Junior water test questions

CathyC.

New member
I was reading the rules posted in the other thread and have some questions.

First, junior refers to the first level of achievement and not an age designation for young handlers, right?

For the off leash healing in the control exercises is a handler permitted to use or hold treats?

For the swim with handler, is the handler permitted to take a stroke towards shore before being towed in by the dog or must the dog respond only to a verbal command to turn around?

There is no underwater take it requirement?

Obi is making good progress on these tasks. If I can get him to take a rope out to a swimmer consistently we might soon be ready for this level. Most of the other things he has taken to very quickly.
 

Angela

Super Moderator
Junior is the test, not the age.
NO treats, only verbal praise.
You can use a signal for turn, or pat the water, can't touch or guide the dog around.
No underwater retrieve in Junior.
 

CathyC.

New member
Thanks!

So on the swim, if I stop swimming out, turn around and point to shore then that would be acceptable as long as I don't physically turn my dog to shore? I think we can do that. Looking forward to being able to get back in the water to practice.
 

Angela

Super Moderator
Teach "round' on land. Go walking, then as you turn say Round and move your left arm in that direction. So, when you are in the water swimming, at the turn point say Round and splash the water with your left hand. Does that make sense?
 

CathyC.

New member
Is this so he will swim around a person or object? He swims around a person on the go out command but I like this as an exercise because I don't always have a willing training partner to play victim.

Or is it to help him turn in the water without bumping into me on swim with handler?
 

R Taft

Active member
I teach my dogs to swim around me when i stop in the water....say treading water or if they are too fast and i slow down they go around me. This way they are always in reach and i can verbally tell them to "beach"....it is one excercise I teach in the waer only and i start it from puppy (10 weeks) by just sitting in the water with them and moving my hands and ancouraging......So my dogs from pups just swim around me. that solves a lot of task problems and they are always there until sent away or out or on a return to the beach. I also teach it for around the boats.that means when we have a doing nothng, or I am too slow period my dogs hang around to wait for a command. I love teaching the go arounds on land and we make a clicker game out of....around a cone and good rewards after.......still dogs do not always get it in the water, so you start again......i also found withthe dogs that swim around you the take a line is much easier or even the take a life-ring as the dogs gives the Steward plenty of opportunity to get the rope/ring.......Until I give a command. Sounds like you are on the way...have a lot of fun. i found "take the line" the biggest issue with some of my dogs. All except Yussie who would take it to anyone at anytime, anywhere...she thought it was such fun...that is the secret, keep it fun :)
 

Senea

New member
The water test got updated just a few days ago. Make sure get the new rules. For junior test the basic control is changed.
 

CathyC.

New member
Thanks. I tried the turn around command on a walk. I stopped, pointed my hand back the way we came. There were no problems. I have obi heal on my right side for various reasons. Obi turned to his right and straightened out which, because I turned, put him on my left but as I walked on he just moved behind me to my right side. He did this right away and didn't need any direction or training to do it. I think this is what I would want in the water. Turning this way allows him to stay far enough away from me not to scratch me.
 
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