Here it is, the end of July, and the whole country seems to be suffering from a heat wave.

The dogs are hot, I’m hot, everyone is hot. It’s time to start being creative on how to keep cool.

Winn loves the baby pool filled with water. She dunks for toys and carrots and instantly cools off but when it’s this hot, I don’t even like her outside for that. I keep Maisie and Winn inside with the air-conditioning, fans blowing to keep the air circulating and cooling pads in their crates to lie on when I have to leave the house.

Each summer, I have stocked the freezer with frozen treats made with fruit and yogurt. I used to fill ice cream cups and give them to the dogs in the house. They would hold them in their paws and lick them til they were gone. It was usually a no mess way to give them a special treat.

Maisie is very dainty with her ice cream, taking her time and savoring it slowly. Winn, not so much.

Winn is the first dog I’ve had that has tried to eat the ice cream and cup all at once. She always seems worried that Maisie is getting more than she is so she races through whatever I give her and stands eagerly waiting for more.

This summer, after pulling a mangled cup out of the back of Winn’s mouth, I came to the conclusion that she can’t be trusted with anything that isn’t fully edible.

I found these cute silicone trays on Amazon and I’m able to pop out a treat for each without worrying that Winn will choke on the paper cup.

I filled these half way with some ground up watermelon and then froze them. Once frozen, I topped them off with some all natural, unsweetened yogurt and put them back in the freezer. Easy, peasy frozen treats ready to go!

Other combinations I’ve used in the past: yogurt, banana and peanut butter is always a favorite; plain yogurt mixed with fresh berries, pumpkin puree or just watermelon and nothing else.

Everyone loves a frozen treat on a hot day!

Are you interested in learning something new with your dog? Does your dog respond well to training? Do you enjoy being in the water? Do you trust your dog off leash?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, great! If not, no worries, if you are willing to put in the time for training, especially with obedience, this could be your favorite new thing.

Here’s a description of each of the exercises for the Junior Water Dog test: http://www.ncanewfs.org/working/water/pages/WD.html

Last year was the first time I tried water work with my Newfoundland and I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of what I learned when I was getting started. Consider this post tips for a beginner by a beginner!

1. A training book

The first thing I bought was the book Water Work Water Play by Judi Adler. This proved to be an indispensable training manual. It explains each of the exercises for the Junior, Senior and Excellent titles. Each exercise is broken down into trainable steps with land work as well as water work. There are chapters on equipment, puppy training and basic skills like take, hold and give that are the foundation for water work. You can purchase it here.

2. Life jackets: A Coast Guard approved jacket for you and a Canine Life Jacket for your Newfie.

You are required to wear a life jacket for the test and whenever you are on a boat. Do yourself a favor and get used to wearing it whenever you train. They come in many different styles so find one that is comfortable. The dogs are not allowed to wear a life jacket for the test, but they are a very good training tool. When you are just getting started, a life jacket will help reinforce an efficient swimming position, aide with endurance and will give you more control because there is a handle that is easy to grab. I wrote a post about canine life jackets last year and you can read it here.

3. A long line (a 20 ft. leash)

In addition to the handle on the life jacket, a long line is a great tool to help gently lead your dog where you want them to go. They can swim away from you, but you still have control and can bring them back toward shore if they swim too far away, start to chase a duck or get confused. Teaching Take A Line is easily done with a long line. I gave Winn the knotted rope and sent her to the caller. He gently led her towards him by pulling on the long line when needed and then guiding her around until she was facing me and I called her back to shore. I have two different lines, a 20 foot and a 50 foot, to build distance without getting tangled up with lots of line when we are working closely. I don’t use them much anymore, but they were very helpful when we were first starting. They are also good to use on land when you are training recall.

4. Bumpers

Bumpers come in an assortment of sizes and materials. I have bought several different types to see which one Winn likes best. Some are squishy, some are hard, some have nubs, some are smooth. Winn has one bumper that she retrieves and another one that she can get a good grip on for Tow A Boat. Try different styles, each dog has a favorite and what one dog may love, another won’t like at all. You can buy bumpers at sporting goods stores like Cabelas in the bird hunting section. Online retailers Amazon, Chewy, Gun Dog Supply or TBI also sell a variety of plastic and canvas bumpers (dummies) in their dog training/retriever training section. The 2” diameter is a great size, I’ve accidentally ordered 3” or jumbo size and they are too big and heavy for what we are doing.

5. An empty gallon jug

You don’t need a boat to start training Tow A Boat. A jug filled with water mimics the weight of a floating boat. Tying a bumper and rope to the jug is a great way to introduce pulling. Start with the empty jug and gradually fill with water to add weight. Pulling the jug around the yard is great training and when a boat isn’t available, I also use it in the water. Whenever we have trouble with an exercise, we do a lot of practice on land and break the skills down step by step. Our trusty jug is a big part of land work.

6. Submersible toys

I dug out the diving toys that we used to take with us while on family vacations when my kids were little. I figured the sooner the better for Winn to get comfortable getting her face wet, and she took to it immediately. She also likes to dive for carrots on a hot day. One of the exercises on the Senior test is an underwater retrieve. There are specific dimensions for the toy and water depth, but Winn thinks it’s all a game for now.

Items 4, 5, and 6 are all things you can start playing with in your backyard. No lake needed!

7. 100 feet of floating rope

Polypropylene rope floats and can be found at hardware stores as well as boating supply stores and online. Some are hollow braid and others are multifilament. Winn likes the rope that is filled, it’s a little softer in her mouth. Tow A Boat calls for a bumper with an 8 foot line attached, Take A Line and Take A Life Ring call for a knotted line. For Take A Line, you will need to make the knot and then have 75 feet of line attached. You can make the knot and 6-8 feet of line with a loop to practice with and later on add another section of rope to equal 75 feet for the test. (Our practice line is about 25 feet because I also wanted to get comfortable feeding the line out as she swims.) YouTube is a good source to learn how to make knots, and once you get them tied, you can keep using them all season.

8. A water absorbing car liner

The worst part about water training is getting back in the car with a wet dog. I towel Winn off as much as possible, a chamois works really well, but she’s still pretty wet and we drive about an hour to our practice site. I found this blanket completely by accident. It is made by a company that makes pee pads. It’s big enough to cover the cargo area, pulls most of moisture away from Winn and doesn’t soak through on the other side. You can learn more about it here: https://www.lennypads.com/washable-training-puppy-pads-designer/

We also have a plastic cargo liner, so if I’m not using the Lenny Pad, I’ll layer on a big fleece blanket that I can easily pull out and wash when we get home. This helps with clean up and my car doesn’t smell like wet dog and stinky lake water all summer long. There are lots of options online for back seat and trunk liners as well.

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9. A leash to use in the water

Leather leashes get really slippery when they are wet and canvas leashes take a while to dry and can get stinky. A lot of people make a leash out of polypropylene rope because it floats and dries out quickly. I like this one made of quick drying neoprene because its softer on my hands, is antibacterial and has a matching collar. Last year at our first test, Winn got spooked by a dive bombing horsefly and tried to run off of the beach. I grabbed her collar and was thankful that the clasp was good and strong so she couldn’t get away from me. You can buy them here: https://www.doogusa.com/collections/collars-leashes This company also has great floating toys that Winn loves to retrieve.

10. Additional items to add as you advance in training: floating cushion and small PFD, a life ring and a paddle.

The Junior and Senior tests both have exercises that utilize a floating cushion and a life jacket (PFD). The Senior test switches Take A Line to Take A Life Ring and introduces jumping from the boat. The dogs jump for a dropped item (paddle) and again for their handler to rescue them.

Other items you may want for your own comfort (I know, this makes my list more than 10 items) are a pair of shoes to wear in the water and cold water wet gear. I started with an old pair of workout shoes but they got pretty stinky from the lake so I eventually bought a pair of water shoes. They are easy to hose out when I get home and they dry quickly. Wetsuits come in a variety of shapes and thicknesses. I prefer pants and a separate top, other women I know like short wetsuits. Since I am very seaweed averse, I wear my pants even on hot days and I don’t get panicky when something brushes up against my legs. I have bought a lot of my gear including Winn’s life jacket at LL Bean. Most sporting and outdoor stores have a good selection with various price points.

Here’s a great article about swim training that I referred to when I brought Winn to the beach for the first time. It is written by an NCA member: https://hubpages.com/animals/swim-training

Dog Works sells a Water Test Kit with all of the items that you will need for the Junior and Senior tests. I didn’t want to spend the money all at once but you can buy the kit here: https://dogworks.com/product/water-test-kit/

If you’d like to learn more about water work and see Newfoundlands in action, consider volunteering as a steward at a Water Test. Here’s a list of the different Newfoundland Clubs around the country and the calendar of Water Tests in the late summer/early fall. Two years ago when Winn was just a puppy, I volunteered and learned so much. I wrote about that experience in two posts and you can read them here and here.

Four months after we adopted Annie, the Newfoundland National was held in Warwick, RI. I saw a picture of the Rescue Parade on Facebook and I envisioned Annie and I doing that in the future. The following year, the National was held in Oregon and it was just too far away for us to attend. Last year it was held in Michigan. Winn and I attended for the first time, but unfortunately Annie was no longer with us. I was too broken hearted to stay and watch the parade, but this year, this was the event that I was most looking forward to. I was ringside, cheering them all on with memories of Annie in my heart.

Each dog is announced and as they enter the ring, their story about how the came into their adoptive family is read out loud. They receive a special medal, lots of attention and I must admit, more than a few happy tears are shed in their honor. To me, this is the most important event of the week. All Newfies, whether they are show dogs or not, deserve to be celebrated and recognized. I was so happy for each of these dogs and their new life because they were rescued.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger view.

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Since I wasn’t able to be in a parade with Annie, Winn and I participated in the Honors Parade. This was open to all Newfies that have earned a title and there were over 100 entries. Each Dog’s name was read, oldest to youngest, and if they were present, they walked into the ring to receive a special medal.

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On Thursday, the boys are judged in the ring and I watched another class that I thought was really interesting. Stud class includes not only the Sire, but two offspring. The main reason for conformation is to showcase the breed standard. What better way to judge a dog than to see how those traits are passed to the next generation? The brown dog didn’t take 1st place but I thought he and his offspring were all really beautiful.

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Last year I was pretty overwhelmed by the scale of this show. Knowing better what to expect, I enjoyed myself more this year and met friends new and old. Winn’s brother Porter was also up for the week competing in several events, along with their breeder who was a tremendous support to each of us. It was fun to see Porter and Winn side by side as they both were in the Rally ring as well as Specialty Carting.

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The final day of the show is when the top dogs compete for Best of Breed. It’s the big event of the show, and many people make a day trip just for this. After I checked out of the hotel room and got the car loaded up, Winn, my daughter and I sat on a blanket to take it all in. We knew a few of the dogs in the ring, Winn fell in love with one of the brown boys and did her very best flirting to get his attention, but for the most part, we just sat back and enjoyed the show.

It’s not possible for me to post a picture of everybody, but here are just a few from the final day in show ring:

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I hope you’ve enjoyed this assortment of events at this years’ Newfoundland National Specialty. Of course, there is so much more to see and do including shopping the vendors tents!

Until next year…….

Tuesday and Wednesday are primarily dedicated to Obedience but Tuesday afternoon also includes the opening ceremonies. Flags from the U.S., Canada, Newfoundland, Mexico, the State of Michigan, the Newfoundland Club of America and the American Kennel Club are all paraded in before the National Anthems are played. After that, each regional club brings in their flag while their accomplishments and activities are read out loud.

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Most of the clubs dressed in a theme appropriate for their area. My favorite was the Newfoundland Club of New England since they were proudly wearing the jerseys and gear of their sports teams but many of the other clubs were very creative with their outfits. Winn and I marched with our club and we all wore draft test t-shirts since our club put it together this year. ( I didn’t get any good pictures since we were in the staging area waiting for our turn.) After the ceremony, the club flags fly just outside the show area for all to see.

Wednesday was our final day of competitive events. We had been in the hotel since Sunday night and we both woke up feeling sick. I had been up most of the night with a terrible headache and nausea and Winn started the day with an upset stomach. I realized too late that I was having caffeine withdrawal because I hadn’t been drinking my normal amount of coffee each morning since we were so busy. I think Winn was suffering from stress, over stimulation, too many treats the day before or all of the above. I was contemplating pulling us out of our events and lying low in the room, but decided to try our first event. I figured I could pull out of the other two if we didn’t feel up to them.

We were one of the first dogs in the Rally ring and I didn’t expect to do well. I think I was the most calm I’ve ever been since my expectations were so low and we nailed it! To my surprise, we scored well, finished in 3rd place and Winn got her Rally Advanced title. We had so much fun I decided we would go ahead and do the next rally event. We got a perfect score! Winn was very chipper exiting the ring after we proudly took first place.

Our final event was in the Obedience ring. On Tuesday we didn’t qualify. We had been trying to finish her 3rd leg needed for her Companion Dog/Novice title and that was the 5th time we NQ’d. I had no hope that we would do better, but we played games before we went in and I decided to be as goofy as I could between exercises to keep her attention and make it fun. Apparently, that was the secret because we tied for 3rd place, she got her best score ever in that event and we finally got her title! To break the tie, we had a run-off with an additional heeling pattern which neither of us were really into. I had a hard time focusing since I was just so thrilled that we actually qualified. The other team performed better and we finished in 4th place. In addition to our placement, qualifying and titling ribbons, the trophies that day were pieces of Lenox China made for the show. What a wonder way to finish!

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One of the most special highlights of the week is the Living Legends ceremony. Newfoundlands 10 years and older are honored. A huge banner with all of their faces is displayed all week just outside the main show ring. This year, over 80 dogs were celebrated. Their names are called out and those that are present and able, walk into the ring. They each receive a special medal, a booklet featuring all of the Living Legends and a special poster made with their picture in the center.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger view.

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I’ll finish this post with an event I hadn’t seen before, but is definitely one of my favorites that I watched last week. Imagine trying to make two dogs move as one in the conformation ring. That is Brace class, a thing of beauty when they are in sync mixed with a few moments of mayhem in between.

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I’ll wrap up this series tomorrow with a few more featured events, but there is certainly so much more to see at this show!