4.a.4. Swim Tasks

1. Canine Team Swim Tests

Print: Aquagility/Team Swim.pdf
2009 Rules & Regs.pdf

1A. Novice Team Swim Merit Entry Level
Novice Team Swim Diagram.pdf

Task Summary:
The handler shall leave the dog in the starter’s box and move into the water a minimum of 35 ft from the shoreline. Upon signal from the judge the handler shall call the dog. When the dog arrives the dog shall swim within 6 ft of the handler for a period of 30 second while the handler stands or treads water. The team shall then swim a weave pattern between four water markers and return to the starter’s box.

Time limit: None

Time Requirements: None.

Team Equipment: None

Site Equipment:
One water marker, in line with the starter’s box, positioned 35 ft out into the water from the shoreline. Four swim markers, anchored separately, about twenty feet apart, set in a row that appears parallel to the shoreline. The row of markers shall be positioned at or about 60 ft from the shoreline.

Classification of Standards: None.

Prescripts:
The handler may gently restrain the dog by the harness or life jacket while inside the starter’s box. After leaving the box, the handler shall not deliberately touch the dog until the end of the task. The dog shall remain in the box until called by the handler. Upon joining the handler, the dog shall remain within 6 feet of the handler and shall not paw, climb on or interfere with the handler’s movement during the swim. After calling the dog the handler shall make every effort to remain in the same place, facing the judge, while the dog completes the 30 second swim around the handler and until the judge releases the team to move to the swim markers. The team may enter the marked swim course from either end, but must enter and pass the first marker from the waterward side, the side furthest from shore. The swim pattern between the four markers shall require the team to enter and swim together toward shore between the 1st and 2nd marker, then swim between the 2nd and 3rd markers going away from shore and then between the 3rd and 4th marker going back toward shore. The dog shall not deviate from the weave pattern and shall not grab or mouth a marker. The dog may not enter the swim markers before the handler initiates the pattern and once the team starts the pattern they shall complete it before going to shore.

Task:
The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
Upon signal from the judge, the handler shall leave the dog, walk or swim out into the water, stop at or beyond the 35 ft marker line, turn and face the shore.
Upon signal from the judge the handler shall cue the dog to swim to the handler.
The dog shall immediately go to the handler and continuously SWIM within 6 ft of the handler for a timed 30 seconds while the handler remains standing in the same spot or treading water.
Upon signal from the judge, the team shall SWIM casually to the beginning of the marked swim course.
Without further direction from the judge, the team shall SWIM a zigzag or weave pattern between the markers.
Upon completion of the weave course the team shall swim casually back to shore and enter the starter’s box together.
The task ends upon the judge’s signal.

B. Two Dog Team Swim Merit

Task Summary:
The handler shall leave both dogs in the starter’s box and move into the water a minimum of 35 ft from the shoreline. Upon signal from the judge the handler shall call the dogs. When the dogs arrive the dogs shall swim within 6 ft of the handler for a period of 30 second while the handler treads water. The team shall then swim a weave pattern between four water markers and return to the starter’s box.

Time limit: None

Time Requirements: None.

Team Equipment: None

Site Equipment:
One water marker, in line with the starter’s box, positioned 35 ft out into the water from the shoreline. Four swim markers, anchored separately, about twenty feet apart, set in a row that appears parallel to the shoreline. The row of markers shall be positioned at or about 60 ft from the shoreline.

Classification of Standards: None.

Prescripts:
After leaving the box, the handler shall not deliberately touch either dog until the end of the task. The dogs shall remain in the box until called by the handler. Upon joining the handler, the dogs shall remain within 6 feet of the handler and shall not paw, climb on or interfere with the handler’s movement during the swim. After calling the dogs the handler shall make every effort to remain in the same place, facing the judge, while the dogs completes the 30 second swim around the handler and until the judge releases the team to move to the swim markers. The team may enter the marked swim course from either end, but must enter and pass the first marker from the waterward side, the side furthest from shore. The swim pattern between the four markers shall require the team to enter and swim together toward shore between the 1st and 2nd marker, then swim between the 2nd and 3rd markers going away from shore and then between the 3rd and 4th marker going back toward shore. The dogs shall not deviate from the weave pattern and shall not grab or mouth a marker. The dogs may not enter the swim markers before the handler initiates the pattern and once the team starts the pattern they shall complete it before going to shore.

Task:
The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
Upon signal from the judge, the handler shall leave both dogs, walk or swim out into the water, stop at or beyond the 35 ft marker line, turn and face the shore.
Upon signal from the judge the handler shall cue the dogs to swim to the handler.
Both dogs shall immediately go to the handler and continuously SWIM within 6 ft of the handler for a timed 30 seconds while the handler remains standing in the same spot or treading water.
Upon signal from the judge, the team shall SWIM casually to the beginning of the marked swim course.
Without further direction from the judge, the team shall SWIM a zigzag or weave pattern between the markers.
Upon completion of the weave course the team shall swim casually back to shore and all three shall enter the starter’s box to complete the task.
The judge shall signal the end of the task.

C. Tow and Slalom Merit

Task Summary:
The handler shall leave the dog in the start box and swim out to a mark 100 ft from shore; upon being called the dog shall swim to the handler; upon reaching the handler the dog shall be directed to swim to shore while towing the handler; The dog shall tow the handler to the 60 ft mark line where the handler shall let go of the harness tow line and swim with the dog to the slalom markers on the 35 ft line. The dog shall swim a weave-like pattern between four markers. The handler shall then direct the dog to go to the starter’s box; the handler will remain at the 35 ft line while the dog returns to shore ; the dog shall enter the starter’s box and wait for the handler; the judge shall time 10 seconds and then direct the handler to return to the starter’s box; the task is complete when the handler joins the dog in the box.

Time limit: None

Time Requirements: None.

Team Equipment: One harness tow line: a floating line less than five feet in length, no handle, attached to the dog’s harness or canine life jacket.

Site Equipment:
One Swim marker at the 100 ft line from the shoreline and one or more at the 60 ft line. Slalom Markers: four swim markers, set in a row on a perpendicular line to the shoreline, approximately 3 ft apart. The row shall start at 35 ft line and line up waterward. One starter’s box on shore. One boater, whose boat shall be anchored and/or held by oars on or about the 60 ft line and about 30 ft from the center of the test area, either side. The boat may be positioned on either side of the test area at the discretion of the judge. One steward acting as a swimmer.

Classification of Standards: None.

Prescripts:
The boater shall be in place before the team enters the start box. The boater shall not interact with the team nor leave their post until the end of the task. The dog shall remain inside the box until called by the handler. The dog shall be considered on shore when all four paws are in the starter’s box. The harness line shall be attached to the dog’s harness or life jacket prior to the handler entering the water, it may be left loose or folded up and connected to the harness/life jacket in such a way that the handler can quickly utilize it when the dog swims to the handler. The handler shall remain on the waterward side of the 100 ft line until the dog arrives within arms reach. The handler shall remain on the waterward side of the 35 ft line until directed by the judge to return to the starter’s box. The dog may not climb on or interfere with the handler. The dog may circle the handler before heading for shore and must keep the direction of the tow toward shore once the handler has sent the dog to shore. If the dog becomes entangled in the line the handler may direct the dog off course and correct the situation before continuing the tow. The swimmer shall enter the water test area when the team reaches the 60 ft line and shall not interact with the team. The swimmer shall walk out about 20 ft from the shoreline and shall stop and remain on a perpendicular line that is about 20 feet right or left of the starter box. The handler may direct the dog to enter the slalom markers from either end and from either side of the first marker, but once directed and the dog enters the first two markers, the dog shall complete the weave-like pattern. The dog shall swim between the first and second marker, then between the second and third and then between the third and fourth marker without missing a marker or leaving the immediate proximity (within three feet) of the markers. The handler must remain a minimum of three feet away from the markers, but may move parallel to the dog’s path to direct the dog. The dog may not contact the boat, boater or the swimmer.

Task:
The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
Upon signal from the judge, the handler shall leave the dog in the start box, wade or swim to the 100 ft mark in the water, turn, face the dog and wait.
Upon signal from the judge the handler shall direct the dog to swim to the handler.
The dog shall immediately go to the handler.
When the dog arrives within arms reach, the handler shall take hold of the harness tow line and instruct the dog to tow the handler toward shore.
The dog shall tow the handler toward shore.
The handler shall release the harness tow line when the dog has arrived at the 60 ft mark.
The handler shall swim with the dog to within three feet of the slalom markers.
The handler shall direct the dog to swim a weave-like pattern between the markers, the dog shall do so.
Upon completing the slalom markers the handler shall return and remain on the waterward side of the 35 ft line before sending the dog to the starter’s box.
The dog shall return to shore and wait inside the starter’s box.
The steward shall return to shore behind the dog and shall leave the area as the dog enters the box.
The Judge shall time ten seconds and then signal the handler to return the starter’s box.
The handler shall return to the start box and join the dog.
The judge shall indicate the end of the task.

D. Advanced Team Swim Certificate

Task Summary:
The handler shall leave the dog in the start box and swim out to a marker 100 ft from shore; upon being called the dog shall swim to the handler; upon reaching the handler the dog shall be directed to swim around a boat and return to the handler; the handler shall then direct the dog to complete a weave-like pattern through four slalom markers; after completing the slalom course the dog shall be directed to shore where the dog will assume a down or sit position for the count of ten (seconds); the dog shall then return to the handler where the dog shall be directed to swim a figure-eight pattern between two swimmers before returning to the start box with the handler.

Time limit: None

Time Requirements: None.

Team Equipment: None

Site Equipment:
One Swim marker at the 100 ft line from the shoreline. One swim marker at the 35 ft line from the shoreline. One boater and row boat anchored with oars up at a marker 60 ft from the shoreline. Four slalom markers shall be anchored separately, about 3 ft. apart, set in a row that appears perpendicular to the shoreline. The row of markers shall start at the 35 line and line up waterward. The markers shall be set at a minimum depth of three feet and no further than 60 ft from the shoreline. The judge shall approve the location of the markers, boat and swimmers and shall ensure that the travel path between each station is clear and direct and that station placements are approximately the same for each team being tested.

Classification of Standards: None.

Prescripts:
Prior to the start of the test the Judge shall indicate to the handler which behavior, Sit or Down, the dog shall perform during the return-to-shore aspect of the test. The dog shall remain within six feet of the handler when not performing a station and shall not paw, climb on or interfere with the handler’s movement during the swim test. The following are performance STATIONS: Row Boat, Slalom Course, Swimmers for Figure 8, and Shore. The handler shall remain a minimum of six feet away from each performance station. The handler shall not deliberately travel once the dog has been directed to perform a station except during the slalom course where the handler may swim or walk six feet away from and on a parallel line with the markers to direct the dog. The handler shall wait until the dog is within arms reach before continuing to the next station. The dog may enter the slalom course from either end and shall swim a continuous weave-like pattern between the markers until completion. Once started, the dog shall not deviate from the slalom course and shall not bite or take hold of a marker. Two stewards shall act as swimmers for the figure-eight pattern and may enter the water when the team moves to the 35 ft marker for the return to shore station. The swimmers shall stand or tread water in a minimum depth of three feet, spaced approximately ten feet apart, facing in any direction, but on a line that is perpendicular with the shoreline. The dog shall not attempt to climb on a swimmer. Swimmers may not communicate with the dog except to prevent a risk of injury. The handler may direct the dog to go in either direction around the first swimmer. The dog shall complete the figure-eight pattern around the second swimmer and cross the center between the two simmers at least three times. The figure 8 pattern shall appear as on continuous motion. The dog shall not qualify if the dog leaves the figure 8 course once started.

Task:
The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
Upon signal from the judge, the handler shall leave the dog in the start box, travel to the 100 ft mark in the water, turn, face the dog and wait.
Upon signal from the judge the handler shall direct the dog to swim.
The dog shall immediately go to the handler.
When the dog arrives within arms reach, the team shall travel to the boat station and the handler shall direct the dog to circle the boat.
The dog shall SWIM around the boat in one continuous direction and return to the handler.
The team shall travel to the station for the slalom course and the handler shall direct the dog to complete a weave-like pattern between the four slalom markers.
The dog shall SWIM a weave-like pattern between the slalom markers, exiting between markers #3 and #4, and may return to the handler or continue to shore.
The handler shall return and or remain on the waterward side of the 35 ft line before sending the dog to shore.
The dog shall go to shore, enter the starter box and perform a down-stay or sit-stay as directed by the handler.
The Judge shall count out ten seconds and signal the handler to call the dog.
The handler shall call the dog to swim.
The dog shall return to the handler where the team shall move to the two swimmers for the figure eight station.
The handler shall direct the dog to swim a complete figure eight pattern around the two swimmers. The dog shall SWIM in a continuous motion, cross the center parallel line between the two swimmers a minimum of three times, forming the figure 8 pattern, before returning to the handler.
The team shall return to the starter box together.
The judge shall indicate the end of the task.