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Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Working Dogs FAQ
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Summary: Describes working dogs (rescue dogs, police dogs, sled dogs, etc.)
         and lists books, etc. of interest for each.
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                                 Working Dogs
                                       
Author

   Cindy Tittle Moore, Copyright 1995.
   
Table of Contents

     * Working Trials
          + American Working Trials
          + French Ring
          + Schutzhund
     * Search and Rescue Dogs
          + Where to get started
          + Tracking and Trailing
          + Area search
          + Disaster search
          + Cadaver search
          + Related testing
          + References
     * Sled Dogs
          + History
          + Types of sled dogs
          + Mushing terms
          + Mushing equipment
          + Skijoring equipment
          + Weight pulling equipment
          + Other equipment
          + Training the musher
          + Training dogs to pull
          + Training lead dogs
          + Training for weight pulling
          + Training for skijoring
          + Health, diet, and care -- Sled Dog Specifics (briefly)
          + Final remarks
          + References
     * Herding Dogs
     * Narcotics and Evidence Dogs
     * Patrol Dogs
     * Water Rescue Dogs
     * Drafting Dogs
       
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
Working Trials

   This section overviews a number of sports that are related to what is
   loosely termed "protection work". These all involve multiple
   components of obedience, tracking, and patrol work, however, not just
   "protection" training. And as a matter of fact, the different sports
   described below focus on different elements. AWT rarely emphasize
   bitework, while Schutzhund has a heavy emphasis on it even though the
   two sports both have the three components of obedience, tracking and
   patrol dog work.
   
   Some pointers to online information:
     * American Working Trials, kept by Mark and Kim Donnell,
       donnell@arlut.utexas.edu.
     * French Ring Homepage, kept by Neal Wallis, mrmalinois@aol.com.
     * Schutzhund Homepage, kept by Linda, linda@net-connect.net.
     * Schutzhund Homepage, kept by Ed Frawley, frawley@win.bright.net.
       
  American Working Trials
  
  French Ring
  
  Schutzhund
  
   (See also the Schutzhund FAQ, still under construction.)
   
   Schutzhund dogs are generally considered working dogs, as many of them
   are subsequently used as patrol dogs and guard dogs. However, there
   are many people who participate in Schutzhund as a sport, enjoying the
   training and titling in of itself.
   
    Purpose
    
   Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". It refers to a
   sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs
   that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners. In
   Germany, a Schutzhund degree is required before breeding a German
   Shepherd Dog.
   
   A dog that is unreliable around people will have a difficult time
   passing a Schutzhund test. In order to enter for a Schutzhund I title,
   the dog must have passed a the Begleithund test, which is a
   combination of a CD and Canine Good Citizen test.
   
    History
    
   Schutzhund is a dog training and breeding regimen developed originally
   in the 20's by the Deutsches Shaeferhund Verein (German Shepherd Dog
   Club), or SV, in order to maintain the working ability of the breed.
   While the term Schutzhund means literally "protection dog", the
   training involves work equally in tracking, obedience and protection.
   In order to get a Schutzhund degree a dog must pass all three phases
   of the work. Also, a working title (at least a SchH I) is required for
   breed survey purposes, and in order to register an approved litter.
   The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize
   the correct working temperament and ability in the German Shepherd
   breed. SV, the parent club of the breed, developed the Schutzhund test
   as a way of maintaining reliable dogs with traits suitable for
   breeding.
   
    Today
    
   Many countries and working dog organizations have also adopted
   Schutzhund as a sport and test of working performance. International
   rules have been established by the Verein fuer Deutsche Hundesport
   (VDH). The first SchH trial in the U.S. was held in California in
   1970. In 1987 the U.S.A. alone sanctioned nearly 300 trials with a
   total entry of 1,800 dog/handler teams.
   
   Many breeds now participate in addition to GSDs. While there may be
   individual dogs of a particular breed that may be suitable for the
   work, the following are most consistently able to perform: GSDs,
   Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinscher, Bouvier des Flandres, Rottweiler,
   Tervuren, Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, etc. Generally, these are larger
   working breeds with strong prey and defense drives, and temperaments
   suitable for the tasks of the training.
   
    A Note about Protection Work
    
   The results of this type of training depends heavily on the
   temperament of the dog and the quality of the trainer. There are
   enough bad trainers out there that you have to be very careful who you
   choose. The best avenues for finding a good trainer are through a
   responsible and dedicated club. Most of these tests include
   temperament tests as any good protection dog is stable and trustworthy
   around people. The common image of a ferocious, barely controlled dog
   has no place in these events and tests.
   
   Protection work in itself does not make a dog mean. In order to do
   protection work you must have a temperamentally stable dog. An
   inappropriately aggressive dog is actually not a good candidate for
   this work. You need a dog with confidence and good nerves. A nervous
   or shy dog is a poor candidate because it can't take the stress of the
   training. A protection dog needs both prey and defensive drives. An
   unbalanced dog is very difficult to train because protection work is
   the blending of both these drives to produce a calm, reliable dog that
   understands the work.
   
   A dog must be brought along slowly to build confidence and
   understanding. A dog should not be hurt or frightened in order to
   elicit aggression. If neither prey work or defensive postures elicits
   a response, the dog either doesn't have the proper drives or it is not
   mature enough to handle the work.
   
   Some owners inappropriately encourage aggression in their dogs outside
   of protection training. This is wrong. They sometimes do not keep the
   control over the dog, often delighting in the macho behavior of their
   dog.
   
   Protection training will not change the dog's basic temperament. It
   does give you a good view of the dog's total temperament under stress.
   An edgy dog will always be edgy. A stable dog will always be stable.
   
    Description
    
   There are three major degrees awarded - SchH I, SchH II, and SchH III
   -- in order of increasing difficulty. SchH I (IPO I) is the apprentice
   test. A SchH III dog must demonstrate a high level of performance,
   ability and courage.
   
   The traits that make for a good Schutzhund candidate mostly are innate
   characteristics that must be bred for. Even among dogs bred out of
   Schutzhund bitches and dogs, a minority have the ability to reach even
   SchH I, and a small percentage will have the necessary drive,
   intelligence and hardness to achieve a Sch III title. In addition to
   breeding, early development is important. The young pup should not be
   subjected to strong corrections or experience being dominated by
   another dog, and all training and play should end on a positive note,
   with the pup "winning."
   
   The IPO (International Pruefungsordnung) rules, under the auspices of
   the FCI (Federation Internationale Cynologique), are similar to the
   Schutzhund rules and the trials are run in the same manner, with the
   exception that no evaluation of the fighting instincts, courage or
   hardness of an IPO entrant is performed during the protection phase of
   the trial.
   
   A summary of the available degrees:
        Degree                                            Min Age

        B        Begleithunde                              12 months
                (Companion Dog)
        
        FH       Faehrtenhundpruefung                      16 months
                (Advanced Tracking Dog Test)
        
        AD       Ausdauerpruefung                          16 months
                (Endurance Test)

        SchH A   Schutzhund Examination A                  18 months
        SchH I   Schutzhund Examination I                  18 months
        SchH II  Schutzhund Examination II                 19 months
        SchH III Schutzhund Examination III                20 months

    References
    
   _Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods_ by Susan Barwig and Stewart
   Hilliard. 1991 Howell Books ISBN 0-87605-731-8
   
   _Training the Competitive Working Dog_ by Tom Rose and Gary Patterson
   1985 Giblaut Publishing Company 3333 S. Bannock, Suite 950,
   Englewood,CO 80110
   
     The Rose book is getting obsolete, particularly the obedience
     section (Tom now uses much more motivational techniques) but here
     is still a lot of good theory and practical exercises.
     
   _Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive with Gottfried Dildei_ by
   Shiela Booth. 1992, Podium Publications.
   
     Highly recommended by many.
     
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
Search and Rescue Dogs

   SAR comprises a large variety of abilities, some of which are covered
   separately below. SAR varies by locale and purpose: searching for
   victims in rubble (avalanches or collapsed buildings) is different
   from searching wilderness/forest areas for a missing person. SAR is
   often linked with local law enforcement, as SAR dogs can trail escaped
   convicts or suspects from a crime scene.
   
  Where to get started
  
   It is best to affiliate with a reputable SAR organization. You may
   even wish to join the reserves unit with your local law enforcement --
   this entitles you to insurance protection, for example. Be picky about
   finding a professional organization to join: there are many wannabe
   clubs out there that would really just get in the way of an actual SAR
   effort, and there is variability even with law-enforcement groups.
   
   There are some national groups and many states have their own
   organizations (e.g., California's CARDA -- CAlifornia Rescue Dog
   Association, WOOF -- Wilderness Finders, Inc., SSD -- Sierra Search
   Dogs). An additional benefit is being able to learn from people who've
   been at this for a long time: no book or self-training will ever give
   you the valuable insights you can gain this way. These types of
   organization will have their own certification and testing processes.
   For example, WOOF requires dogs and handlers to be dual certified --
   wilderness AND disaster SAR.
   
   A professional organization should have law enforcement liasons (or
   even be part of the police force) as any search, even for a missing
   person, has the potential for turning into a hunt for a felon. Some
   organizations are put together from law enforcement reserve officers,
   sometimes active duty officers. Others simply work closely with local
   law enforcement. Some states have statewide SAR organizations, others
   operate on a per county basis. However SAR is set up in a state,
   cooperation for the protection of everyone is essential.
   
   Any dog can detect scent. Some are individually better at it than
   others. Some breeds (especially the hounds) have been bred so that as
   a class, they contain many more talented individuals. A dog's
   conformation, structure and temperament will all affect its talent at
   tracking or trailing. But the breed doesn't really matter, except for
   serious and professional tracking. You can have fun with tracking on
   your own. All you have to do is train your dog to follow its nose.
   Some extremely practical information, whether or not you're serious
   about SAR, to get started with can be found in:
   
   Button, Lue. _Practical Scent Dog Training_. Alpine Publications, Inc.
   214 19th St. SE, Loveland, CO 80537. 1990. ISBN: 0-931866-47-2.
   
     A step-by-step practical training guide for air scent, evidence
     search, disaster search and the AKC tracking test. Starts with
     young puppies. Well illustrated and methods extensively tested at
     Los Alamos' Mountain Canine Corps.
     
  Tracking and Trailing
  
   There are two major ways to follow the trail of a person, although
   they're really on two ends of a continuum. _Tracking_ is the process
   where the dog follows the person's exact path. _Trailing_ is the
   process where the dog follows the person's scent, which may or may not
   approximate the path the person took because of factors affecting the
   dispersal of scent such as wind and temperature. Contrary to popular
   opinion, water does not disrupt a tracking or trailing dog, the dog
   will simply cast around for your trail on the other side, if the water
   has carried surface scent away (if the water is still, the scent
   remains on the surface of the water). In addition, trained dogs can
   locate corpses in the water, so the theory that water does not hold
   scent does not, well, hold water. Dogs can even trail people in cars,
   from the scent that blows out of the window or through the vents of
   the car.
   
   Some common terminology: A Track Solid dog follows a track, and
   usually the newest. A Track Sure dog will follow the track associated
   with the scent he started with, and will not follow a track laid by a
   different person as long as the second track was laid at a different
   time. A Track Clean Dog will follow the correct trail even if it
   crosses other trails laid at the same time. For example, for disaster
   work (e.g., finding victims in rubble), dogs lead their handlers
   towards any human scent from the rubble; this is "tracking solid." A
   Bloodhound, given a scent article, will "track clean," finding that
   same individual regardless of whatever crosses the track.
   
   To start trailing a specific individual, the dog needs an
   uncontaminated scent article. Best items are underwear, T-shirts, or
   something that the person has directly handled. The scent article is
   just as much evidence as the "smoking gun" is, unfortunately, many
   people (including law enforcement folks) are still unaware of how to
   use scent as evidence and often handle, and thus contaminate,
   potential scent articles. Dogs can still get around this by doing the
   "missing member" search: the dog takes note of which scent on the
   article is not immediately present and searches for that person.
   
   Traditionally, people think of SAR dogs hunting through forest or
   wilderness for lost hikers or children. While this is still quite
   true, SAR dogs also find escaped prisoners, lost [mentally impaired]
   patients, lost children in the city or the suburbs, suspects fleeing a
   crime scene. As a result, urban SAR is rapidly growing.
   
   Bloodhounds are by far the best for performing difficult and long
   trails. They are large (100-120 lbs), capable of covering great
   distance, and their facial structure (loose skin) allows them to cup
   and catch even the faintest scent. Their stubborn and patient
   temperament allows them to stick with trails that are miles long.
   Bloodhounds were originally bred for large prey, and have been used to
   track people since about the 16th century. For smaller game, other
   hounds were developed, with shorter legs and smaller size. These type
   of hounds cannot cover trails as old or as long as the Bloodhound.
   
   Labradors and German Shepherds are often used in tracking. They do not
   do as well with older or longer trails, but are more than capable of
   following trails within their limitations. Also because they can work
   off leash better than the Bloodhound can, they can work more rapidly
   if there is a need for haste.
   
  Area search
  
   Quite often no scent article is available. Dogs trained in area search
   can be employed instead. These dogs air scent (that is, test the air
   rather than follow a specific scent) and search for any human scent.
   This is most often used in wilderness search for missing hikers or
   campers. Patrol dogs will also use the technique to find anyone hiding
   in a building or other confined area. Disaster search dogs (below)
   also employ air scenting in their work.
   
  Disaster search
  
   Some SAR dogs are trained to search through rubble for people. In this
   scenario, the dog is not finding a specific person, as is the case
   with tracking and trailing. The dog is looking for any human scent.
   Avalanches, collapsed buildings, airplane and train crashes are all
   examples of sites where these kind of dogs are employed. Most often,
   German Shepherds, Labradors, Belgian Sheepdogs, Malinois, and similar
   sized breeds are used for this kind of work: these dogs work well off
   leash (which Bloodhounds do not) and are suitably agile for scrambling
   around in the debris (which Bloodhounds are not).
   
  Cadaver search
  
   Dogs can be trained to find cadavers, new or old. Some dogs are
   employed on archeological digs to help locate old graves. Other dogs
   are used by law enforcement to find recently dead people, or to
   collect all the bones found in an area. Others find drowning victims.
   This is a rapidly expanding field, with new methods of training
   currently being developed.
   
  Related testing
  
   Many SAR organizations will put together mock disaster sites and
   evaluate dogs sent over the sites. There are no standards or anything
   like that except within a particular organization.
   
   For tracking and trailing, AKC and ABC (American Bloodhound Club) have
   a series of titles in tracking (TD, TDX) and trailing (MT, MTX). ABC
   is negotiating with the AKC to add the trailing titles to its standard
   set.
   
  References
  
   American Rescue Dog Association. _Search and Rescue Dogs_. Howell Book
   House, 1991. ISBN 0-87605-733-4.
   
     ARDA outlines their philosophy and methods for SAR. This book is
     excellent for an understanding of the depths of committment and
     work to be a SAR volunteer. It is a compilation of notes made over
     a thirty year period; consequently some of the information is out
     of date. There are two main deficiencies in this book. The first is
     a bias toward the German Shepherd Dog, such that they actually
     refuse to use any other breed; the second is a seemingly cavalier
     disregard for the consequences of deliberately searching for
     cadavers with SAR dogs, when such dogs should always search for
     live scent (particularly for disaster work).
     
   Bryson, Sandy. _Search Dog Training_. Third printing. Boxwood Press,
   183 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove, CA 93950. 1991 (c 1984). ISBN:
   0-910286-94-9.
   
     A well organized, comprehensive discussion of search dog training.
     Includes practical tips, discussion of search and rescue and the
     law and many other topics.
     
   Davis, L. Wilson. _Go Find! Training Your Dog to Track_. Ninth
   printing, 1984. Howell Book House, Inc., New York. c1974. ISBN:
   0-87605-550-1 (hardcover).
   
     Blurb: "Major L. Wilson Davis is America's recognized authority on
     Tracking -- named in September 1973 to the Obedience Advisory
     Committee of the AKC as its official consultant on Tracking and
     scent training for dogs. This official status follows upon decades
     of recognized achievement in these phases of Obedience training.
     Following distinguished service with the K-9 Corps during WWII, he
     has been active in the Governmnent's program of using trained
     tracking dogs for the recovery of detonated missile parts in
     missile experimentation. Major Davis was an AKC licensed judge for
     all classes of Obedience. He is presently training director of the
     famous Oriole Dog Training Club of Baltimore. He organized and
     headed the Baltimor City K-9 Corps, one of the finest in the
     country, and is often asked to lecture and advise police
     departments on the use of tracking dogs in law enforcement. Major
     Davis is a recipient of the Quaker Oats Distinguished Service Award
     for his dedicated contributions to dog training."
     
   Pearsall, Milo D. and Hugo Verbruggen, MD. _Scent: Training to Track,
   Search, and Rescue_. Alpine Publications, Inc., Colorado. 1982. ISBN:
   0-931-866-11-1.
   
     Blurb: "The authors first look at the scientific qualities of scent
     -- what and how dogs smell and how environmental factors affect the
     track. Then they use this background as a basis for training.
     Topics include the science of scent, kindergarden puppy tracking,
     tracking equipment, tracking tests, training to search, search and
     track, search and find, search and rescue, trail companion, scent
     and the law enforcement agency, first aid on the trail and much
     more."
     
   Tolhurst, William D. with Lena F. Reed. _Manhunters! Hounds of the Big
   T_. Hound Dog Press, 10705 Woodland Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98373. 1984.
   ISBN: 0-9617723-0-1 (hardcover).
   
     Tolhurst is a Search and Rescue volunteer in upstate New York. This
     book recounts his experiences using Bloodhounds in trailing. Many
     fascinating stories. Tolhurst includes a section on training a dog
     to locate dead bodies.
     
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
Sled Dogs

   My thanks to Stephen Lee for this section.
   
  History
  
   Prior to the formation of sled dog racing as a formal sport, sled dogs
   were bred and used by native peoples of the polar regions of the world
   in their everyday lives for survival in harsh climates. Two dogs
   commonly employed in sledding are Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian
   Huskies. These two breeds had quite different origins and uses.
   Alaskan Malamutes originated with a group of Eskimo people known as
   the Mahlemiut. The dogs of that time were very large freighting dogs,
   capable of pulling heavy weight. The Mahlemiut people inhabited the
   region in the upper part of the Anvik River in Alaska, and were spread
   out over a large area. The Mahlemiut people used these dogs for
   hauling food back to the villages. The gold rush in 1896 created a
   high demand for these dogs. On the other hand, Siberian Huskies
   originated with the Chuckchi people of northeastern Siberia. These
   people had a Stone Age culture and used their dogs for a variety of
   things, like herding reindeer and pulling loads. These dogs were
   smaller and faster than their Mahlemiut counterparts. These dogs were
   exported to Alaska at around the time of the gold rush. Thus the gold
   rush played a very important role in the development of our modern day
   sled dog breeds.
   
   Sled dog racing began as a formal sport with the first All-Alaska
   Sweepstakes race in 1908. Prior to this, Alaska's mushers had little
   opportunity for recreation and they used their teams primarily for
   work and transportation. Rules for the races were established, and
   they provided a good diversion to the difficult living conditions. In
   the 1920's, airplanes were gradually replacing sled dog teams for
   transportation, freight hauling, and mail delivery. In 1925, sled dogs
   proved that they were invaluable during the "Great Race of Mercy to
   Nome." In Nome, an outbreak of diphtheria threatened to become a fatal
   epidemic. A 20lb package of antitoxin serum needed to be relayed from
   Nenana to Nome. Twenty drivers and more than 100 dogs were recruited
   for the run. Planes were ruled out due to extreme cold (40 below and
   colder) and if the plane crashed, the serum would be lost. Serum was
   transported from Anchorage to Nenana by train. The drive was a
   success, the serum was delivered and lives were saved. The drive
   covered some 674 miles in less than five and a half days. This, along
   with the simple commemoration of the uses of the Iditarod trail, is
   the origin of the Iditarod sled dog race.
   
  Types of sled dogs
  
   Naturally, most northern breeds were used as sled dogs. Alaskan
   Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Eskimo Dogs, Greenlands, Samoyeds,
   Norrbottenspets, and Hokkaidokens are all sled dogs. However, lots of
   different breeds of dogs have been and are used to drive sleds and
   carts.
   
   People use Irish Setters, Dalmations, Golden Retrievers, etc., to
   enjoy mushing sports. In fact, most modern day speed and endurance
   mushers use mixed breeds (often Siberian crossed with Greyhound). So,
   if you do not have a "sled dog," but still want to enjoy the sport,
   fear not, for most any type of dog can be used. Mushing is fun, both
   to take part in and simply to watch.
   
  Mushing terms
  
   Contrary to common belief, the word "mush" is not used to drive sled
   dogs. Mush comes from the French word "marche" which is from the verb
   "marcher" which means to walk. Undoubtedly, the French used this
   during gold rush days. The word "mush" is felt to be too "soft" a
   sound to be used as a command. Below is a short list of common
   commands and terms associated with dog driving sports.

     Hike          : Get the dogs moving
     Gee           : Turn right
     Haw           : Turn left
     Easy          : Slow down
     Musher        : One that drives sled dogs
     Mushing       : The act of driving sled dogs
     Lead dog      : Dog that steers the sled dog team and
                     regulates speed
     Wheel dog     : Dogs closest to the sled
     Sled          : Wooden rig the dogs pull in the snow and
                     on which you stand
     Snowless rigs : Also called training carts.  Take the
                     place of the sled when there is no snow.

   There are many other terms common to dog driving sports. One book that
   has a very good glossary in it is _Dog Driver_, by Miki and Julie
   Collins. See the references section for a complete citation.
   
  Mushing equipment
  
   The types of mushing equipment alone could cover many pages: only the
   main points are covered here. The references listed at the end of this
   section provide additional information.
   
   There are two main types of sleds -- basket sleds and toboggan sleds.
   Basket sleds (also called stanchion sleds) are popular among sprint
   racers and recreational mushers. They are fast on glare ice and hard
   pack trails, and are also good in high wind conditions. They are
   lightweight, and the basket is set high off the runners, which can
   keep gear dry. Toboggan sleds are more durable and stable than the
   basket sleds, and they are capable of carrying bigger loads. They are
   more rigid and generally less maneuverable than basket sleds. The bed
   of the toboggan rides two inches above the snow. These sleds handle
   soft snow better than their basket counterparts. Both types of sleds
   are equipped with a brake, which is a vital item. The brake is very
   simple, consisting of a spring loaded wood plank attached to the sled
   bed at one end and a metal hook at the other. When riding the sled,
   standing on the runners, one simply pushes down on the brake, driving
   the hook into the snow. It is an effective method of slowing and
   stopping the sled.
   
   So, which sled? It depends on what you want to do. Basket sleds are
   lighter and more suitable for racing. Racing trails are groomed and
   hard packed for speed. They can be used for longer trips and camping.
   However, to carry more gear and run in softer snow conditions, a
   toboggan sled would be better. For the novice and/or once-in-a-while
   musher, the basket sled is the best choice. They are generally cheaper
   and easier to learn on.
   
   In order to have your dog pull the sled, it must have a proper
   harness. There are many, but two main types of harnesses are the
   x-back and the freighting, or weight pulling harness. For speed or
   recreational mushing, the x-back harness is the harness of choice. The
   harness is extremely important as it properly distributes the weight
   of the load across the dog's muscular-skeleto system. Of all the
   components of mushing, the harness is the most important. The x-back
   harness is sometimes referred to as a racing harness, but it is NOT
   strictly used for racing. As long as the load is not too heavy, the
   x-back is used for a wide variety of dog driving activities. The
   harness should should be padded around the front and fit the dog very
   well. Unfortunately, a picture is not possible, and without that, it
   is a little difficult to visualize. See the references for additional
   details.
   
   The weight pulling harness is used to haul heavier loads. Therefore,
   one would expect to see freighting harnesses used in conjunction with
   toboggan sleds. They are also used in competitive weight pulling. They
   are similar to the x-back harness, except that they are constructed to
   give the dog different freedom of movement and different distribution
   of the load. The freighting harness has one very important feature
   that the x-back harness does not. At the rear of the harness, there is
   a "spacer", usually a wooden rod that is about as long as the dog is
   wide. While pulling heavy loads, the rod is well away from the back of
   the dogs rear legs. For recreational mushers, this wooden rod can be
   somewhat irritating for the dog as it will hit the back of the dogs
   legs when not loaded. Consider what you are going to do with the
   dog(s) before purchasing or making a harness.
   
   The line that runs from the sled to the dogs is called a _gang line_.
   They are simple to construct yourself once you understand their
   function and geometry. The gang line consists of three components. The
   first is the _tow line_, which is typically 3/8 inch polyethelene
   rope. It connects to the sled and runs up _between_ the dogs which are
   hitched side by side on either side of the towline. To this, the _tug
   lines_ are attached. These lines are typically 1/4 inch poly rope and
   are "braided" into the tow line. The tug lines attach to the harnesses
   (which are on the dogs!). The final component is the _neck line_. The
   neck line is also 1/4 inch poly rope and is braided into the tow line.
   The end of the neck line attaches to the dog's collar. The dog does
   NOT pull from this under ANY circumstances. The function of the neck
   line is to keep the dogs close to the tow line, thereby maximizing
   their pull strength. When out on the trail, you always want to have a
   spare gang line, as the dogs may break theirs, or a tangle may become
   so severe that the line must be cut to free the dogs!
   
   The next component of mushing equipment is the snow hook. The snow
   hook is essentially an "emergency brake" for the sled. When you stop
   the sled, and must get off to untangle dogs or rest or something, you
   can set the snow hook in the snow and it will hold the dogs (and
   therefore the sled) in place. They are remarkably effective. They are
   simple: a large, heavy, metal hook, weighing a couple of pounds and
   about 12 inches in length. These can be purchased from a variety of
   places. It is very important to attach the hook to the rear of the
   gangline, not the sled. A strong team of dogs can very easily tear a
   sled to pieces if the sled is between the hook and the dogs.
   
   The last pieces of equipment to mention are the sled bag and dog
   booties. The sled bag can be used to carry an injured dog or gear. In
   an ISDRA sanctioned sled dog race, sled bags are a required piece of
   equipment. They can be made or purchased. Dog booties are used to
   protect the dogs feet from injury, particularly on long journeys. They
   are typically used when mushing on rough ice, when mushing along
   roadways where chemicals from de-icing can be present, or when driving
   the dogs on a snowless rig on a hard surface. Booties can be made or
   purchased.
   
   How about the cost? Well, it varies, of course. The numbers below are
   typical.

              Sled      : $300.00 - 500.00
              Harness   : $15.00 - 18.00
              Ganglines : $10.00
              Sled Bags : $25.00
              Snow Hook : $10.00
              Booties   : $1.00 (per paw)

   The references section includes the names, addresses, and phone
   numbers of some outfitters that sell this type of equipment.
   
  Skijoring equipment
  
   Skijoring really only requires six simple components. A skier (you!),
   a dog (or dogs!), an x-back harness, a tow line, padded belt, and
   cross country skis. You MUST know how to cross country ski VERY well
   to do this. The harness has been discussed previously, there is no
   need to discuss the skis, and the tow line is just that -- a line that
   connects you to the dog(s). This leaves the padded belt. These can be
   purchased or made. The idea is that you put the belt on, attach the
   tow line to it, attach the dogs to it, and go! Some people prefer to
   use a handle to hang on to rather than attach the dogs to them. The
   handle can then be dropped if the dogs pull you into trouble! Others
   feel that it is best to use a belt and execute a controlled fall in
   case of trouble rather than risk having the dogs injure themselves in
   a tangle when a handle is dropped.
   
   Carol Kaynor adds that the use of a shock cord (aka bungee cord) is
   recommended in the skijoring line. It is an important enhancement over
   a regular towline and is easier on both the dog's back and the skier's
   back. Also recommended is a quick-release system of some sort between
   the belt and the line, for safety's sake. In Fairbanks, a "quick point
   of detachment" is actually written into the race rules for skijoring.
   
  Weight pulling equipment
  
   The name of the game here is truly the harness. As discussed above,
   the weight pulling harness is completely different from the x-back
   harness, and THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE! The weight pulling harness
   has side lines that connect to a spreader bar at the hock, instead of
   continuing up to the hips. This is important, because a single dog
   weighing 60 lbs may pull 2000 lbs!
   
  Other equipment
  
   Many mushers have a wheeled cart for training in the fall prior to
   snow fall. In areas with insufficient snow, these carts are used in
   competition. These can be purchased or made by a good welder. Carts
   are a lot of fun, but are difficult to come by, they can be difficult
   to control, and they go _very_ fast with enthusiastic dogs.
   
   Some people use pulks in the snow and carts in the summer to work
   their dogs. Carts are small "wagons" that are used to haul small loads
   or children. Pulks are carts for the snow (they are like small sleds).
   They are used to carry equipment. Carts and pulks can be made or
   bought.
   
  Training the musher
  
   Dog driving is not merely riding on the back of the sled issuing
   commands to steer the dogs. It is work! If you start doing it in
   earnest, you will pull muscles, fall off the sled and have to pull
   yourself back on the runners with one hand, run yourself ragged
   chasing after the team (because you fell off of the sled), run into
   trees, and so on. In addition to these things, a musher must "peddle"
   the sled. This too can be tiring since it is repetitive. Peddling is
   pushing the sled forward with one foot while riding the sled. This is
   helpful to the dogs, particularly when tired. You may also frequently
   get off to run alongside when the dogs are tired. Therefore, to
   successfully drive sled dogs, the musher must train his or her body as
   well. Conditioning of the musher is to a small extent a function of
   the type of mushing to be done. The key is endurance and flexibility
   over muscle bulk. Running, biking, cross country skiing and downhill
   skiing are all good ways to build strength. You must remember that at
   all times, you are alpha. If you are tired, hesitant, and uncertain,
   your team will pick this up and become confused and unresponsive. This
   can be particularly dangerous on longer journeys into the wilderness.
   
   It should be clear from this that dogs in a sled dog team must be very
   well bonded to the driver. Not only does it make training much easier,
   but well socialized, well bonded dogs make a very good sled dog team.
   The dogs are looking to you as their undisputed leader, and you and
   they work together as a _team_. If you are careful to bond to each of
   your dogs as individuals, and socialize them very well with each
   other, other dogs, and other humans, your dogs will be willing to do
   virtually anything for you.
   
  Training dogs to pull
  
   There are many aspects to training dogs to pull. Probably the most
   fundamental is _start young_. Get a puppy used to its harness, just as
   you would a collar and leash. Also let the puppy get used to pulling
   things. Start out with a small 2x4 (6 inches long) and let it drag the
   2x4 around behind its harness for a while. The emphasis is NOT on
   weight, just on having fun dragging a VERY LIGHT weight behind it. It
   is important to realize that one can injure a puppy's bones,
   structure, and spirit by doing too much!
   
   To train adult dogs, or continue the puppy training as an adult, is
   relatively simple. Some dogs are natural pullers, others are not. Some
   dogs take right to the harness the first time, and other dogs, even
   ones from reputable breeders, may take extensive training. You just
   never know.
   
   It is vital to get the dog to lean out and keep the line between it
   and you taut. Some dogs have a real problem with this, others do not.
   For problem dogs, the cause usually is due to the dog not liking you
   to be behind it. If you do have trouble, there are a variety of
   methods you can use. As long as you make training a fun game, and you
   make the dog understand what you want it to do, training will progress
   quickly, even for stubborn dogs, like Siberians. Fortunately, they
   LIKE to pull, so their stubbornness is not a problem here. Sometimes
   getting them to STOP pulling is!
   
   Some mushers feel that it is best to train dogs to pull lots of
   weight, then speed comes naturally in a race without the weight.
   Others feel that speed and endurance training is best. Still others
   feel that a combination works best, similar to the combination
   training for the musher. Training for speed and endurance by mushing
   shorter distances (under 10 miles, sometimes even 3 or 4 miles) at top
   speed and up hills is beneficial. Loping along at 3 or 4 miles an hour
   for 15 or 20 miles is also beneficial. Both of these build strength
   and endurance. Pulling heavy weight for short distances is also quite
   good, particularly for wheel dogs (the ones hitched closest to the
   sled). For this, try a plastic tub to which you can add plastic
   weights (the ones from barbell sets will have the weights printed on
   them).
   
   Whichever method you use, remember to take it easy with your dogs and
   not push them to hard, and never, NEVER, lose your temper with your
   dogs. Remember that this is supposed to be fun for both you and the
   dogs. George Attla, a famous musher once said, "If the dogs make a
   mistake while out on the trail remember that it is not the dogs that
   have made the mistake. It is you." For additional training information
   (with much more detail than is practical to provide here), see the
   references.
   
  Training lead dogs
  
   To successfully mush, one must have a good lead dog (or dogs). This
   dog will take your commands for regulating speed and direction for the
   entire team. Naturally, if you are driving only one dog, that will be
   your lead dog.
   
   Training lead dogs is too complex to really do it justice here. The
   basics are you want the dog to learn to turn right, left, speed up,
   and slow down on voice command. You also want the dog to bypass
   interesting detours and distractions. In addition to the basic
   commands already introduced (see section 3), the dog must also be
   taught the commands below:

       kissing sound : Speed up (or other appropriate sound)
       on-by         : Go by a fork in the trail, other dogs, or
                       other distractions without detour

   All commands are spoken in a firm, calm, not too loud voice.
   
   During training, you must be certain to use varied turns and trails to
   be sure that the dog is really executing the commands rather than
   following a well worn path. You must also anticipate the turn and
   issue the command at the correct time from the _dog's_ perspective.
   Finally, some people get confused when issuing the right/left
   commands, particularly in the excitement of a race. Some mushers tape
   the commands on the front of their sleds, on the right and left sides.
   You may want to do this while beginning on the sled.
   
   To train a dog to execute these commands with regularity is not too
   difficult. To train a dog to do this during the excitement of a race
   with lots of distractions is more difficult. One possible way to
   approach training is to start out on foot when the dog is a puppy.
   Keep the lessons varied, quick, and fun. Be certain to do the lessons
   in a variety of environments, with and without distractions. When the
   dog is old enough to pull weight (about one year to 18 months, get
   advice from your veterinarian), you may wish to graduate to cross
   country skiis. The dog will learn to execute commands in snowy
   conditions, and at higher speeds. Once you have your lead dog well
   trained and pulling your sled, you will find that other untrained,
   young, dogs can be very easily added to your team as your lead dog
   will "correct" the new dog's mistakes, usually faster and better than
   you can.
   
   This is one way in which lead dogs can be trained. Consult the
   references and experienced mushers (if you can find any) for
   additional information.
   
  Training for weight pulling
  
   Here emphasis is on strength and pulling straight no matter how
   difficult. Most of the mushing books in the references discuss weight
   pulling training.
   
  Training for skijoring
  
   Skijoring is you on cross country skis and the dogs pulling you. YOU
   MUST BE A VERY GOOD CROSS COUNTRY SKIER. This is a must. Before
   attaching dogs, cross country ski all over the place, on a wide
   variety of terrain. Learn to fall in a controlled way. You will
   eventually need to do this when skijoring. You will need to learn to
   turn quickly and ski in control at high speeds. Skiing downhill in
   cross country skis is a good way to simulate skijoring speeds.
   
   The dog(s) must be well trained as well. Train all of them as lead
   dogs. They need to know and obey all of the commands very well
   (especially whoa!). The references all include information about this
   fast growing sport.
   
  Health, diet, and care -- Sled Dog Specifics (briefly) Sled dogs are
  athletes. They are also remarkably healthy. It is important to realize that
  because sled dogs are athletes, they require special attention in at least
  two specific areas.
  
  Probably one of the most important aspects for caring for sled dogs is the
  foot. You should inspect your dog's feet regularly. The skin of the pad
  should feel tough, but pliable, be resistant to abrasions and lacerations,
  and be free from cracks, dryness, or scarring. Also inspect the nails of the
  foot carefully. Nails can help the dog grip ice, but if too long, they can
  cause serious foot injury. According to Miki Collins in _Dog Driver_, if the
  nails are long enough to force the toes upward when the dog is standing on a
  hard, level surface, clip them. Nails that are too long can get caught and
  ripped out on the trail, or they can cause toes to break. Both of these
  injuries can be quite serious, and they are certainly painful.
  
  The subject of diet should also be touched on here. Most mushers feed a high
  stress, high energy diet during mushing season, and switch to a "maintenance"
  diet during the "off" season. For example, one experienced musher mixes
  Science Diet Performance dry with canned during mushing season. This is a
  high fat, high protein food. Some mushers even mix food in with lots of water
  hours before a race to encourage drinking. Dogs must be very well hydrated.
  During the off season, the musher in this example feeds Science Diet
  Maintenance canned mixed with either Science Diet Maintenance dry or Eukanuba
  dry. During the mushing season, the dogs are using all components of the food
  that is fed. During the off season, there is no need for such high energy
  food, and in fact, high protein foods can cause kidney trouble later in life
  when not fed in moderation. Final remarksHopefully, this brief summary has
  been helpful to you. Even if you do not want to get involved in mushing
  yourself, try and find mushing events in your area. It is wonderful to see
  the handsome dogs enjoying doing what they were bred for. References
  
    Recommended books for mushing, weight pulling, and skijoring:
    
  Levorsen, Bella, ed. _Mush! A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training_. Sierra
  Nevada Dog Drivers, Inc. Arner Publications, 1976. ISBN 0-914124-06-4.
  
  Collins, Miki and Julie. _Dog Driver. A Guide for the Serious Musher_. Alpine
  Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-931866-48-0.
  
  Flanders, Noel K. _The Joy of Running Sled Dogs_. Alpine Publications, 1989.
  ISBN 0-931866-39-1.
  
  Fishback, Lee and Mel. _Novice Sled Dog Training_. 13th printing, Raymond
  Thomson Company, 1989.
  
  Kaynor, Carol, and Mari Hoe-Raitto. _Skijoring: An Introduction to the
  Sport_. Kaynor & Hoe-Raitto, 1988. Available by writing to P.O. Box 82516,
  Fairbanks, AK 99708 (does not have ISBN).
  
  Hoe-Raitto, Mari, and Carol Kaynor. _Skijor With Your Dog_. OK Publishing,
  1991. ISBN 0-9630854-0-9.
  
    Recommended breed books:
    
  Demidoff, Lorna B. and Michael Jennings. _The Complete Siberian Husky_.
  Howell Book House, 1978. ISBN 0-87605-314-2.
  
  Riddle, Maxwell and Beth J. Harris. _The New Complete Alaskan Malamute_.
  Howell Book House, 1990. ISBN 0-87605-008-9.
  
    Recommended racing and history:
    
  Sherwonit, Bill. _Iditarod, The Great Race to Nome_. Alaska Northwest Books,
  1991. ISBN 0-88240-411-3. Steger, Will and Jon Bowermaster. _Crossing
  Antarctica_. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1991. ISBN 0-394-58714-6.
  
    Periodicals about sled dogs and mushing
    
  The Siberian Quarterly
  4401 Zephyr Street
  Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-3299
  
  The Malamute Quarterly
  4401 Zephyr Street
  Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-3299
  
  Mushing.
  The All Season International Magazine for Dog-Driving Sports
  P.O. Box 149
  Ester, AK 99725
  
    Recommended places to order equipment:
    
  Black Ice, Konari Outfitters, Tun-Dra Outfitters and Ikon Outfitters: all
  addresses are in Catalogue section of the Annotated References FAQ.
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
Herding Dogs

  Herding, along with hunting, is probably one of the oldest professions for
  dogs. There are many breeds bred specifically for herding. There are many
  forms of herding, as well: boundary, fetching/gathering.
  
  There are different styles, as well. Some breeds use what is called "eye",
  the tendency to stare down sheep. Dogs may be strong-eyed, medium eyed, or
  loose-eyed. Border Collies are an example of a strong-eyed breed. An Old
  English Sheepdog, in contrast, does not have much eye. Dogs may use nipping
  or barking to move the sheep. Corgies are well known for their ability to
  dart in and nip the heels of cattle, for example. Other dogs were drovers;
  that is, they physically butt up against the stock to move them. Rottweilers
  and Bouviers both were used for this type of work.
  
  Several different organizations offer herding trials and tests, including the
  Australian Shepherd Club of America, the AKC, the American Stockdog Club. For
  more specifics, see the Stockdog Server.
  
  A short description, as provided by Dianne Schoenberg:
  
  The European herding breeds can be roughly divided into two factions: the
  British herding dogs (Border Collies, Bearded Collies, Old English Sheepdog,
  Rough & Smooth Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs) and the continental breeds
  (German Shepherd Dogs, Briards, Bouviers, Belgian Sheepdogs). There are
  significant differences between temperament and working style between the two
  groups.
  
  In comparison to continental Europe, Britian is an isolated island with a
  significant lack of natural predators. British sheep-ranching operations,
  most particularly in Scotland, involved flocks of rather shy, flighty sheep
  that often lived for generations spread thinly out over the same, rather
  inhospitable hillside, only rarely being gathered for shearing and such. The
  Border Collie is the breed most superbly adapted to working in these
  conditions. The BC runs very wide in order to gather large groups at one
  time, stays far out from the stock and creeps up slowly in order not to spook
  the sheep and make them run (which is undesireable). The BC is superbly
  responsive to command (Scottish shepherds typically work with whistle
  commands, as the sound carries well-enough to be heard and obeyed when the
  dog is as far as a mile off(!)) and the BC has few if any protective
  instincts (not necessary because of the lack of predators and the sparse
  population of the districts where sheep were raised). The style in which BCs
  work is generally referred to as "fetching" or "gathering" because their
  primary function as herders is to "fetch" the sheep to the shepherd.
  
  The situation in continental Europe was far different. Rather than the
  far-flung flocks that reigned in Britian, most sheep were raised in small
  farm operations. In comparison to flighty British sheep, most continental
  sheep are quite tame ("heavy" in herding parlance) and are readily trained to
  follow a shepherd about. The sheep were typically kept in a barn at night and
  taken out to unfenced fields to graze by day. Since the fields used for sheep
  pasture were often side-by-side with those used for growing crops, the
  shepherd needed a dog that would patrol the "boundary" of the area, serving
  as a sort of living fence. Furthermore, predators (both animal and human)
  were always a threat, so all the continental herding breeds have
  strongly-developed protective instincts (which is why they are the breeds
  most often chosen for police and protection work). The German sheepdog trials
  (HGH, pronounced "haw-gee-haw") are a demonstration of this style of herding
  (variously referred to as boundary, tending or continental). Typically using
  a large number of sheep (something on the order of 100) that are conditioned
  to follow a handler around, the dog demonstrates its ability and desire to
  patrol the "boundaries" of the flock as the handler leads the flock around. A
  courage test, in the dog must protect his handler and flock from a stranger
  wielding a stick, is an important part of every HGH trial.
  
  [Australia has a lot of herding dogs; what about them?]
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
Narcotics and Evidence Dogs

  This is commonly considered a subset of SAR. Dogs can be trained to alert (by
  barking, pointing, or pawing) on controlled substances such as drugs,
  agricultural products (e.g., in customs or at borders), and nearly anything
  else (for example, gunpowder (to detect guns), bomb materials, arson
  materials). Narcotic dogs are trained to search through buildings, cars, and
  luggage for their scent. They can be trained to alert on more than one kind
  of drug, and can do so despite ingenious efforts on the smuggler's part: dogs
  have been known to locate drugs concealed in gasoline, rotting food, skunk
  oil, and many other efforts. They can be trained to discriminate between
  large and small amounts: in fact some dogs are trained to whiff passing
  vehicles; if it alerts on one, that vehicle can be stopped later and searched
  without directly involving the dog and its handler.
  
  Evidence dogs are trained to search for items bearing human scent, sometimes
  specific human scent. They are utilized in crime scenes to find evidence
  thrown away by a suspect. Such evidence can be later used (if handled
  properly) by a Bloodhound to link the scent on it to a suspect: several such
  cases have been deemed admissible evidence in court.
  
  Dogs that are trained to alert on contraband items are almost always owned by
  law enforcement personnel, as these individuals can most easily legally
  obtain small quantities of contraband to train their dog with. In other
  words, average citizens do not train narcotic dogs because of legal
  difficulties. The dog's training record must record legal acquisition of
  contraband material used in training: if no such record exists, or the dog
  does not have a training record, then its evidence will not be accepted in
  court. (In other words, don't try this at home. Similar problems exist for
  the cadaver dog: dead human parts must be legally obtained.)
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
Patrol Dogs

  This is a very general term. Technically, any dog working for a police or
  sheriff department is a "police" or "patrol" dog, this can include narcotic,
  evidence, tracking, trailing, and attack dogs. SAR and narcotic and evidence
  search have already been covered. The popular notion of the term "police dog"
  refers to "attack" dogs kept by law enforcement departments. Dogs can do more
  than one job; there is no reason that a dog couldn't trail/track people,
  sniff out narcotics, and locate arson material. But attack dogs are usually
  used only for chasing suspects and bringing them down. Of interest in our
  litigous society is the current trend of going to bark and hold, which means
  that the dog barks at the subject to hold him, and only attacks if the
  suspect continues to flee or if the suspect attempts to attack the dog or a
  bystander. Other departments maintain that it is safer for the dog and
  handler if the dog attacks directly. In either case, the handler should be
  able to call the dog off an ordered attack should the suspect surrender.
  
  Schutzhund training shows that attack training does not exclude other
  abilities, but for whatever reasons, this is not often done (Schutzhund
  training itself is difficult; the Schutzhund section describes the difficulty
  of finding suitable candidates for the training). There are often liability
  concerns; an "attack" dog will be viewed unfavorably by most judges and
  juries if it attacked someone, even justifiably, while doing something else.
  
  There are no national or even state-wide standards for these dogs. However,
  the National Association of Protection Dogs has been formed to try and
  establish a national standard for protection work, and to educate the general
  public about them. They may be reached at NAPDSecty@aol.com.
  
  Many patrol dogs are Schutzhund trained. Some are well trained, others are
  not. German Shepherd Dogs are commonly used, but any large breed with energy
  and drive can be used: Bouvier des Flandres, Doberman Pinschers, Malinois,
  Rottweilers and others have also been used as patrol dogs.
  
  The use of patrol dogs, in an organized fashion, began in the US in 1907 with
  South Orange, New Jersey, and New York Police Departments. These were
  followed by departments in Glen Ridge, NJ (1910), Detroit (1917), Berkeley,
  CA (1930), Pennsylvania State Police (1931), Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  K-9 Section (1937), and the Connecticut State Police (1944). Many other
  departments have since created programs of their own to utilize dogs. This is
  the reason for the lack of uniform standards across the country, as each
  department makes its own.
  
  For a detailed reference, including history, try:
  
  Chapman, Samuel G. _Police Dogs in America_. Bureau of Government Research,
  1979.
  
  For information on training dogs for different types of police work (but not
  attack or protection), see:
  
  Tolhurst, Bill. _The Police Textbook for Dog Handlers_. Sharp Printing, 3477
  Lockport Road, Sanborn, NY 14132. 1991. (Paperback, 89 pages.)
  
     This book is only available from the author. $14 plus $2 shipping
     and handling. Write to Bill Tolhurst, 383 Willow Street, Lockport,
     NY 14094. The most comprehensive training book available. Contains
     information not available from any other source. Contains updated
     information covered by the original National Police Bloodhound
     Training Manual (1977). Plus: how to train a land-cadaver dog, a
     water-cadaver dog, an article-search dog, an accelerant (arson)
     dog. Information on the Scent Transfer Machine, about
     radio-controlled dogs, on crime scene dog development, on the use
     of a scent sleeve. Discusses seminars, Bloodhound misconceptions,
     testifying in court, commands, puppy profiles (how to select a
     puppy) and more.
     
  Also:
  
  Eden, Bob. _K9 Officer's Manual_, _Dog Training for Law Enforcement_ .
  Available from Direct Book Publishing at 1-800-776-2665.
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
Water Rescue Dogs

  This information was kindly supplied by Carol Norton-Miller and/or Darlene
  Stever .
  
  The Newfoundland Club of America offers tests for two water titles. The
  junior title is for Water Dog, while the senior title is for Water Rescue
  Dog. Both tests consist of six exercises, with two judges in attendance. The
  dog must pass all six exercises by both judges to obtain the title. Junior
  testIn the junior test, the first exercise is Basic Control. This is held in
  a fenced area, similar to an obedience class. All exercises are done off
  lead, but the handler may talk to the dog and give hand signals all they
  want, as long as they don't touch the dog. The exercises are heel, which
  includes fast, slow, turns and stop; recall, in which the dog must start to
  move on the first command, after which the handler may call and encourage all
  they want, "finish" is optional; and a three minute long down as a group
  exercise, with the handler in the ring. If the dog has a CD title, they may
  elect to skip this exercise.
  
  The second junior exercise is a "single retrieve." The handler must throw a
  boat bumper a minimum of 30 feet. The dog must retrieve the bumper and
  deliver to hand. The handler may not step into the water at any time. If the
  dog drops the bumper, the handler may command him to pick the bumper back up.
  The next exercise is a "drop retrieve." A steward rows through the test area
  at 50 feet from shore. The steward drops an article, either a boat cushion or
  a life vest (usually selected by the judges in a random drawing), on the
  blind side of the boat (the side away from the shore). Once the boat clears
  the test area, the handler sends the dog to retrieve the article, and deliver
  it to hand. Again, the handler may not enter the water.
  
  The next junior exercise is the "take a line." A steward introduces himself
  to the dog, then goes into the water to 50 feet from shore. The handler hands
  the dog a boat bumper with a 75 foot line attached. The dog must swim out to
  the steward, who is calling the dog by name, and must swim close enough to
  the steward so that he is able to grab the line. The exercise is completed
  once the steward has the line in hand. The dog is usually taught to swim
  around the handler to make it easier to grab the line. The next exercise is
  "tow a boat." The dog and handler enter the water to wading depth. The dog is
  handed a boat bumper which is attached to a 14 foot row boat, with no one in
  it. The dog must tow the boat for a distance of 50 feet parallel to the
  shore. If the dog "grounds" the boat, he must tow it back out to wading
  depth, with the handler using voice commands only. If the dog drops the boat
  bumper, the handler may give voice commands only to get him to pick it back
  up.
  
  The last exercise is "swim with handler." The dog and handler enter the water
  together and must start swimming within thirty feet of shore. They swim
  together for 20 feet, and the dog must not interfere with the handler in any
  way. At 20 feet, the judge will blow a whistle, at which point the dog and
  handler turn towards shore, again with the dog usually swimming around the
  handler. The handler then takes hold of the dog, usually to the rear
  feathering or hair on the dogs sides or back, and the dog must tow the
  handler to wading depth. The handler's feet must be out of the water to show
  that they are indeed being towed. Senior testIn the senior exercises, the
  major difference is that the stewards may not call the dog by name, only by
  calling "dog," "help," etc. The first senior exercise is a "directed
  retrieve." A steward rows through the test area at 50 feet from shore. At a
  designated spot, he drops one article, either a boat cushion or a life vest,
  and at a second designated spot he drops the other article. The judge will
  direct the handler to send the dog for one article, which the dog must
  deliver to hand. Then the handler will send the dog for the second article.
  This is similar to the "directed retrieve" in AKC Utility Obedience, except
  you are using only two articles, and the dog must be sent out for both
  articles.
  
  The next exercise is a "drop retrieve." The dog and handler are placed on a
  platform on the back of a row boat, which is rowed out 75 feet from shore.
  The handler will toss an oar into the water, and direct the dog to jump from
  the boat and retrieve the oar. The dog must deliver the oar back to the boat,
  at which point the handler may either help the dog back into the boat, or may
  enter the water and swim to shore with the dog.
  
  The next senior exercise is an "underwater retrieve." The dog and handler
  enter the water to chest deep on the dog. A non-floating object is dropped
  into the water 3 feet in front of the dog. The dog may either go underwater
  to retrieve the object at that point, or may "paw" the object closer to shore
  and then retrieve it. Again, the dog must deliver the article to hand. The
  next exercise is "directed rescue." Three stewards enter the water and swim
  out to 75 feet from shore. The judge will determine which steward is the
  "drowner." The handler gives the dog a line with a life ring attached. The
  dog must swim out to the designated "drowner," close enough so the steward
  can grab the life ring (again we usually teach the dog to swim around the
  steward). The dog must then tow the steward back to wading depth, with the
  steward's feet out of the water to show that they are being towed.
  
  Next is the "take a line, tow a boat" exercise. A steward and the rower are
  in the row boat 75 feet from shore. The steward calls the dog, again not
  using the dog's name. The handler gives the dog a boat bumper with a rope
  attached. The dog must swim out close enough to the boat so the steward can
  grap the rope. The dog must then tow the boat back to shore, close enough to
  ground the boat.
  
  The last exercise is the "rescue off boat." The handler and dog are again
  placed on a platform on the back of the row boat, which is then rowed out 75
  feet from shore. The handler "falls" into the water, then calls the dog to
  "rescue" him. The dog must jump off the boat, swim to the handler, then tow
  the handler to wading depth.
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
Drafting Dogs

  Dogs have long been used as drafting and carting dogs. There are many
  variations of this activity, which is also in some cases a sport (such as
  weight pulling). I've outlined a few below [This could use
  expansion/description of other activities appropriate for this section.]
  Newfoundland Club of America "Draft Dog"This information was kindly supplied
  by Carol Norton-Miller and/or Darlene Stever . Again, the Newfoundland Club
  of America has a test to award the title "Draft Dog" to Newfoundlands. All
  exercises are done off lead, but the handler may give verbal commands,
  encouragement, or hand signals all they want, as long as they don't touch the
  dog. All exercises are judged by two judges, and the dog must pass all
  exercises by both judges to be awarded a Draft Dog title.
  
  The first part of the test is "Basic Control," which consists of heel off
  lead (including fast, slow, turns and stop), a recall (the dog must start to
  move on the first command, after which the handler may call and encourage the
  dog all they want), and a three minute long down, with the handler in the
  ring.
  
  The second exercise is "Harnessing and Hitching." In a designated area, the
  handler leaves the dog on a stay command, walks at least 20 feet to pick up
  his harness (usually being held by a steward), returns to the dog, and using
  only voice commands or hand signals, places the harness on the dog. This is
  the only time during the test when the handler may touch the dog, and then
  only to the extent necessary to safely put the harness on the dog. Then,
  using voice commands and hand signals only, the handler takes to dog to an
  area near where his "vehicle" is waiting. He must command the dog to back up,
  at least four feet, preferably backing the dog into the traces of the vehicle
  (although this is not necessary to pass). The handler then hitches the dog to
  the vehicle, and moves the dog forward a few steps. At this point the judges
  will inspect the harness and vehicle for safety. The next exercise is "Basic
  Control." At the judges command, the handler will move the dog forward, slow,
  and halt. The next exercise is an obstacle course, which must include 90
  degree turns, 360 degree turns, a "fixed narrows" (the judges measure all
  vehicles being used in the test, and this obstacle is 1 foot wider than the
  widest vehicle), a "movable narrows" (the judges measure each vehicle, and
  the narrows are reset to 1 foot wider than the vehicle being tested), a back
  up of at least three feet, and a movable obstacle, where the handler must put
  the dog on a stay, move the obstacle, move the dog past the obstacle, put the
  dog on a stay, and replace the obstacle. At this point, the dogs and handlers
  are usually given a short break while the judges check equipment and weight
  for the 1 mile cross country freight haul! The weight pulled depends on the
  type of vehicle, with a travois pulling 5-15 pounds, a two-wheeled vehicle
  pulling 25-75 pounds, etc. Most competitors use a two-wheeled vehicle, and
  usually use 25 pound weight. The judges must watch the handler load the
  weight into the vehicle, and the weight must be secured for safety, as the
  cross country course includes uphill and downhill maneuvers. The final test
  is the 1 mile cross country freight haul. Again, the dog is off lead, using
  only voice commands and/or hand signals for control. The course includes
  uphill areas, downhill areas, and various footing, usually including dirt,
  grass, blacktop, gravel, sand, etc. At the conclusion of the 1 mile freight
  haul, the judges must observe each handler unhitching the dog, in a safe
  manner. One other "exercise" that is included in the test is an "intriguing
  distraction." This may occur anywhere during either the obstacle course or
  the cross country freight haul. It may be almost anything, within certain
  safety restrictions. This has included such things as kids and other dogs
  playing, a rabbit on a leash, and even a radio-controlled car!
  
  The Draft Dog title and the Water Rescue Dog title are included in the
  requirements for an NCA Versatility Newf title. The dog must also obtain an
  AKC Championship and a minimum of an AKC CD title. At this point, they are
  awarded an NCA Versatility Newf title.
    ________________________________________________________________________
                                        
  
    Working Dogs FAQ
    Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com
