4. Canine Underwater Work Tests
Print: Underwater.pdf
A. Novice Head Submersion
Task Summary:
The dog shall submerge its head in shallow water.
Time limit:
30 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and shall end when the judge has observed the dog’s head underwater.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Optional - toy or underwater article.
Site Equipment:
Gravel, sand or a submerged tarp may be added to the task area to reduce silt disturbance.
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The handler may gently restrain the dog by the harness or the life jacket until the judge signals the handler to cue the dog for the submersion. The handler shall not guide or push/pull the dog forward. The team shall position themselves at a depth that shall permit the dog to submerge the dog’s entire head, including the back skull. The handler may toss or drop the the article repeatedly until the end of the time limit.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and the handler shall set up the dog for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge to send the dog, the handler may toss an article or toy in front of the dog or submerge and hold a toy in front of the dog and shall immediately cue the dog to place its head underwater.
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•The dog shall submerge its entire head, including the back skull.
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•The judge shall signal the end of the task.
B. Single Retrieve Head Submersion
Task Summary:
The dog shall immediately submerge its entire head to retrieve an article, bring it above the water and deliver it to the handler.
Time limit:
15 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and shall end when the judge has observed the dog’s delivery.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Three different shaped Underwater Retrieve Articles. An underwater retrieve article can be any toy or object that sinks immediately. No floating attachments.
Site Equipment:
Gravel, sand or a submerged tarp may be added to the test area to reduce silt disturbance.
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The Judge shall inform the handler which article is to be retrieved by the dog. The handler shall inform the judge who is going to make the toss, the handler or a steward. If the steward is to make the toss the handler may consult with the steward and show the steward the placement technique desired by the handler for the dog. The dog shall be positioned at a water depth that permits the dog to submerge the dog’s entire head for a retrieve. After the article is released the handler shall remain stationary, with both hands above the water, until the end of the task. If the dog paws the article to an inappropriate water depth or can no longer see the article the judge may direct the steward or handler to re toss the article.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and set up for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge the handler or steward shall toss or drop the retrieve article a minimum of 2 ft. in front of the dog and parallel to the shoreline.
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•Upon signal from the judge the handler shall send the dog to retrieve the article.
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•The dog shall immediately submerge its entire head including the occiput (back of the skull), grasp the article by mouth, immediately take the article to the handler and release the article in the handler’s hand.
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•The Judge shall signal the end of the task.
C. Multiple Underwater Retrieve
Task Summary:
The dog shall submerge its entire head to retrieve two articles, one at a time, bring each above the water and deliver each into the handler’s hand.
Time limit:
20 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and shall end when the judge has observed the dog’s delivery of the second article.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Three different shaped Underwater Retrieve Articles. No floating attachments.
Site Equipment:
Gravel, sand or a submerged tarp may be added to the task area to reduce silt disturbance.
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The Judge shall inform the handler which two articles are to be retrieved by the dog.
The team shall position themselves at a depth that shall permit the dog to submerge its entire head for a retrieve. After the articles have been released the handler shall remain stationary, both hands above the water, until after the delivery of both articles. If the dog paws an article to an inappropriate water depth or can no longer see the article the judge may direct the steward to re-toss the article. The dog shall deliver only one article at a time. The steward shall re toss an article if the dog retrieves and delivers two articles at once.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and set up for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge the steward shall toss or drop the retrieve articles together a minimum of 2 ft. in front of the dog and parallel to the shoreline.
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•Upon signal from the judge the handler shall send the dog to retrieve the articles.
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•The dog shall immediately submerge its entire head including the occiput (back of the skull), grasp an article by mouth, return to the handler, and release the article into the handler’s hand.
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•The handler shall then send the dog for the second article.
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•The dog shall locate the second article, submerge its head, grasp the article by mouth, return to the handler and release the article into the handle’s hand.
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•The Judge shall signal the end of the task.
D. Directed Underwater Retrieve
Task Summary:
The dog shall submerge its head and retrieve a designated article from among three, return it to the box and deliver it to the handler.
Time limit:
30 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and end when the dog has delivered the article to the handler.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Three white weighted Wiffle Balls of equal size. No floating attachments.
Site Equipment:
Rocks, gravel or sand may be applied the water bed to steady the balls and prevent rolling.
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The judge shall indicate to the handler which ball, “left”, “center” or “right”, the dog is to retrieve. The starter’s box shall be in line with the center ball. The team may face the designated ball. A steward shall place the three weighted Wiffle balls into a depth that shall cover the balls with at least 4 inches of water for Group 1 and at least 2 inches of water for Group 2. The balls shall be placed about 10 ft. apart and along a parallel line with the shoreline. The handler shall remain in the starter’s box during the task. The dog may locate the article with its paws, but may not paw the ball into more shallow water to make the retrieve. The dog may not grab or mouth a non-designated article.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the steward shall place the balls in the water for the task.
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•The Judge shall designate the target article.
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•Upon signal from the judge the handler shall send the dog for the designated ball.
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•The dog shall immediately enter the water, submerge as needed to grasp the designated ball by mouth, return immediately to the starter’s box, enter the box and release the ball to the handler’s hand.
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•The judge shall signal the end of the task.
E. Novice Body Submersion
Task Summary:
The dog shall submerge its entire body.
Time limit:
30 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and end when the judge has observed the body submersion.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Optional - Any toy or article
Site Equipment: None
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The team shall position themselves in the water at a depth that shall permit the dog to submerge its entire body from a swimming position. The dog shall begin the task while swimming in the vicinity of the handler. The dog may make as many dive attempts as needed to complete the task within the time limit. The judge shall take into consideration the length of a dog’s coat. The judge shall not disqualify a dog’s dive if the entire coat on the dog’s back or the tail does not completely submerge. The dog shall not return to shore before the completion of the submersion.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and set up for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge the handler may toss or hold an article below the surface of the water and shall cue the dog to submerge.
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•The dog shall submerge its entire body.
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•The Judge shall signal the end of the task.
F. Body Submersion Retrieve from a Swim
Task Summary:
The dog shall dive from a swim, submerge its entire body, retrieve the article and bring it to the surface.
Time limit:
30 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and end when the dog retrieves the article.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Any dive or underwater article.
Site Equipment: None
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The handler shall advise the judge who will make the toss of the article, a steward or the handler. If the steward is to make the toss the handler may consult with the steward and show the steward the placement technique desired by the handler for the dog. The team shall position themselves in the water at a depth that shall permit the dog to submerge its entire body from a swimming position. The handler’s hands shall not be placed underwater for the purpose of guiding, luring or directing the dog. If the dog is having difficulty locating the article due to test conditions the judge may grant permission for a second article to be tossed or if time permits the first article may be recovered and tossed. The dog may make as many dive attempts as needed to complete the task within the time limit. The judge shall take into consideration the length of a dog’s coat. The judge shall not disqualify a dog’s dive if the entire coat on the dog’s back or the tail does not completely submerge. The dog shall not return to shore before the completion of the retrieve.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and set up for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge either the handler or a steward shall toss or place the diving article below the surface of the water.
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•Without further direction from the judge the handler shall send the dog to retrieve the article.
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•The dog shall submerge its entire body, grasp the article by mouth and bring it to the surface.
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•The Judge shall signal the end of the task.
G. Body Submersion Retrieve from a Platform
Task Summary:
The dog shall dive from a platform, submerge its entire body, retrieve the article and bring it to the surface.
Time limit:
60 seconds. Timing shall begin when the handler sends the dog and shall end when the dog completes the retrieve.
Time Requirements: None
Team Equipment:
Any dive or underwater article. The handler may two dive articles on the platform.
Site Equipment:
A free standing dive platform positioned at or just above the water’s surface.
Classification of Standards: None
Prescripts:
The handler shall advise the judge who will make the toss of the article, a steward or the handler. If the steward is to make the toss or drop, the handler may consult with the steward and show the steward the placement technique desired by the handler for the dog. The team shall position themselves in the water so that the dog is on the platform and the handler is floating or standing in the water next to the platform. The handler shall remain next to or behind the dog. Neither the steward nor the handler shall cross the extended plane formed on the side of the platform from where the dog is about to jump unless directed by a judge. The handler’s hands shall not be placed underwater for the purpose of guiding, luring or directing the dog. If the dog is having difficulty locating the article due to test conditions the judge may grant permission for a second article to be tossed. The dog may make as many dive attempts as needed to complete the task within the time limit. The dog shall dive directly underwater from the platform. Should the dog surface without the article, the handler, if time permits, may assist and bring the dog back on the platform for another jump. The dog may not make the retrieve from a swim-dive unless the dog has first demonstrated a complete underwater dive off the platform. The judge shall take into consideration the length of a dog’s coat. The judge shall not disqualify a dog’s dive if the entire coat on the dog’s back or the tail does not completely submerge. The dog shall not return to shore before the completion of the retrieve.
Task:
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•The Team shall enter the starter’s box.
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•Upon signal from the judge the team shall enter the water and set up for the task.
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•Upon signal from the judge either the handler or a steward shall toss or drop the diving article below the surface of the water in front of the dog.
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•Without further direction from the judge the handler shall send the dog to retrieve the article.
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•The dog shall jump from the platform, diving directly underwater, submerging its entire body, grasp the article by mouth and bring it to the surface.
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•The Judge shall signal the end of the task.
