024. Senior test
Description
This article is from the Working Dogs FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
024. Senior test
In 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.
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