The Three Divisions of splash challenges are the Single Tasks, Water Games and Community Service.
1. SINGLE TASK DIVISION - entry level work and up. Single Tasks are individual water exercises that vary in their degree of challenge and purpose. The Single Task Division has seven water performance categories.
These categories are:
There are two sets of standards for these categories. Giant, large, standard and medium sized dogs are in Group 1. Miniature, toy, small, and dwarf dogs are in Group 2. Generally, the difference in the standards between the two groups is tow weight, retrieve article size and swim distance.
Each team must first pass the Novice Team Swim test to be eligible for the other categories and divisions. Thereafter, handlers may select from any category and choose any Single Task from the Single Task Division. Passing a Single Task earns the team a Merit recognition award. When a team earns a Merit recognition award for all the tasks under one category, the team is entitled to a Certificate of watersports for that category.
Team performance in the Single Task division is evaluated by a single judge who determines the passing score for the team.
Once a team has passed the Novice Team Swim test, they can move directly into the Water Games Division or they can have fun earning over 40 additional merits in the Single Task Division before entering the competitive waters.
2. WATER GAMES DIVISION - wet, wild and joyful competition. Here only the most skilled dog or team of dogs will win the game point. A team who wins a game point will enjoy applause, laughter and a deposit toward a Game Certificate Award. Games are also divided into two sets of standards based on dog size, Group 1 and Group 2.
The skills required to play the games in the Water Games Division are drawn from the various types of work performed in the Single Task Division.
3. COMMUNITY SERVICE DIVISION - for advanced water dogs. There are three service work tests in this division:
Utility
Rescue
Underwater Scent Search
Each test has multiple tasks. The dog is required to complete the tasks consecutively and to pass each task for a title. Dogs are required to be of sufficient size, strength and fitness to perform the real life tasks required in each category.
There are two judges evaluating team performance, each having equal weight in the decision to pass the team.
The behaviors in the Single Task Division are the foundation for Canine Community Service Water Dog.
A team who would like to earn a water service title would benefit from mastering the skills in the Single Task Division.
Recognition Awards
Dog/handler teams may earn water work recognition awards in one or more of the following ways:
Water Work Merits
There are seven categories of Single Water Tasks: Team Swim, Retrieve, Deliver, Underwater, Tow, Scent and Boat Work. Each division contains one or more tasks. A team who earns a qualifying score for a watersports task is entitled to one Watersports Merit Award.
Water Work Certificates
A team who earns all the merits in a water work class is entitled to a certificate of watersports.
These certificates are:
Certificate of Canine Team Swim Work, (TSW)
Certificate of Canine Water Retrieve Work, (WRW)
Certificate of Canine Water Delivery Work, (WDW)
Certificate of Canine Water Tow Work, (WTW)
Certificate of Canine Underwater Work, (UW)
Certificate of Canine Hydro-scent Nose Work, (HNW)
Certificate of Canine Boatwork, (BW).
Water Competition Certificates
Any dog or team of dogs who competes in and wins a game is entitled to one game merit point. A dog who wins five game merit points in one particular game event is entitled to a Certificate of Competition for that game.
Water Service Titles
Any dog who qualifies in a Water Utility Trial is entitled to a Water Utility Dog Title, (WUD). Any Dog who qualifies in a Water Rescue Trial is entitled to a Water Rescue Dog Title, (WRD). Any dog who qualifies in a Wet Scent Search Trial is entitled to a Hydro-Scent Search Dog title, (HSSD).
Special Water Service Award
Awarded by the CWS Board of Directors for a single heroic or life-saving act by a canine in the water, or exceptional devotion to canine water work service by a handler/dog team or individual person or dog. Canine Water Sports is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for dog/handler teams who love to play and work in the water.
