Safety First

Belonging to a group is essential to ensure you learn and train in a safe environment.

Muddy Paws members benefit from a huge amount of knowledge and experience in training safely.

Safety is paramount
The most important aspect of water training is safety. This cannot be stressed enough. Nobody, however experienced, can afford to overlook the dangers that deep and often cold water, boisterous dogs, heavy boat equipment, debris on the shoreline, tiring or unfit dogs (or handlers), to highlight but a few, can present to the unwary or poorly prepared. We expect that The Newfoundland Club's 'General Safety Guidelines' are read, understood and followed by everyone who participates in our water training and even if you are just coming along to see what Muddy Paws do, we'd encourage you to read them.

Being prepared

Leather water training harness with large loop handles

An ideal water training harness

Anyone entering the water, being near the water or working from a boat must wear a suitable wet or dry suit, as well as a buoyancy aid / life jacket. Dogs in or near the water should wear a suitable harness and /or buoyancy aid. Even the strongest dog can get into difficulty and a good quality harness may be the difference in a dog surviving an unforeseen incident or not. The best harnesses are those with easily accessible large handles. Those with fabric straps that are small or tight to the dog's back may be easy to grab when the dog is calm and close to a handler, but in an emergency where a potential resucuer may be wearing thick gloves, the handle(s) may prove difficult to locate!

Anyone with a health problem, or on any medication, should make other members of the group aware of this. Also, ensure the others know if their dog has a health or temperament issue.

Shade and water while waiting

Nothing is better than training on a warm sunny day, or is it? The wonderful double coat which protects and insulates a Newfoundland in the water is also a liability for them on hot days. A dog that is staked-up on the bank waiting for it's turn can suffer from heat exhaustion if left in the open without shade. A large fishing umbrella, or a purpose made canopy, garden gazebo etc. can all do the job. Non-swimming owners who are away from the water should be responsible for ensuring that all staked dogs remain in the shade, are wetted down if the weather is hot, that they have fresh drinking water at all times that they aren't getting their legs tangled in their tether ropes and that passing members of the public are observed.

Safety First Belonging to a group is essential to ensure you learn and train in a safe environment. Muddy Paws members benefit from a huge amount of knowledge and experience in training safely.
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	Safety is paramount The most important aspect of water training is safety. This cannot be stressed enough. Nobody, however experienced, can afford to overlook the dangers that deep and often cold water, boisterous dogs, heavy boat equipment, debris on the shoreline, tiring or unfit dogs (or handlers), to highlight but a few, can present to the unwary or poorly prepared. We expect that The Newfoundland Club's 'General Safety Guidelines' are read, understood and followed by everyone who participates in our water training and even if you are just coming along to see what Muddy Paws do, we'd encourage you to read them. Being prepared An ideal water training harness Anyone entering the water, being near the water or working from a boat must wear a suitable wet or dry suit, as well as a buoyancy aid / life jacket. Dogs in or near the water should wear a suitable harness and /or buoyancy aid. Even the strongest dog can get into difficulty and a good quality harness may be the difference in a dog surviving an unforeseen incident or not. The best harnesses are those with easily accessible large handles. Those with fabric straps that are small or tight to the dog's back may be easy to grab when the dog is calm and close to a handler, but in an emergency where a potential resucuer may be wearing thick gloves, the handle(s) may prove difficult to locate! Anyone with a health problem, or on any medication, should make other members of the group aware of this. Also, ensure the others know if their dog has a health or temperament issue. Shade and water while waiting Nothing is better than training on a warm sunny day, or is it? The wonderful double coat which protects and insulates a Newfoundland in the water is also a liability for them on hot days. A dog that is staked-up on the bank waiting for it's turn can suffer from heat exhaustion if left in the open without shade. A large fishing umbrella, or a purpose made canopy, garden gazebo etc. can all do the job. Non-swimming owners who are away from the water should be responsible for ensuring that all staked dogs remain in the shade, are wetted down if the weather is hot, that they have fresh drinking water at all times that they aren't getting their legs tangled in their tether ropes and that passing members of the public are observed.
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