Water rescue dogs and water tests

About water rescue dogs and water tests

The Newfoundland was bred to work in water, and in the UK that heritage lives on through breed club water tests and charity demonstrations. If you are looking into Newfoundland water rescue, or for a water rescue dog in the UK more generally, this page explains how the tests work, who runs them and what to ask a breeder whose dogs work in water.

What this work involves

A Newfoundland water test is a non-competitive test of a dog’s capabilities in the water and of dog and handler working together as a team. The joint regulations agreed by the three UK Newfoundland breed clubs set five sections, A to E, each with a minimum age: six months for Section A, nine months for B, 18 months for C and 24 months for D and E. A dog must pass each section before it can enter the next.

Early exercises ask a young dog to swim 15 metres out to a boat or a person and to retrieve an article. Later sections build on this: the dog tows a boat back to shore, takes a coil of rope out to a boat 25 metres out and tows it in, rescues a stranger who has “fallen” from a boat 25 metres out, and searches for a hidden stranger before towing them to shore.

A pass earns a certificate, and the judges provide written comments. A Certificate of Merit recognises five passes at three or more venues under at least four different judges, and a Diploma recognises three passes at Section E at three different venues under at least four judges. These are tests of aptitude and training, not a licence for operational rescue. Emergency water rescue in the UK is carried out by the coastguard, lifeboat crews and fire and rescue services.

Newfoundlands also show their lifesaving skills for charity. Newfound Friends, founded in 1989 by David Pugh, trains Newfoundlands in sea rescue and displays their work at festivals around the UK. It also runs “Take the Plunge” days, where supporters of a chosen charity jump from a dinghy into a marina to be rescued by one of the dogs. The charity says its sea rescue expertise is accredited by the Royal Life Saving Society. It reports raising more than £1.5 million for over 50 charities, and its dogs visit children’s hospices as therapy dogs.

Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK

Nobody supplies ready-trained water rescue dogs. Owners train their own Newfoundlands, usually through local working groups, and enter tests run under the breed clubs’ joint regulations:

• The Newfoundland Club: its Working Section sub-committee works with the working groups to choose dates and venues for water tests and invites judges from an approved list.
• The Southern Newfoundland Club and The Northern Newfoundland Club: both are parties to the same joint water test regulations. The Southern club holds water tests through the year and advises new owners to join a local working group, where experienced owners and handlers can help.
• Newfound Friends: a charity that trains its own Newfoundlands for demonstrations and fundraising. It is not a source of trained dogs for the public.

The three clubs recognise one another’s passes for progression and for multi-test awards. The breeder’s part is producing sound, confident puppies from lines with water aptitude; the owner and the working group do the training.

Breeds and lines

The tests are written for the Newfoundland, and multi-test awards go only to Newfoundlands. Under the Newfoundland Club’s rules, members of the clubs or recognised working groups who own another breed may enter if there is time and the test manager and both judges agree the dog is suitable for the level. A pass earns a certificate but does not count towards a multi-test award.

Other breeds known for their love of water include the Leonberger, the Portuguese Water Dog and the Golden Retriever. Owners of these breeds can ask their own breed clubs or a local working group about water work. Whatever the breed, look for parents and relatives that have actually swum, retrieved and passed tests.

What to ask a breeder

1. Have the sire and dam, or close relatives, passed water tests, and at which sections? Can I see the certificates?
2. What are the parents’ hip and elbow scores under the BVA/KC schemes, and their cystinuria DNA results? The Royal Kennel Club strongly recommends these as good practice for Newfoundlands, with eye testing as best practice, and the breed also has a breed club heart testing scheme.
3. How do you introduce puppies to water, and when do you advise starting structured training, given a giant breed’s growing joints?
4. Which working group near me do you recommend, and do your puppy buyers train together?
5. Do you hold a council dog breeding licence where one is required? In England, for example, you need one if you breed three or more litters in any 12-month period and sell any of the puppies.

Frequently asked questions

Can any Newfoundland do a water test?

Most Newfoundlands love water, but a pass depends on training, fitness and temperament. Section A is open from six months and starts with short swims and retrieves, so there is time to find out whether your dog enjoys the work.

Is a Newfoundland water test a lifeguard qualification?

No. It shows the dog’s aptitude and training in controlled conditions. The joint regulations describe the tests as extensions to training, not an end in themselves, and a pass does not make the dog an operational rescue dog.

How can I get involved with Newfound Friends?

Newfound Friends runs its own team of dogs and events. Contact the charity directly about volunteering, fundraising or attending a demonstration.

If you breed Newfoundlands, Leonbergers or Portuguese Water Dogs and your dogs work in water or have passed water tests, you are welcome to list your kennel on the site so owners looking for water-working lines can find you.