Annual Water Test for dogs to be held at Pymatuning

JAMESTOWN, Pa. -- The Penn-Ohio Newfoundland Club Inc. will hold its 14th annual Water Test at the Pymatuning State Park dam Saturday and Sunday.
The dogs will be working to attain Water Dog and Water Rescue Dog designations that will be recognized by the Newfoundland Dog Club of America.
The breed has long been used in water rescue work. The water tests are timed and divided into junior and senior divisions.
In the junior division, dogs must pass basic obedience commands and demonstrate various water retrievals, including carrying the end of a 75-foot rope to a person 50 feet out in the water, towing a row boat to shore and towing a person through the water.
To compete in the senior division, dogs must have qualified in the junior division first.
Tasks in the senior division include jumping from a boat to retrieve a paddle or oar, taking a life ring to a person 75 feet offshore, retrieving an underwater object in shallow water and jumping from a boat to rescue a person.
The junior division test will start about 8 a.m. Saturday, and the senior division starts at 8 a.m. Sunday, rain or shine.
Spectators are welcome and should enter the park at the Pennsylvania Park Office on U.S. Route 322 and cross the dam to reach the test site.