Water work info needed
- Thread starter dogger
- Start date
Marthas Vineyard Newfie
New member
I am not sure what type of Water Work you are looking for. I use the book and video called."Rescue International's water Search With Dogs", by Bruce Barton and Lorrie Clemmo, it is a training program.. this is the link--
www.rescuenet.org/training/
also you can down-load from the AKC web site their water training manual, it is a large down-load.
www.rescuenet.org/training/
also you can down-load from the AKC web site their water training manual, it is a large down-load.
JPerrelli
New member
Dogger,
I've also been waiting for Judy Adler's book as I've started training Maddie for water work. Someone sent me a few pages from her previous book so I could get started.
The first thing I started to do is get her to "take" a bumper. It took me 3 weeks, practicing 35-40 times a day before she would open her mouth and take the bumper. This consisted of me holding the bumper to her mouth, saying "take", opening her mouth, put the bumper in her mouth, tell her good, then give a treat. I know Judy talks about the "ear pinch" which is supposed to be a much faster process, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. This is only step one. Then you need to get them to "hold" the bumper. That's what I'm working on now. Then you teach them to "give" the bumper.
I never thought she was going to get it, (and she's a pretty smart cookie), then one day she opened her mouth. All I can say is, it was worth every one of the training sessions we did. She will now take it from up to a few feet away, as well as from the ground. It took a lot of practice ( I almost gave up), and tons of patients, but well worth it.
Good luck !!
I've also been waiting for Judy Adler's book as I've started training Maddie for water work. Someone sent me a few pages from her previous book so I could get started.
The first thing I started to do is get her to "take" a bumper. It took me 3 weeks, practicing 35-40 times a day before she would open her mouth and take the bumper. This consisted of me holding the bumper to her mouth, saying "take", opening her mouth, put the bumper in her mouth, tell her good, then give a treat. I know Judy talks about the "ear pinch" which is supposed to be a much faster process, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. This is only step one. Then you need to get them to "hold" the bumper. That's what I'm working on now. Then you teach them to "give" the bumper.
I never thought she was going to get it, (and she's a pretty smart cookie), then one day she opened her mouth. All I can say is, it was worth every one of the training sessions we did. She will now take it from up to a few feet away, as well as from the ground. It took a lot of practice ( I almost gave up), and tons of patients, but well worth it.
Good luck !!
janices
New member
Have you got a newf club near you? Get in contact with them as they usually start training sessions on water for summer water trials.
If not, find an obedience class is good place to start and start working on your control and your basis for retrieves is a plain ole' retrieve. I worked with an obedience trainer doing CDX work including basic retrieve work and then took that over to water work.
I'm not a believer in an ear pinch. I'm a clicker trainer. Both my newfs enjoy retrieving. One I had to teach it from the ground up for her to get it right. Once she got it she was a very reliable retriever.
If not, find an obedience class is good place to start and start working on your control and your basis for retrieves is a plain ole' retrieve. I worked with an obedience trainer doing CDX work including basic retrieve work and then took that over to water work.
I'm not a believer in an ear pinch. I'm a clicker trainer. Both my newfs enjoy retrieving. One I had to teach it from the ground up for her to get it right. Once she got it she was a very reliable retriever.
janices
New member
Ooops, forgot Dog Works www.dogworks.com has a video Water Rescue Training by Dondino, how-to video on junior and senior water training.
JPerrelli
New member
I'm not sure what behavior is "normal" when training the retrieve since I just started myself. I know that Judy Alder suggests teaching the commands in the following order: "take", "hold", "give", so that's what I've been doing. We've got "take" down, so now I'm working on "hold". I give the "take" command, and while the bumper is in her mouth, I tell her "hold" and gently hold her mouth closed, wait 2 seconds, then let her open her mouth. And of course, tell her good, and give a treat.
She hates it, hates it, hates it, but she hated the "take" command at first too.
I also read that if you teach them the "take" command with one item such as a ball or favorite toy, that when you give them a bumper and say "take" they act like they have never heard the word "take" before, although it will go much quicker then when you first started with the "take" command.
I'm hoping Judy's book is ready soon, cuz I could really use the help !!
She hates it, hates it, hates it, but she hated the "take" command at first too.
I also read that if you teach them the "take" command with one item such as a ball or favorite toy, that when you give them a bumper and say "take" they act like they have never heard the word "take" before, although it will go much quicker then when you first started with the "take" command.
I'm hoping Judy's book is ready soon, cuz I could really use the help !!
Last Saturday we had our first water seminar with the Seattle club. This is why we started with Take. They made it look sooooooo easy. Just open her mouth, put in the toy and say 'take'. This was not my experience last night.
When we are out in the yard, boagie loves to retrieve so I dont think i will have a problem with that... if we get there.....
Janice, I will check out the video. I am also going to look at amazon to see if I can find the judy adler book there... we'll see.
Our next water seminar is after Nationals (go figure all the folks who's dogs can do this also qualify for nationals...
(sigh) some day.......) and I would like to at least hav the take down.
When we are out in the yard, boagie loves to retrieve so I dont think i will have a problem with that... if we get there.....
Janice, I will check out the video. I am also going to look at amazon to see if I can find the judy adler book there... we'll see.
Our next water seminar is after Nationals (go figure all the folks who's dogs can do this also qualify for nationals...
(sigh) some day.......) and I would like to at least hav the take down.The NCA also has (had?) a water training manual- I think it was written by Consie Powell. Check out the NCA website at www.newfdogclub.org
janices
New member
I haven't bought Cheryl's video but know Cheryl Dondino. She's got multiple titled newfs and is a judge and on working dog committee so I would expect you will find her video informative.
I have Judy Adler's older book. I would expect had to be revised because water rules changed slightly and the book is being changed to follow the changes in water rules.
Good little pocket book, by Sue Sternberg, "A Guide to the Inducive Retrieve" may be helpful. Dogwise www.dogwise.com carries it but would expect could find it other places like amazon.
Once you've got a solid retrieve on land and first take it to water expect some regression. Remember dogs are great discriminators but not great generalizers. I hit it too once I had trained the retrieve on land and first took it over to water with Linsey. I had to almost go back to the beginning but it went faster coming forward. She loved to fetch but I had to teach her from the ground up to get a solid retrieve. So hang in there and remember it's supposed to be fun. You can also hit some dogs like to retrieve certain articles but not others. Linsey likes canvas dummies but not the plastic ones. I usually use canvas all around. Other people do not. Do the easy stuff to retrieve first. Usually the hardest to train is the boat cushion because it's bulky.
I have Judy Adler's older book. I would expect had to be revised because water rules changed slightly and the book is being changed to follow the changes in water rules.
Good little pocket book, by Sue Sternberg, "A Guide to the Inducive Retrieve" may be helpful. Dogwise www.dogwise.com carries it but would expect could find it other places like amazon.
Once you've got a solid retrieve on land and first take it to water expect some regression. Remember dogs are great discriminators but not great generalizers. I hit it too once I had trained the retrieve on land and first took it over to water with Linsey. I had to almost go back to the beginning but it went faster coming forward. She loved to fetch but I had to teach her from the ground up to get a solid retrieve. So hang in there and remember it's supposed to be fun. You can also hit some dogs like to retrieve certain articles but not others. Linsey likes canvas dummies but not the plastic ones. I usually use canvas all around. Other people do not. Do the easy stuff to retrieve first. Usually the hardest to train is the boat cushion because it's bulky.
darktarnsparhawk
New member
HI if you have a dog who will not enter the water there is really only one soultion, its time for you to get wet Get yourself a wet suit,it is the best idea but waders might do.
Find a quite spot, where there is a clear bottom to the river/lake, put your dog on an extendable lead if you have one. Stand in front of the dog, make eye contact, and call their name. As the dog starts moving towards you step back very gently, with a bit of the dog will follow soon you will have a newfies paddling like a Swan.
At this stage loads of praise, sicne this is the bestest newfie in the solar system
But be carefull and make sure that there are 2 people present preferable two who can swim.
If anyone wants more info email me.
We are involved in water training and during the winter we got a 2 years old newfie girl, recovering from cruciate surgery, swimming. And this was her first time in water
Most of all have fun
Get yourself a wet suit,it is the best idea but waders might do. Find a quite spot, where there is a clear bottom to the river/lake, put your dog on an extendable lead if you have one. Stand in front of the dog, make eye contact, and call their name. As the dog starts moving towards you step back very gently, with a bit of the dog will follow soon you will have a newfies paddling like a Swan.
At this stage loads of praise, sicne this is the bestest newfie in the solar system
But be carefull and make sure that there are 2 people present preferable two who can swim.
If anyone wants more info email me.
We are involved in water training and during the winter we got a 2 years old newfie girl, recovering from cruciate surgery, swimming. And this was her first time in water
Most of all have fun