Junior Division Exercises

Basic Control
There are three principal parts to this exercise, which is done off-leash.

1. Controlled walking - The dog heels at the handler's left side at a fast, slow and normal pace making right, left and about turns and halting at the judge's command.
2. Recall - While the dog remains seated, the handler signals the dog to stay, walks across the ring, then calls the dog. The dog must come on the first command or signal.
3. Group stays - In a group, all handlers down their dogs, command them to stay, walk across the ring and wait for one minute to elapse. The dogs must stay down until the handlers return. NOTE: Dogs with an obedience title (AKC or CKC) are exempt from this exercise.

Single Retrieve
The handler throws a boat bumper at least 30 feet out into the water. The dog swims out, retrieves the bumper, returns to shore and delivers the bumper to the handler who waits on the beach. Time limit: 60 seconds.

Drop Retrieve
Fifty feet from shore, a steward in a rowboat silently drops a boat cushion or life jacket (judges' choice) into the water. The object is dropped from the far side of the boat so that the dog does not see it being placed. The dog, working from a directional signal, must swim to the floating object, retrieve it and deliver it to the handler's hand on shore. Time limit: 90 seconds.

Take a Line
A steward treads water 50 feet from shore while splashing and calling to the dog. The handler gives the dog the knotted end of a 75-foot rope. The dog takes the rope in his mouth, swims to the calling steward - coming close enough so the steward can grab the rope. Time limit: 90 seconds.

Tow a Boat
The dog will swim 50 feet out to the steward who is in a rowboat. The dog will take the bumper from the steward and pull the boat to shore. Time limit: 90 seconds.

Swim with Handler
The dog and handler enter the water and together swim out from shore approximately 20 feet. The dog must
swim politely and not interfere with the handler in any way. At the judges' signal, the handler commands the dog to turn toward shore and the dog does this without physical assistance. The handler then holds onto the dog and is towed to shore. Time limit: 90 seconds.

Senior Division Exercises

Double Retrieve
A steward rows a boat 50 feet from shore across the test area. A second steward drops a life jacket and a boat cushion, one at a time, 50 feet apart. The judges determine which article is to be retrieved first. The handler directs the dog to the article and the dog swims to retrieve it. The dogdelivers the first article to the handler on shore, then swims to retrieve the second article. Time limit: three minutes.

Retrieve Off a Boat
Dog and handler sit on the platform of a boat and the steward rows them 50 feet out from shore. The handler throws an oar or paddle 10 feet from the boat and the dog has 30 seconds to jump voluntarily, retrieve the paddle and deliver it to handler or steward who waits in the boat. Time limit: 90 seconds.

Take a Life Ring
Three stewards enter the water and swim out together stopping 75 feet from shore and 30 feet apart. One feigns distress, splashing and calling. The handler gives the dog the knotted end of a rope tied to a life ring and sends his dog to rescue the drowning steward. The steward can grab the life ring or the dog. The dog tows the steward to shore. Time limit: two minutes.

Underwater Retrieve
Handler and dog enter the water together, wading out to where the water touches the dog's underbelly. The handler throws a weighted article three feet from the dog and the dog has three minutes to retrieve the article and deliver it to the handler. Handlers may throw the article as often as they want, and the dog can retrieve by dunking his head underwater or by
using his feet and pawing it to shallow water and then retrieving it. Time limit: three minutes.

Take a Line / Tow a Boat
Two stewards wait in a boat 75 feet from shore. The steward in the bow of the boat calls to the dog who waits on the shore. The handler gives the dog a short line with a bumper attached and sends the dog to the boat. The dog swims close enough that the steward can grab the line. The dog tows the boat to shore and pulls until the boat touches bottom. Time limit: two minutes.

Rescue
Dog and handler are rowed out 50 feet from shore. The handler falls or jumps from the boat. The dog has 30 seconds to leap voluntarily to the rescue. The dog swims directly to the handler, then tows the handler either to shore or back to the boat. Time limit: 90 seconds.