Morgan, the Shuswap害羞草研究所檚 snowblower-pushing dog, has added another skill to her repertoire.

Diving under a boat to rescue someone trapped has earned top-dog status for the seven-year-old Newfoundland dog.

With comments including 害羞草研究所淲ow!!! Beautiful! Good job! and Nice害羞草研究所� on her official scoresheet, Morgan from Sunnybrae passed The Newfoundland Club of America害羞草研究所檚 Water Test at the Pacific Northwest Newfoundland Club trials near Portland, Oregon.

Owned by Dean and Grace Edwards, Morgan has attained the highest level of water training available in North America.

Three years ago Morgan, who opens the fridge for her owners, snowblows the driveway and puts empty tins into a bin, attempted the water test in Washington State. She made it through the entire series of six tests but one.

The task that eluded her was diving under a boat to rescue a trapped 害羞草研究所渧ictim,害羞草研究所� something she accomplished in Portland earlier this fall. Morgan has the distinction of being the first dog to acomplish the underwater rescue at the Pacific Northwest trials.

害羞草研究所淭hat was a tough one, getting her to go underneath the three-man rubber boat. They flip it over, she has to swim out 75 feet, go underneath, pull the person out and bring them in (to shore),害羞草研究所� Dean says. 害羞草研究所淚 started training the wrong way so she got scared.害羞草研究所�

Dean then settled on a method that involved two people lifting up the boat and, over a two-month period, slowly lowering it to the water until Morgan got more comfortable with the process.

Before the big underwater task in September, Morgan successfully carried out the other parts of the test.

In the first task, she was required to swim 75 feet out to a boat, find a rope and tow the boat to shore. Next, she accomplished a three-man rescue in which she had to swim out 150 feet, collect one person located 75 feet straight ahead of her, then collect two more people located on either side of her but 100 feet from shore, and swim back to her handler害羞草研究所檚 boat, towing all three of her 害羞草研究所渧ictims.害羞草研究所�

In an unconscious victim simulation, Morgan, without knowing the location, had to first find her victim, gently grab them and pull them 75 feet to shore.

Other tests included swimming out to a boat located 100 feet offshore, retrieving a 125-foot line and delivering it to a steward onshore, and another that involved swimming out 75 feet to a boat, finding two people located out-of-view on the other side of the boat and bringing them safely to shore.

If that sounds like a lot of hard work, Morgan also happily completed the first level of a draft test in Portland, pulling a cart through different obstacles, and all three levels of the 害羞草研究所渢rick test害羞草研究所� that includes a scent test, barking on command and more.

害羞草研究所淪he really had fun and got lots of cookies, and oh yeah, they know when they have done a good job,害羞草研究所� laughs Dean. 害羞草研究所淲e go through quite a few treats; she害羞草研究所檚 very food motivated.害羞草研究所�

Successful underwater rescue accomplished and the test completed, the 125-pound Morgan emerged from the water to enthusiastic applause, and went to each of her admirers as if to accept their accolades, says Grace, looking fondly at the large, affable dog.

And what does the wonder dog do now she has achieved the pinnacle in water trials?

害羞草研究所淪he hangs about and has a good time at the park,害羞草研究所� says Dean, noting he plans to begin obedience training with her soon. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 just about ready to retire, but she still wants to do stuff and hopefully she害羞草研究所檒l stay healthy.

Finished their landscaping business for the season, the couple are enjoying being at home with their canine companions, which also include six-year-old Bernese mountain dog, Georgia, and two Nova Scotia duck tollers.

Georgia has passed some trials and while she sometimes gets jealous of Morgan, she害羞草研究所檚 not quite so keen on learning.

And as the season of snow approaches, Dean is quite sure Morgan will again push him out of the way to get her paws on the snowblower.

害羞草研究所淲e try to keep her busy; if she害羞草研究所檚 bored, she害羞草研究所檒l bring us something from the fridge. She seems to know what you want when you害羞草研究所檙e asking for it,害羞草研究所� Dean laughs, noting he and Grace are getting a new fridge and wondering how long it will take Morgan to figure out how to open it. 害羞草研究所淪he grabs the vacuum cleaner too, but that害羞草研究所檚 the chore least liked by humans and dogs.害羞草研究所�

On the community outreach beat, Morgan will go to the high school in December to provide stress relief to students through the St. John害羞草研究所檚 Therapy Dog program. And, closer to Christmas, she will make an appearance at Mt. Ida Mews.

害羞草研究所淲e hooked her up to a wagon and went to all the rooms handing out presents,害羞草研究所� says Dean. 害羞草研究所淧eople really liked it; it makes their day and the caregivers.害羞草研究所�

barb.brouwer@saobserver.net
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