An impression ofAn impression of

Water Rescue WorksWater Rescue Workswith with

Czechoslovakian WolfdogsCzechoslovakian Wolfdogs

©© Mijke van Heyningen Mijke van Heyningen

Water Rescue Work is a special kind of Water Rescue Work is a special kind of rescue work. The dogs are trained to help rescue work. The dogs are trained to help

people in the water and people in the water and bringbring them them ashore.ashore.

Water Rescue Work has nothing to do Water Rescue Work has nothing to do with the other kind of rescue work :with the other kind of rescue work :

thethe Water Search dog! Water Search dog!

The The Water Search dogWater Search dog has been trained has been trained to find drowned and missing people in to find drowned and missing people in

and around water. These dogs stand on a and around water. These dogs stand on a boat and can smell a dead person under boat and can smell a dead person under

the water surface.the water surface.

Waterwork has a few basic aspects:Waterwork has a few basic aspects:

• SwimmingSwimming

• Sending forwardSending forward

• Apport & coming backApport & coming back

During the training we work in several During the training we work in several ways to provide these aspectsways to provide these aspects

All excercises are trained with rewardsAll excercises are trained with rewards

During the training the dog wears a During the training the dog wears a lifejacket lifejacket

All participants wear a wetsuit All participants wear a wetsuit (surfsuit)(surfsuit) and water shoes. and water shoes.

Getting “used to water” and swimming Getting “used to water” and swimming

First time with a (for the dog) unknown First time with a (for the dog) unknown handler into the water… handler into the water…

And swim to the owner

During Waterworks training the dogs become During Waterworks training the dogs become better swimmers and they can easily drag a better swimmers and they can easily drag a

person on a long distanceperson on a long distance

The dogs start with a dummy pulling light The dogs start with a dummy pulling light

objects ashore.objects ashore.

Later on the objects will be bigger and Later on the objects will be bigger and more heavy, lmore heavy, like doll’s or a surfboardike doll’s or a surfboard..

Till they can drag a surfboard with Till they can drag a surfboard with person on top ashore person on top ashore

Or easy drag ashore a boat with a personOr easy drag ashore a boat with a person or a diver with full equipementor a diver with full equipement..

The dogs also get used to all aspects The dogs also get used to all aspects of working with a boatof working with a boat

They learn on command to jump They learn on command to jump out of the boat to a swimmer or out of the boat to a swimmer or

surfer in the watersurfer in the water

But also to bring from ashore a But also to bring from ashore a safety line to a boat, or to be safety line to a boat, or to be

pulled up in a boat.pulled up in a boat.

When they have more experience, they When they have more experience, they also can also can from the shore on command swim from the shore on command swim

to a surfer who needs helpto a surfer who needs help

On his own swimming to the surferOn his own swimming to the surfer

And dragging the surfer ashoreAnd dragging the surfer ashore

A CsW likes working and starts everyA CsW likes working and starts every training with joy and after training he istraining with joy and after training he is

happy, tired and satisfied ! happy, tired and satisfied !

With thanks to all theWith thanks to all theParticipants,the CsW’sParticipants,the CsW’s

and all the others and all the others for the nice days!for the nice days!