Summary of Water Tests
There are five levels in the water tests: - A being the lowest and E being the highest.
Leos can start water work from as early as 16 weeks of age with care. There is a booklet available free of charge from the working section which sets out some guide lines to help anyone wishing to set up a water training group.
A summary of the tests are shown below with a full set of regulations available for download.
Level A
(Dogs must be at least 6 months old on the day of the test)
- Exercise 1- Swim out 15 metres to handler or stranger
- Exercise 2- Swim out 15 metres to boat
- Exercise 3 -Retrieve familiar object from 6 metres
Level B
(Dogs must be at least 9 months old on the day of the test)
- Exercise 1 -Tow handler or stranger from 20 metres
- Exercise 2 -Tow boat back 20 metres
- Exercise 3 -Retrieve provided object from 6 metres
- Exercise 4 -Retrieve of object from 20 centimetres under water
- Exercise 5-Controlled swim
Level C
(Dogs must be at least 18 months old on the day of the test)
- Exercise 1 Tow stranger from 25 metres
- Exercise 2 Jump from boat and tow 30 metres to shore
- Exercise 3 Retrieve object from 15 metres
- Exercise 4 Controlled swim
Level D
(Dogs must be at least 24 months old on the day of the test)
- Exercise 1 Take coil of rope out to a boat and tow it back to shore
- Exercise 2 Tow stranger to a boat
- Exercise 3 Directed retrieve of one of two objects
- Exercise 4 Search for hidden stranger and tow to shore
Level E
(Dogs must be at least 24 months old on the day of the test)
- Exercise 1 Take out life buoy/jacket to stranger
- Exercise 2 Directed tow of one of two persons
- Exercise 3 Jump and take a rope to a stranger in another boat and be pulled in.
- Exercise 4 Search for hidden rope and tow boat to shore.
Summary of Draught Tests
These tests have been designed to promote team work between the dog and the handler. Dogs may be worked singly or in teams of two dogs, all such teams must be worked side by side. Before entering levels 4 & 5, all handlers will be required to produce evidence of a recent health check for their dog carried out by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon no more than 7 days prior to the test day. A dated letter on surgery note paper, stating that the dog appears to be fit enough to carry out these tests, will be accepted as evidence, if signed by the surgeon. In addition, before entering for a level 3 all handlers will be bound by the same health check and evidence requirement if their dog is aged 7 or over. To download a complete set of the Draught Regs click the button below.
Optional Puppy Introduction
Puppies must be at least 6 months old and less than 15 months old on the day of the test.
The dog will complete the Control Section course set out for Level 1 entrants, NO HAUL MAY BE ATTEMPTED. Judges shall mark this round relevant to the dog’s age, remembering this test is designed to encourage future participation in Draught work.
Level 1
Dogs must be at least 15 months old on the day of the test.
Control - A course will be set with between 7 and 9 turns.
- A wait in STAND (10 seconds.) at a set point
- A one minute Sit/Stand/Down Stay (handler’s choice), handler 2 metres away
- A 3 metre recall to front, finish not required
The Haul - the handler, with their dog alongside them, will get the dog to pull the apparatus between 25 and 50 metres in a straight line, then turn and return.
Level 2
Dogs must be at least 18 months old on the day of the test.
Control - A course will be set with at least 9 turns
- 2 x waits in STAND (10 seconds each) 1 at a set point, 1 random
- A 3 metre recall to front, finish not required
- A one minute Sit/Stand/Down Stay (handler’s choice), handler 3 metres away
Manoeuvring - A course will be set and will incorporate between 6 & 8 elements from the approved list
The Haul - Will be in a rural environment (or simulated) and will be over a distance of approximately half a mile, with at least one change of surface and minimal inclines. During the course a number of obstacles will be encountered; these will include a gate, a right turn, a left turn and a series of fairly tight S' bends.
Level 3
Dogs must be at least 24 months old on the day of the test. Dogs aged 8 years and over on the day of the test cannot enter for level 3.
Control - A control course will be set with changes of pace to slow and back to normal, there will be at least 9 turns.
• 2 waits in STAND (20 seconds each) 1 at a set point, 1 random, (during normal pace)
• A reasonably straight reverse of one metre
• 5 metre recall to front, finish not required
• A 90 second Sit/Stand/Down Stay (handler’s choice), handler 5 metres away
Manoeuvring - A course will be set and will incorporate between 8 & 10 elements from the approved list.
The Haul - Will be in a rural environment (or simulated) and will be over a distance of approximately 1.5 miles, with at least one change of surface and at least 1 incline to ascend/descend. The course may be extended if an incline is not available.
Level 4
Dogs must be at least 30 months old on the day of the test. Dogs aged 8 years and over on the day of the test cannot enter.
Control - A control course that is to completed off lead will be set with changes of pace to slow and back to normal and with changes of pace to fast and back to normal, there will be at least 9 turns.
- 1 random, unexpected stop in STAND (10 seconds) during normal pace
- A reasonably straight "reverse" of two metres
- 10 metre recall to front finish not required
- A two minute Sit/Stand/Down Stay (handler’s choice), handler 5 metres away
Manoeuvring - A course will be set that is to be completed on a totally slack lead at all times, the lead is present solely as a safety precaution. It will incorporate at least 10 elements from the approved list. Plus a 30 sec stay in any position whilst hitched.
The Haul - Will be in a rural environment (or simulated) and will be over a distance of at least 2.5 miles, with at least two changes of surface and an incline to ascend and descend. The overall length of the course may be extended in the absence of this incline. A load, comprising of a full 5 litre water container, will be transported for at least 50% of the course.
Level 5
Dogs must be at least 30 months old on the day of the test. Dogs aged 8 years and over on the day of the test cannot enter.
Control Section - A control course that is to be completed off lead will be set with changes of pace to slow and back to normal and with changes of pace to fast and back to normal, there will be at least 9 turns.
- One minute halt and stand stay, handler 3 metres away
- 3 waits in STAND (20 seconds each) at a set point, (1 at each pace)
- 1 random, unexpected wait in STAND (10 seconds) during normal pace
- A reasonably straight "reverse" of two metres
- A recall from 10 metres (with back to dog) to side or front, finish not required
- A 3 minute Sit/Stand/Down stay (handler’s choice), handler 5m away.
Manoeuvring Section - A manoeuvring course will be set that is to be completed with the lead attached to the harness, not the collar. This is meant to simulate the dog working ‘off-lead’. The lead is present for safety purposes only and must remain slack at all times. The course will incorporate at least 12 elements from the approved list. Plus a 1 minute stay in any position whilst hitched, Handler 2.5 metres away.
The Haul - The Haul section to be completed with the lead attached to the top of the harness not the collar. This lead is present for safety purposes only and must remain slack at all times. The Haul will be in a rural environment (or simulated) and will be over a distance of approximately 3.5 miles, with at least three changes of surface and at least three inclines to ascend and descend. The overall length of the course may be extended in the absence of these inclines. A load, comprising of 2 full 5 litre water containers, will be transported for at least 50% of the course.