About The Club
Statement from the Committee
The idea of a Club being formed purely to support and promote the working side of tNewfoundlands is not a new one.
There have been suggestions floating around the working Community for years. We believed it was the right thing to do, and our gamble has paid off since the club’s launch in 2012.
We initially contacted the three breed Clubs and asked them to recognise our Standards Tests. All declined to do so. Nonetheless, we chose to recognise all passes obtained by you with all three Breed Clubs so that everything you had obtained or went on to obtain would be recognised by us. This means you may progress towards your bronze, silver, and gold multi-passes with us. Our Standards tests, like those used by the three breed clubs, are tested under the same high standards by the same judges.
The Southern Newfoundland Club did initially opt to recognise our standards tests, but this has now been withdrawn. We introduced Acheivers Awards – not to replace the standards tests but to enhance them and to encourage those to take part who just don’t have dogs that will undertake higher sections. Now you can still excel and gain recognition for what you and your dogs can do rather than feel you can achieve no higher than lower levels. This is what people asked ofr and we have been overwhelmed by the response to them seeing as many Achievers awards as Standards tests taking place at each event. We have also written Achiever’s Nose Work and Obedience awards and a Veteran Water Test so that there is something for all Newfs and owners to take part in.
We want you all to enjoy working with your Newfs and be assured that what you achieve will be celebrated.
Obviously, this Club could not be created all by one person so a small group was constituted as a committee to allow us to open a bank account and fulfill the criteria and obligations necessary to take out insurance and to approach venues with a view to hiring them for events. This is the way that all structured community groups start. The people on the committee were chosen because of their known skills, working knowledge, drive, commitment, and above all, passion for working. And although inevitably people come and go on committees over time, this criterion will continue with any new committee members who join us.
Just like all working events, we do not come under any Kennel Club rulings and will be an autonomous Club working solely for the benefit of our members. We will make our decisions based on the needs of our own members and will always be open and honest about what we are doing.
We will not be involved in showing, breeding, or welfare work, but we will always signpost to the Breed Clubs that do this. We will always point people in the direction of puppy liaison officers and away from puppy farmers. We will offer help and advice on Grooming and caring for your dog’s coat and on what you might do to address unacceptable behaviour in Newfs. We will welcome people new to the breed and support them as much as we can.
All incomes from working events will go back into working to allow us to hold events, to cover the Club’s overheads, produce literature, pay for venues, and to purchase badges, sashes, rosettes and a championship trophy to celebrate your achievements. All awards will be based on individual merit – there will be no competitive awards other than one-off events designed specifically as a trial.
So what’s in it for you?
Six different activities you can try with your dog, lots of experience and encouragement, definitely lots of fun, acknowledgement of all you achieve (and help when you don’t) seminars and workshops, the use of technology to make information sharing quick and easy in the future of working with our magnificent breed.
We really hope you will join us.