Working Dog
News

SUPPORTING TRAINERS, HANDLERS, JUDGES AND REGIONAL CLUBS.


4th Quarter 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS
See what's happening for Working Dogs.
In This Issue

As we reflect at the end of the year, the WDC celebrates the successes we have achieved and looks forward to continued work to improve our working events. We celebrate that since 2016, we have added an on leash level of draft work to encourage more folks to work with their dogs, we continue to improve the online entry process, our judges continue to demonstrate their exceptional command of the regulations, regulation updates are on a three year cycle for updates and changes with a lens to clarify not to make more difficult, and, in partnership with the Awards committee, we have expanded the available pathways to achieve a Working Achievement Award. We continue to work to increase available resources, knowledge and information for training so that all members can continue to experience the fun and accomplishments that working with your Newfoundland can bring.  
 
In this issue, you will find updates, a few reminders and a request for photos to make us all smile. Please let us know your thoughts and as always, feel free to reach out to us at workingdog@ncadogs.org with any questions.
 
During this holiday season, we wish you and your furry friends a holiday full of joy, lots of treats, and a new year filled with the promise of new adventures. 
 
The Working Dog Committee wants to hear from you!
The Working Dog Committee has been discussing the pathway to becoming a judge for our working events over the past year, and we would love to hear from you about some ideas about possible changes to the judging requirements and other recruitment suggestions you may have that would impact working enthusiasts who want to move into a judging role in the future.  
 
If you could please take a few minutes to give us your feedback through this attached survey, we would greatly appreciate it. We hope that your feedback helps shape our direction for new judges in a positive and creative way to help us continue these fun dog sports for the next generation of exhibitors.


Do you have other questions about Draft Work? Let us know - we can help! email us: workingdog@ncadogs.org
FEATURED ARTICLES
CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES FROM FELLOW TRAINERS
Best wishes for the very happiest of holiday seasons to all!
Help Wanted!
WDC looks to add a new committee member! Are you interested, see below and please let us know!
 
This committee is charged with the responsibility of providing information and opportunities for Newfoundlands to continue their historical roles as working dogs. It advises the NCA Board in matters pertaining to the activities of working Newfoundlands. It makes recommendations to the Board regarding the right to hold Water Tests and Draft Tests, site approval and judges. The committee acts as a source of information for Newfoundland owners interested in training their dogs for water rescue work, draft work, backpacking, etc
 
Interested members should have a passion for working with their newfoundlands, the ability to work well with a wide array of different ideas and viewpoints, and a high level of tech skill/writing/note-taking to assist with meeting notes (Google suite and NextCloud experience a plus) as well as communicating and working with others via online and email methods. In addition, this member will help liaise with TRAC with workflow and development of online entry and document update processes, help with meeting notes, communicate with others and will need to devote monthly time over and above meetings for these projects. Committee members average 10 hours per month in duties outside of monthly meetings. A computer and high speed internet are required for the work.  Meetings are teleconferences on the second Thursday of each month beginning at 6:30 MT and attendance is required.
 
To apply, please send an email to Lynne Anderson Powell at NCABoD2ndVP@live.com
"Wow! what a difference these carts made. Dogs were able to pull in 6-7 trees with no problem." - Linda McDonald Jones, NCNE
Building Excitement for Working Events
Is your club offering any fun working seminars, special events or fun events that other clubs can add to their list of ways to increase your working event participation? Let us know what your club does to increase interest in working events!  We will share the list in the next issue
Does your club need some ideas? Let us know how to help!
Online Entry and Database Reporting takes the next steps.
The Working Dog Committee and the TRAC committee are moving forward with next steps for our online entry processes. We encourage each club to take full advantage of our online entry system as it also interfaces with our NCA database and helps with updating title information, ownership information and reporting for awards.  As we continue this process, the ability for data to be transferred through online systems will make it easier and easier to work through the online process.  Look for more information soon on the next phases of this work, and we thank those clubs who are willing to be “pilot” programs for us during the coming year. 
 
PLEASE encourage your secretaries to continue to give us feedback…. We want this to work for everyone and we know it will make your volunteer jobs with tests much easier. Let us know how we can continue to support! 
Regional Club Test Committees
Keep planning ahead! As air travel continues to be unpredictable at times with unexpected flight cancellations, delays and changes, we are finding that Regional Clubs have to be prepared for some unfortunate events such as last minute needs to replace a judge on the panel.  As you plan, keep in mind that, if something does happen, consider your options of who may be able to step in at the last minute. Inform your WDC contacts for water tests or draft tests as soon as you know a replacement is needed so we can assist as needed.

Committees – Please Note!
  1.  Please remember that there does need to be a designated boundary for the test area so everyone knows when they are out of bounds. Clubs need to designate what the boundaries are and it needs to be discussed and/or marked. If your park will not allow marking with surveyor’s tape, boundaries need to be clearly defined by something like a tree line or sidewalk. Going out of a test area IS a DQ so the test area needs to be clear for all entrants and judges and committee.   Marking the area with cones, surveyor flags or even chalk like you do for turns are all ways you can identify the area without obstruction. 
 
  1. An honor dog is required for group exercises. While most divisions usually have enough entries to not need this requirement, some days on day two if dogs have pulled or moved up, it is always good to have a backup plan that includes another dog and cart to do this required group exercise.   
RESOURCE
GUIDE
Need help getting started with a working event? Check out these tools for Regional Clubs!
Judge's Corner
Reminder: Judges - we are offering a new option for email on the NCA website. You may now enter a "public display email" in your member profile. This will allow you to have a designated email address just for public display, so you can easily sort and find communication coming from the NCA website, and to protect your private home or work email from scam, phishing emails or mass marketers.

To add a public email, go to the Member Portal, select "My Profile" then select the red "Edit Profile" button. Add the email address you wish to use in the "Public eMail Address" field. Then click the red "SAVE" button at the top of the page.

You may wish to get a free email address through Gmail or other service to use specifically for this purpose.
If you would like to share photos of working dogs at work (and play), please send them in - we'd love to see them! Make sure you have permission from the photographer for us to use the photos for publication.
NEWFOUNDLAND CLUB OF AMERICA
www.ncanewfs.org