Entering water ?

[Harry]

Hi, I was out with a friend this morning and assisting with some retrieve work with his cocker. She retrieves very well despite the area inundated with bunnies and their scent at the moment. We have a nice secluded lake nearby and we decided to do some retrieves from the water. Happily swimming nearby were a few ducks, geese and a couple of visiting swans. We tossed the dummy a little way out to begin with and sent the bitch. Now usually we have a couple of other cockers with us and if it was their turn they would hurridly wade out without too much fuss. But the bitch, well she says stuff the gentle wading in, and runs a little along where the bank steepens and leaps off. ears flying, jowls flapping in the wind, and creates such an enormous splash that everything in sight takes fright and the only thing in the water is her and the dummy. Which she retrieves of course.
Now I don't suppose the style with which she enters the water is a problem. As long as she does, and does the retrieve. But if this were a trial competition, would there be a preferable way for a dog to enter the water ? Are points attached to the manner in which a dog enters the water ? Or is it just a matter of 'get in there ?'

This brings back memories of my labrador I lost not so long back. She wouldn't enter water no matter what A couple of paws maybe, but any deeper, no way. We often used to go down to the beach and it was the same there. In fact she looked quite comical running away from impending ripples as waves gently rolled in. But, when I swam out she always got very animated and you could tell she wanted to follow me. She would dance along the shore following me. One day, instead of walking into the water on my own, I picked her up, and carried her out as far as I could. Only then did it dawn on me that she might not be able to swim It was too late. I gently lowered her into the water, and she swam perfectly. In fact, instead of making for the shore, she always swam alongside me as I swam parallel to the shore. I thought after this she might get the courage to enter the water on her own but she never did. But she always danced along the waters edge until I lifted her and carried her in. Wow, I can't see the computer screen for tears in my eyes now

Harry

[Stacia]

That was a lovely description of your Lab and I can understand the tears. I am sure someone will be along later to answer your specific question.

Jelinga

[trekmoor]

In answer to your question .......... it wouldn't matter in a trial or a test how a dog entered water as long as it did so without much sign of hesitation. My cockers almost always do the flying leap thing and if the bank is a high one they land a long way out. I'd prefer a more cautious entry because there could be something just under the water that could injure a dog.

There's a cocker somewhere among that splash.



Wullie

[Polmaise]

The dog should enter water without hesitation , with drive and enthusiasm.
It should also enter where directed ,and return the same.
anything less in competition is something to aim for.
'Water tests' are checked by the judges previously for route of entry.

[Harry]

Thanks for the replies. So, without hesitation, with drive, and as directed. Method of entry, optional

The possibility of objects under the water is a good point. Especially when out training. At events I'm sure the water conditions are well checked beforehand.

And blimey Wullie, that looks like a scene from Jaws the movie

Harry

[robertmark2006]

What if there was a situation where a bird came down in water that was closer to the opposite side of a lake or river. I send my dog that enters the water as indicated, but then picks the bird, climbs out onto the opposite bank and returns to handler by land, or over a bridge close by. Surely this dog should not be penalized, since it is showing initiative. Quicker retrieve on land.

[trekmoor]

In a test this probably would be penalised. In a trial it would depend upon the circumstances and maybe on the feelings of individual judges. For myself ,since a dog can probably run about 10 times faster than it can swim I wouldn't mind a dog taking the longer land route around a pond as it returns, but as I said , it would depend upon the circumstances.

Wullie

[Polmaise]

It would be penalised in a trial also,as the dog would be possibly disturbing game in an area not hunted?
It can be looked upon by some who do not train for trials ,as 'using its iniative?,however, the return should be as direct to the handler as was sent out!

[robertmark2006]

When viewing trials, if a dog is sent for a runner, the bird may well run on through an area that is not hunted. The dog collects the runner but indoing so,unitentionally flushes game on its return. Is this not the same?

[trekmoor]

It's not the same. Runners must be collected and despatched as soon as possible .

Wullie