025. Drafting Dogs
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.
025. 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.
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