Gearing Up to Get Wet!

Check out some of these great resources for fine tuning your water training sessions

Getting Started In Water Work

Coaching The Reluctant Rescue Dog

Conditioning for Water Training

Knowing When To Take A Break

and

Water Work Video Library

Draft Training Resources

Beef up your training game while you are waiting for the heat to break - draft work will be back in season soon!

Hidden Forces of Draft Work

Training a Driven Figure-8

Draft Equipment - Understanding the Why

Beginner Draft Dog Tutorial

and

Draft Work Video Library

Test Committees -Setting your tests up for success

Do you remember the first time you stewarded at a water or draft test?  Or the first water or draft test you entered as an exhibitor?  Both experiences were exciting, and you may have felt a bit apprehensive, as well.  We all know that recruiting and keeping stewards is vital to the success of our events.  And we want exhibitors to feel welcome and have a positive experience so that they will continue entering our tests and feeling enthusiastic about working events.  Here are a few suggestions test committees can utilize to help calm the nerves of our first-time stewards and exhibitors.

For stewards:

• Determine their level of comfort with stewarding prior to giving them an assignment.  Some may be ready to jump right in and handle multiple tasks while others may not.
• For draft, are they comfortable doing measurements, or would they rather bring up the carts or help set up the course?  Providing a mentor to pair up with a new steward is a great way to teach things like setting up the turns and adjustable narrows, as well as marking other portions of the course.
• For water, are they comfortable getting wet, or would they prefer an assignment where they’ll stay dry?  Be sure that they have a lifejacket if they’ll be getting wet, or have your club provide extras.  Great assignments for first-time stewards include leash steward, beach steward (paired with a second more experienced steward), or “bobber” for the WRD Take a Lifering exercise.  Consider sending the steward the text from the regulations describing the exercise for which they will be stewarding.  Provide the link to the videos created by Deanna Alko and John Caldwell showing each exercise in its entirety . Encourage your stewards to come out to a practice or two to review their assignments.  If they will be calling for an exercise, have them practice with an unentered dog or a dog entered in a division other than the one in which they will be calling to prevent over-familiarization with a calling steward.  Consider a “Steward Training Day” at one of your water test practices, if possible.
• Provide breakfast and lunch for your stewards on the day of the test and be sure to thank them for volunteering their time and helping to make the test possible.  A written thank you note or text message after the test is always appreciated.

For entrants:

• Provide a confirmation letter prior to the test that includes detailed directions to the site, check-in time, a schedule for the day, entry number, information about any pretest practices, pretest dinners or other gatherings, and the cell phone number to reach the Test Secretary.
• Be on the lookout for the arrival of any first-time exhibitors.  Welcome them to the test and check-in with them throughout the day to see if they have any questions or need anything.
• Provide signage to indicate the location of the check-in area and setup area for dogs and handlers, as well as the best location to view the test.  For draft, indicate where carts and harnesses should be left.  For water, indicate where water test equipment should be placed.

As we approach water tests this summer and draft tests this fall, try to recall those first experiences of yours in stewarding and exhibiting.  That excitement and fun that you have for working events is contagious, and while day-of events can get hectic, please make sure you take a minute to share your own joy for the events with others.  When you are the person that welcomes the first-time steward and exhibitor, introduces them to others, and shares your positive feelings about the event, you pass on that joy for our dog sports to everyone that is there that day.  Thanks for passing it on!!