Water trial for Portuguese Water Dog

Goal

The water trial has the goal to improve the natural genetic heritage of the PWD.
To develop, awake and expand breeder, owners and general public to the working trials has a cultural activity, through educational initiatives during the trials.
This trials also have the goal to continue the work made with this breed through many years in fishing boats has fishermen assistants.

Organization

The water trial is organized and supervised by the 4º Comity – Subcommittee of Water Dogs of Portuguese Kennel Club (CPC) .
They can be organized by official entities, breed clubs or other clubs recognized by the Portuguese Kennel Club (CPC), under the authorization of 4º Comity – Subcommittee of Water Dogs


The water trial is composed by:

1 - Water Trial – Level I.

Level I - Trial A

Swimming (Velocity)

1 – The goal of this trial is to recreate the function of the PWD to deliver messages between ships, following the giving orders. The judge evaluates the temperament and performance, considering the following points:

a - Behavior regarding the water.
b - Velocity between buoys.
c - Swimming style and pace.
d - Obedience.


2 - This evaluation is made in a triangular path defined by the departure / arrival point and the two buoys placed at the some distance, more or less 15 m, and also distanced apart 15 m.

Trial beginning

- The dog starts the trial form the seat position at the handler left side without leash. At the handler command, the dog must enter the water making the path with the handler.
- To end the trial, the handler must go to the departure / arrival point and seat the dog at his left.
- The velocity pointed is done between the buoys, and it is timed
- The dog that will not enter the water or not go around the first buoy is disqualified, but can finished the trial. It will be placed under the last classified dog disregarding the classification obtained is the remaining trials.
- The judge will classify the remaining dog with the following criteria:

Behavior at the water from 0 to 5 points
Full Path from 0 to 5 points
Style and Speed of Swimming from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points

-The time between buoys will be scored as the number dogs in trial, the first has the higher score, and the slower the lowest (1 point).

from 1 to X points



Level I - Trial B

Retrieve floating object

1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the functions of the PWD in the fishing boat : retrieving objects that fell overboard, fish that go out the hooks and save human lives. The judge in this trial classifies the way the dog retrieves the thrown object into the water, and skill in swimming with the object and deliver it in hand. Attention to the following points:
a - Attention to marking the point of falling object.
b - The way the dog grabs the object.
c - Deliver of the object.
d - Obedience.

Trial beginning

- During the launching of the object, the dog must remain seated without the leash at the left of the handler. The object should be thrown by the handler into the middle of the buoys and some distance. In case the launch isn’t correct or has a very short distance or is out of the buoys, the judge should repeat the launch.
- To retrieve the object, the dog goes at the handler command, after the launching of the object, and must swim directly to the object, without hesitation or change of direction, and grabs it at the first attempt.
- The dog must retrieve the object without dropping it swimming directly to the handler. On land, at the handler order, delivers the object in hand and seats at the left of the handler. If after leaving the water the dog drops the object to shake, will not be panelized if he grabs again the object and delivers to the handler.
- Dogs that don’t retrieve objects don’t receive points.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:

Marking the point of falling object from 0 to 5 points
The way the dog grabs the object from 0 to 5 points
Deliver of the object from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points


Level I - Trial C

Diving and retrieving submerse object

1 - 1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the functions of the PWD in the fishing boat, recover the objects that fell overboard and sank. The judge classifies this trial regarding the way the dog prepares the basic diving (underwater head) and retrieves the submerse object at least from 0,5 to 1m, considering the following points:

a - Preparation and way of diving
b - Retrieving result
c - Deliver in hand
d - Obedience

Trial beginning

- The dog starts the trial seated at the left of the handler. At the handler order goes to the water until starts swimming. The handler throws the object and backs away. The dog to retrieve the object must submerge completely the head.
- The judge must take into consideration the way of the waves and visibility in the see that can influence the retrieving of the object. In this cases the judge gives the classification to the dogs that prepared the trial in the proper manner and dived attempting to retrieve the object.
- The delivery of the object is in land and the handler must take the position at the beginning of the trial. The dog must retrieve the object without dropping it swimming directly to the handler. On land, at the handler order, delivers the object in hand and seats at the left of the handler. If after leaving the water the dog drops the object to shake, will not be panelized if he grabs again the object and delivers to the handler.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:

Preparation of diving from 0 to 5 points
Retrieving result from 0 to 5 points
Deliver in hand from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points

2 - Water Trial – Level II.

Level II - Trial A

Swimming (Resistant)

1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the function of the PWD to deliver messages between ships, following the giving orders, where sometimes the distance was considerable and they had to stay in the water a long period of time. The judge evaluates the temperament and performance, considering the following points:
a - Behavior regarding the water.
b - Resistant.
c - Swimming style and pace.
d - Obedience.


2 - 2 - This evaluation is made in a path where the dog and handler must go around the two buoys several times until reaching the time of 2 minutes.

Trial beginning

- The dog starts the trial form the seat position at the handler left side without leash. At the handler command, the dog must enter the water making the path with the handler.
- The dog that will not enter the water or not stay in the water for 2 minutes is disqualified.
- - To end the trial, the handler must go to the departure / arrival point and seat the dog at his left.
- The judge will classify considering the following criteria:
Behavior at the water from 0 to 5 points
Resistance from 0 to 5 points
Style and Rhythm of Swimming from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points


Level II - Trial B

Retrieve floating line of buoys (net simulation)

1 - 1 - The origin of this trial is based on the dog task to detect and retrieve fishing nets that had broken or lost in the sea. The judge in this trial classifies considering the following points:

a - Attention to marking the point of falling object.
b - The way the dog grabs the object.
c - Deliver of the object.
d - Obedience.


Trial beginning
During the launching of the object, the dog must remain seated without the leash at the left of the handler. The object should be thrown by the handler into the middle of the buoys and some distance. In case the launch isn’t correct or has a very short distance or is out of the buoys, the judge should repeat the launch.
- To retrieve the object, the dog goes at the handler command, after the launching of the object, and must swim directly to the object, without hesitation or change of direction, and grabs it at the first attempt.
- The dog must retrieve the object without dropping it swimming directly to the handler. On land, at the handler order, delivers the object in hand and seats at the left of the handler. If after leaving the water the dog drops the object to shake, will not be panelized if he grabs again the object and delivers to the handler.
- Dogs that don’t retrieve objects don’t receive points.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:

Marking the point of falling object from 0 to 5 points
The way the dog grabs the object from 0 to 5 points
Deliver of the object from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points

Level II - Trial C

Deep diving and retrieving submerse object

1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the functions of the PWD in the fishing boat, recover the objects that fell overboard and sank. The judge classifies this trial regarding the way the dog dives in a deep between 1 to 1,5 m and retrieves the submerse object, considering the following points:
a - Preparation and way of diving
b - Retrieving result
c - Deliver in hand
d - Obedience

Trial beginning

- The dog starts the trial seated at the left of the handler. At the handler order goes to the water shore and the handler throws the object, that must be submerse at least 1m, and gives the order to retrieve the object. The dog submerge completely the body.
- The judge must take into consideration the way of the waves and visibility in the see that can influence the retrieving of the object. In this cases the judge gives the classification to the dogs that prepared the trial in the proper manner and dived attempting to retrieve the object.

- The delivery of the object is in land and the handler must take the position at the beginning of the trial. The dog must retrieve the object without dropping it swimming directly to the handler. On land, at the handler order, delivers the object in hand and seats at the left of the handler. If after leaving the water the dog drops the object to shake, will not be panelized if he grabs again the object and delivers to the handler.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:

Preparation of diving from 0 to 5 points
Retrieving result from 0 to 5 points
Deliver in hand from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points

3 - Water Trial – Level III.

Level III - Trial A
Swimming, following orders, between boat-land-boat

1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the function of the PWD to deliver messages between ships, following the giving orders. The judge evaluates the temperament and performance, considering the following points:
a - Behavior regarding the water.
b - Resistant.
c - Swimming style and pace.
d - Obedience.

Trial beginning

- The evaluation is made along a path between an anchor boat at 20 mt of land and back
- The dog starts the trial jumping from the boat at the handler command, swimming to land, seating in front of the 2º handler, grabs the object, swims back to the boat and delivers the object to the 1º handler.
- The 1º handler can only give an order or encourage the dog to jump into the water. The 2nd driver is only allowed to give the object and give an order for the delivery to the 1º handler. Any other type of intervention can lead to disqualification.
- The path is timed.
- The judge will classify considering the following criteria:
Jump and swimming into the water from 0 to 5 points
Capacity to stay on track from 0 to 5 points
Deliver of the object from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points


Level III - Trial B

Retrieve floating line of buoys from boat (net simulation)

1 - The origin of this trial is based on the dog task to objects that fell overboard. The judge evaluates the dog capacity to jump into the water, retrieve the object and climb into the boat, considering the following points:
a - Jump into the water and marking the object.
b - The way the dog grabs the object
c - Deliver of the object.
d - Obedience.

Trial beginning

- During the launching of the object, the dog must remain seated in the boat without the leash. The object should be thrown by the commissary into a distance of 10 mt.
- To retrieve the object, the dog goes at the handler command, and must swim directly to the object, without hesitation or change of direction, and grabs it at the first attempt.
- The dog must retrieve the object without dropping it swimming directly to the handler. The dog delivers the object in hand on the ramp.
- Dogs that don’t retrieve objects don’t receive points.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:
Jump into the water and marking the object from 0 to 5 points
The way the dog grabs the object from 0 to 5 points
Deliver of the object from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points


Level III - Trial C

Deep diving from boat and retrieving submerse object

1 - The origin of this trial is to recreate the functions of the PWD in the fishing boat, recover the objects that fell overboard and sank. The judge classifies this trial regarding the way the dog dives in a deep between 1,5 to 2 m and retrieves the submerse object, considering the following points:

a - Jump and diving into the water
b - Retrieving result
c - Deliver in hand
d - Obedience

Trial beginning

- The dog starts the trial seated. The handler throws the object, that must be in a distance of 2 mt and submerse at least 1,5m, and gives the order to retrieve the object. The dog submerge completely the body.
- The judge must take into consideration the way of the waves and visibility in the see that can influence the retrieving of the object. In this cases the judge gives the classification to the dogs that prepared the trial in the proper manner and dived attempting to retrieve the object.
- The delivery of the object is in on the boat into the handler hand and then the dog must climb the ramp.
- The judge delivers points following the next criteria:

Jump and diving into the water from 0 to 5 points
Retrieving result from 0 to 5 points
Deliver in hand from 0 to 5 points
Obedience from 0 to 5 points

SOURCE: Associação para a Protecção do Cão de Água Português - http://apcap.planetaclix.pt/