Watercubs & Kivisilmän

working show-quality newfoundlands

FINLAND:
(Bitches in heat are NOT allowed to compete. The dog is NOT allowed to use a lifejacket (harness permitted provided that the rescue is done using a harness). Handler is only allowed to handle one dog in every class (e.g. one dog in junior, beginners and open class, but NOT two dogs in beginners class etc. Dogs must be Kennel Club registered (in your own country) to participate. You will be able to buy a working booklet from the test. )

Junior class (unofficial class for Newfoundlands and Landseers only between 6-12 months)
(two handlers are allowed)

Exercises: 
1. Dog jumps from boat which is at 30 meters and swims to shore.
- maximum points 25p
- maximum time 4 minutes. Time starts when on the judge's whistles and stops when the dog passes the finish line. The dog must jump from the boat within 30 seconds.
- if there is only one handler, the dog must stay in the boat without help. If there are two handlers, the 2nd handler can hold the dog in the boat until handler 1 (on shore) calls. 
- Handlers may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults (extra commands = minus points)

2. Towing a boat to shore from 30m.
- Dog leaves from shore, swims to boat and tows boat (from its rope) to shore.
- maximum points 25p
- maximum time 4 minutes. Time starts when on the judge's whistles and stops when the dog passes the finish line. The dog must cross the start line within 30 seconds.
- one handler can be on shore and the other in the boat calling the dog. Handlers may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults. 

General minus points:
- dog is helped to the water without touching dog -2,5 p  (the dog is not allowed to be helped out of the boat)
- over 6 commands, every extra command: - 0,5 p
- over time, no points gained
- dog leaves boat over 5m's from shore, no points gained.
- dog leaves boat under 5 m from shore, -1 p/m
- dog arrives outside poles, -0,5 p/m
- starting before whistle -5 p.
- the handler is not allowed to enter the water, splash it etc.
- toys are not allowed in the exercises.

Max points 50.

43 - 50p. /1st prize
36 - 42p. /2 prize
30 - 35p. /3 prize

Beginners class and SOVE (official classes)
(Beginners class for all Newfoundlands and Landseers over 12 months that have not competed in Finland before)
(SOVE for all breeds over 12 months that have not completed in Finland before; must get over 60/100p to proceed to competing in Open class. Two tries.)

Two handlers are allowed. They may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults. Treats/toys are not allowed in the exercise/shore area. The dog must start the exercise (jump from boat, swim past the start line) within 30 seconds from the start of the exercise.

Exercises: 
1. Dog jumps from boat which is at 50 meters and swims to shore.
- maximum points 25p
- maximum time 4 minutes. Time starts on the judge's whistle and ends when the dog crosses the finish line. The dog must jump from the boat within 30 seconds.
- if there is only one handler, the dog must stay in the boat without help. If there are two handlers, the 2nd handler can hold the dog in the boat until handler 1 (on shore) calls. 
- Handlers may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults (extra commands = minus points)

2. Taking a toy from shore to the boat at 30m.
The dog starts from the shore, takes a hold of the bumper and takes it to a 2nd handler in the boat. The exercise ends when the second handler in the boat has the article.
- The toy can be your own article as long as it is accepted by the judge (anything that floats, no balls).
- the toy must be given, not thrown in the water/ground
- maximum points 25p
- maximum time 4 minutes. Time starts on the judge's whistle and ends when the dog crosses the finish line. The dog must cross the start line within 30 seconds.
- one handler can be on shore and the other in the boat calling the dog. Handlers may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults. 
- if there is only one handler, he/she must be on the shore.

3. Towing a boat to shore from 30m.
- Dog leaves from shore, swims to boat and tows boat (from its rope) to shore.
- maximum points 25p
- maximum time 4 minutes. Time starts on the judge's whistle and ends when the dog crosses the finish line. The dog must cross the start line within 30 seconds.
- one handler can be on shore and the other in the boat calling the dog. Handlers may use up to 6 commands per exercise without faults. 

Minus points:
-over the time indicated, no points
-dog is helped into water (without touching) -5p [touching the dog is a fail]
-over 6 commands, -1p/command
-dog leaves boat/person/dummy over 5m's from shore/boat, no points gained.
-dog leaves boat/person/dummy under 5 m from shore/boat, -1 p/m
- dog arrives outside poles, -0,5 p/m
-starts before whistle, -5p. [If the dog has his feet up on the side of the boat before jumping, it is regarded as "start before whistle"]
-dog doesn’t take boat rope or drowner's bumper on first command, -2p/extra command
-rope is thown into water -5p (in tow a boat exercise)

90 - 100 points 1.prize
80 - 89 points 2. prize
65 - 79 points 3. prize (passed)

The dog must get 3 x 1st prize to continue to Open class.
 

Open class:
(one handler only. Three commands per exercise are allowed without faults.)

Exercises: 
1. Swimming and getting boat 50m.
Dog jumps from boat A, which is at 50m. Boat B is at 30m. Dog jumps from boat A, when the dog is 10m from boat B a rope is thrown into the water. The dog must take the rope and tow the boat (B) back to shore. The dog must arrive between the poles. The time starts when the judge whistles and ends when the dog has passed the poles.
Maximum points 25. Time 4 minutes.

2. Taking an object from the shore to the boat 30m.
Before the start of the exercise and article is chosen by the judge. The object can be either 1. dummy 2. rope 3. lifevest. The dog and owner are at the shore. Time starts when the judge whistles, after which the owner gives the article to the dog who must take it to the boat at 30m. The time ends when the dog has given the object to a person in the boat and come back to the shore between the poles.
Maximum points 25, time 4 min.

Maximum points 25, time 4 min.

 
Minus points:

  
 Winner class
 One handler only. One command per exercise is allowed without faults (except 2 commands in exercises 1 and 4; "go" and "let go" )
If your dog is a water rescue champion in Sweden, Norway or Denmark, you can compete in this class.

1. Taking a rope to the boat at 30m.
The handler gives a rope to the dog which takes to the. The rope must be at least 35m long. The dog must give the rope to the person in the boat. The dog will then swim parallel to the rope back to shore
Max. points 20, time 4 minutes.

2. Retrieving another boat
Boat (A) with the dog is at 50m, with another boat (B) with a rope in the water at 30m. The boats are off midline so that when the time starts, they start rowing in opposite parallel directions. The owner may chose when the dog jumps. Time starts when the dog leaves the boat (or at latest, when the boat A is 90° to the poles.)  and ends when the dog has passed the poles. The dog must jump from the boat and bring the boat B to shore.
Max. points: 20, time 4min.

3. Saving a person 50m, start from boat.
The dog is in boat A, which is at 30m, slowly moving towards shore. Another boat (B) is at 50m. A person from boat B falls out when boat A has moved 5m towards the shore. The drowner must splash water (no calling). The dog must jump from the boat and rescue the person to shore. The person either grabs the harness, or the dog takes a hold of the drowner's bumper toy.
max. 40p, time 4 min.

4. Brining an object from boat to another boat, parallel to the shore, 20m.
Boats A&B are driven 10m from shore, 20m from each other, parallel to the shore. The handler gives the article/bumper to the dog. The dog jumps out of the boat and takes it to boat B. The article must not be thrown in the water. Time starts when the dog takes a hold of the article and ends when the dog has delivered it to boat B.
Max. 20p, time 2min.

(c) Salmelin