Gail Fisher, All Dogs Gym & Inn - The perfect place for pets and their people

N.H. Sunday News - Dog Tracks Column
By: Gail T. Fisher

A wonderful picture on the Back Page of the NH Union Leader this week sparked today’s column. It is a photograph of nine Newfoundlands sitting in a life raft towed by a tenth dog at the international lifeguard meeting in Winterbach, Germany. The ten Newfies are trained lifeguard dogs of the Italian School of Canine Lifeguards, jumping from helicopters and boats to reach swimmers in trouble. The caption says that the Italian Coast Guard rescues about 3,000 people each year, and the dogs are credited with saving several lives.

This photo brought back memories of the first time I heard of a Newfie rescuing someone. A former student of ours, Betsy Wiederhold, of Francestown, NH, was in a row boat off the coast of Maine. She was rowing home at dusk when a fogbank rolled in, completely disorienting her. With no idea where the shore was, Betsy called out for help, fearing no one would hear her, or could find her in the dark and fog. She was wrong. Swimming through the dark and gloom suddenly appeared her Newfoundland. Her canine savior grabbed the tow rope, and towed Betsy to her dock.

To demonstrate the instincts of this wonderful breed, in 1972 the Newfoundland Club of America held their first NCA Water Test—a competitive event with several levels of difficulty. Tests demonstrate the dogs’ abilities to perform such tasks as retrieve an object dropped from a boat off shore, retrieve an object from underwater (elbow depth on the dog), bring a life ring to a swimmer in distress and tow that person to shore, take a line and tow a boat that is at least 75 feet from shore (as Betsy’s dog demonstrated), and jump from a boat to rescue a swimmer in distress, towing that person to the boat.

I have had the good fortune to help friends whose dogs were training for and competing in water trials, acting as a swimmer in distress, and being rescued. Hanging onto a dog’s tail, being pulled along by a powerfully swimming dog moving at a brisk clip through the water is a nearly indescribable experience. It’s no wonder that coast guards are using these wonderful dogs.

But it is not just Newfoundland Water Trials that offer the opportunity for dogs to express their instincts through useful and fun outlets. You can find enjoyable activities for virtually every instinct a dog possesses, whether pure-bred or mixed-breed. To me, there is nothing more gratifying for a dog owner than to enjoy watching his or her dog participate in an activity that is truly instinctive and joyful.

Whether or not you think you are interested in competitive events, simply training and practicing an instinctive dog sport provides a wonderful time for you and your dog. Here’s a rundown of just a few of the opportunities you can find: There’s sled dog racing and carting—teaching your draft dog to be in harness and pull a cart. There are “earthdog” tests for terriers, herding trials for herding dogs, hunt tests involving both upland and water game, as well as hunting hounds, including hunt clubs that “ride to the hounds”—following a pack of dogs chasing fox scent, not a real fox. Then there is lure coursing, a full-out race that any dog can do. It’s not limited to sight hounds like Greyhounds and Whippets. Other activities that virtually any dog can enjoy and don’t require any special environment or rely on another species to use for training include dog agility and K-9 Nose Work, an exciting new sport that uses the dog’s most prevalent sense, his sense of smell. Nose Work has been called indoor tracking and without the ticks.

Whatever your dog, wherever you live, there is nothing better for your dog and your partnership than to participate in and enjoy an instinctive activity together.

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