Splashing puppies

Water work can be started as soon as a puppy has had all its vaccinations, often at the age of twelve/13 weeks.

Fun comes first and is also the most important thing to start working with water.

We build it up through play. The puppy is lifted or supported by a volunteer/supervisor and slowly taken into the water and then slowly released to swim towards the side of the ramparts where its owner is standing.

If the dog threatens to sink too deep, it is helped up slightly on its flanks.

Although almost every Newfoundlander is able to keep his head above water, there is a difference between just splashing through the water and practiced swimming.

Sometimes we see thrashing front legs at first. Then the dog still finds it very exciting.

By helping the dog and of course with patience, we try to give the dog confidence and show and feel that swimming is not scary but fun. As soon as they realize that they also have to use their hind legs, we often see a bit of rest and they swim on without struggling for their front legs.

Most puppies, especially when they are still very young, swim away straight away.

The best swimmers keep the upper part of their back dry and swim in a straight line, a sign that they use all four of their fore and hind legs equally.

The preparations for the real work take place at home. There, the would-be water worker is made enthusiastic with a dummy or another object such as a piece of rope. It is played with and the dog is taught to hold and retrieve the dummy or other object.