the division entered. A dog receiving a qualifying performance in Junior Division is entitled to use the title "Water Dog" in any Newfoundland Club of America activity. "WD" is the abbreviation for the Water Dog title. A dog receiving a qualifying performance in the Senior Division is entitled to use the title "Water Rescue Dog" in any activity. "WRD" is the abbreviation for the Water Rescue Dog title.
Section 16. Changes of Judges, Water Test Officials, or Site
If a Water Test Committee is informed at any time prior to the opening of its water test that an advertised judge cannot fulfill his/her engagement to judge, the Water Test Committee will substitute a judge from the NCA WDC Approved Judges List. The designated NCA Working Dog Committee member (who processed the water test application) or the WDC Chairperson (in case the designated person cannot be reached) must be notified to approve the substitution. This may be done by phone, mail or electronic means; however, if the request is made by phone, a follow-up letter must be sent to the designated NCA Working Dog Committee member (who processed the water test application) with a full explanation. The designated member must notify the other WDC members of the change and the reason for the request. If time permits, a written notice should be mailed to the exhibitors.
In the unlikely event that a judge becomes ill or is unable to fulfill the judging assignment on the day of a test or during a test, and the designated WDC member or Chairperson cannot be reached according to the procedures described above, the test committee may substitute an Approved Water Test Judge who is in attendance at the test to fulfill the assignment. If an approved judge is not available, a qualified person with considerable water test training and exhibiting experience (See Chapter Two, Section 1, paragraph 2 on Qualifications of Judges) may be appointed by the Test Committee to fulfill the assignment. The designated WDC member or Chairperson must be notified of the substitution as soon as possible, and a full explanation for the substitution, including the qualifications of the substitute judge, must be included in the test chairperson's report.
Prior to the start of the test or substitute judging assignment, the change must be posted. Exhibitors have the right to withdraw their entry if they choose not to exhibit under the substitute judge, and their entry fee will be refunded.
In the event a site must be changed, the Water Test Committee should make every effort to secure a suitable site within twenty-five miles of the original site.
If, because of natural disasters, civil disturbances, or other acts beyond the control of the test-giving club, it is impossible to start or complete the test, no refund of entry fees will be made.
Section 17. Stewards
Stewards assist the judges, and they may act only on the judges' instructions. Stewards will not give information or instructions to owners and entrants except as specifically instructed by a judge, and then only in such a manner that it is clear that the instructions are those of the judge. Exhibitors are not permitted to give instructions to the stewards. Any harassment of stewards must be reported immediately to the judges.
Care must be exercised to ensure the calling steward(s) are not overly familiar with a dog being tested. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The steward(s) has cared for the dog within the past year.
The steward(s) has trained with the dog frequently within the past year.
The steward(s) has trained the dog for obedience, conformation, or working events.
In no case should a member of the owner's or handler's immediate family steward exercises for their own dog, a dog they co-own, or for one with which they are overly familiar.
For consistency in the test, calling steward(s) should be prepared to steward for the entire test. Changes of stewards should be limited to substitution for a steward that is ill or in distress.
Section 18. Test Site Conditions
The area designated for water testing shall be sectioned off in some way. The usable waterfront must be a minimum of seventy-five (75) feet. The water should extend at least 200 feet from the shore. The testing area should have a gradual drop off and must permit the dogs to be swimming within twenty (20) feet of shore. If water depths change due to unforeseen circumstances, after the site has been approved, the required distances for an exercise will be increased up to twenty (20) feet, as needed, so that the dogs will be swimming as prescribed in the exercises. Markers will be moved to reflect the change in distances. If time permits, exhibitors will be notified of the change of distances in advance. Water must be free of unmarked hazardous objects. There must be an area suitable for the underwater retrieve.
There must be a shaded area provided for entered dogs to be crated or confined when they are not being tested.
Section 19. Spectators
Since Newfoundlands working under natural conditions may be in places where there are extraneous sounds, spectators are encouraged to applaud and cheer for performing dogs as they return to shore with the article or rescue victim. However, spectators must not interfere with the performance in any way. Judges may use their discretion to determine what constitutes interference.
Section 20. Emergency Provisions
The Water Test Committee should take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of all involved. There must be a telephone available at the test site. It is recommended that the services of a veterinarian be available during the water test. The veterinarian may be "on call" if services are available within a short distance of the test site; otherwise, the veterinarian must be on site. Information regarding after hours emergency care for dogs and people should be available to entrants and committee members. A first-aid kit is required, and a backboard is recommended.
Section 21. Personal Flotation Devices
It is mandatory that any person entering the test water or embarking on a water craft must wear an approved Coast Guard (American or Canadian) flotation device and some form of foot protection.
The Water Test Committee is responsible for equipping their stewards and personnel with these devices. The safety officer is responsible for ensuring the compliance with the above regulations. The judges shall mark any exhibitor who refuses to comply with these regulations "excused" from further testing.
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