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Carting & Water Rescue Training
A Newfoundland dog loves to work.
It has a rich history of working attributes that include both Water Rescue and Draft (Carting) work. Some of our members do more than just 'show' their Newfoundland, so we thought listing some fun things you can do during summer and winter months in Australia with your Newfoundland dog
During the summer months:
Water training and Water-fun. The most popular thing to do is water rescue, along with some trick training and obedience training.
The Newfoundland dog has a natural affinity to water and an innate need to rescue. Which makes training for water rescue work perfect and fun.
A Newf is a very easy training partner, willing and smart. Training them from puppies makes it all that more easier to teach them from day one what you want as their behavior.
This doesnt mean you can't train the older dog that loves swimming.
72 Kilo of Balance - Katy on a kayak
To have fun in the water with your Newfie you want to teach your dog a good recall and to be obedient in the water and land, so they can work off lead and have fun.
Everything starts on land; Obedience is a very good basic, especially the recall. It's best to start from puppy, never force the puppy into the water, but allow it to follow. Teach the puppy to follow you on land and reward heavily and it will want to come into the water with you.
In the water teach the pup to “go around” people and swim to and fro. Teach early “hold” and “retrieve” and also the “take it”. Playing “tug” and teaching “off” are all very handy for water work. Dogs can be taught to pull you in when asked and also take items out to people such as ropes and life rings. They can pull the small boats back to the beach, newfies love boating, from paddleboard, kayaks to large boats. This is where early hind leg awareness training is very helpful. It teaches good balance. Going to the beach, Lake or river with a newfie that has been taught all these “tricks” makes it a lot of fun.
There is a Water Dog Title in the USA, which is the first of many titles.
Safety Issues with Newfoundland dogs and swimming.
When your newfie is well trained and fit they can swim long distance without any problems and without any safety equipment like lifejackets. But most people do not have newfies that swim frequently and that are fit. If you swim your dogs for long sessions, (greater then 20 minutes), it might be better to invest in a lifejacket for safety reasons. Dogs do not always realize when they get tired. Just having a lifejacket on the dog to be able to pull them out of the water and because of the colour to be able to see them if they have issues.
Life jackets should be well fitted and snug, they should have enough flotation to assist the dog to float. A bright colour helps to see the dog. If you want the dog to pull people in a good handle should be made/added to have a good hold on the dogs at the rear of the lifejacket. If there is nothing to hold at the backend of the lifejacket do not use the lifting handle as this pushes the dog down. The life jacket should be gripped at the side to keep the dog up.
Below are some pictures of how to hold life jackets without a ring or something to hold on to and pictures of handles on a life-jacket.
Well fitted lifejacket
Close up of life-jacket - Ring added to purchased lifejacket - quick release and easy to hold
Correct way to hold a lifejacket if it does not have a ring or something to hold at the back
Katy pulling person in - holding side of life-jacket
Prioritize safety by limiting repetitive retrieval drills. Avoid small items like tennis balls, as they can cause dangerous water ingestion or secondary drowning. Instead, we suggest using floating bumpers or dock ropes, which allow your Newfoundland to carry objects safely and comfortably.
Should you need a lead during water activities, always use a specialized floating line with buoyant knots. Conventional ropes sink and pose a high risk of entanglement; high-visibility, floating gear is vital for reducing underwater hazards and ensuring a safe experience for your dog.
For those seeking the highest standards, our club previously hosted a formal evaluation by an expert American judge. Australia is now home to many elite Newfoundlands that consistently achieve these prestigious international performance benchmarks
During the Winter Months:
When the weather cools down, we transition to rally obedience, scent work, tracking, and drafting. These activities keep our dogs physically fit and mentally engaged.
Drafting and carting are open to all owners and are officially recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), with sanctioned trials held right here in our local area.
A Draft Test consists of several challenges that demonstrate a team’s ability to pull carts and transport weighted freight. It celebrates the deep bond between handler and dog, requiring the animal to stay focused and responsive. In Australia, teams usually start at the Novice Draft level on a loose lead, navigating a set course to demonstrate their proficiency.
If you are interested in trying this with your Newfie, we encourage you to join the NSW Drafting Facebook Group for more information.
You have to use the appropriate wagon or cart. But you can even use a sled or travois for Drafting.
Teaching your Newfie to pull a cart is quite involved.
To be a good team, dogs need to be well trained and have good obedience on a loose lead and off lead.
It is even better if they listen to voice commands such as left, right, easy, stop, wait, stay, forward etc.
They need to focus on the handler and ignore things happening around them.
A well-balanced cart/wagon is important. You can test this by pulling it yourself, when attached to the dog the poles should be level and there should be enough room for the dog to reach at a trot and not touch the front of the wagon/cart. But the most important part of Drafting/carting is a well-fitting harness. There are so many types, a favorite is the Siwash harness. It has a padded V that crosses from the shoulders down to the front chest and back underneath the dog. It gives freedom of movement and reduces the risk of rubbing as happens with parade harnesses.
Different type of carts
Drafting training
Remember:
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Dogs should be old enough to carry weight, you can start training early, but no weight until well matured.
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Dog should be in good health
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Dog should be in good physical health.
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For short periods with an easy to pull cart, you can allow some work if they enjoy it.
Here are a few websites you might find useful :
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My Dog Works
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Nordkyn Outfitters
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Windchill Dog Gear
There is a different part of Drafting/Carting which is just pure fun. Your Newfie will still have to be well trained and mannered as it can be dangerous to have a large dog that is untrained in front of a cart. You can go market shopping with your dog and entertain small children with pulling them around.
We extend our sincere thanks to Ronnie Taft, a longtime member of our club, for providing such valuable insight into Carting & Water Rescue Training. Your contribution helps our members continue to learn and grow together.
Fun Carting - Annabelle taking Urshie for a ride
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