Sweetbay’s Draft Dogs The first NCA draft test was held in the mid 1980’s, and Sweetbay dogs and their owners across the country were quick to embrace this historic activity. Our dogs have a genetic gift for draft work, and it is no coincidence that Sweetbay dogs have earned more draft titles - by far - than any other kennel. To pass a draft test, the dog must do basic obedience off lead (heeling, a recall, and a group stay). He must cooperate while being harnessed and hitched and respond to basic commands (haul forward, haul slowly, stop, back up). He must pull the cart through a rigorous maneuvering course, negotiating such obstacles as a high narrow tunnel and a "low narrows", a similar obstacle but only inches off the ground. He must also negotiate sharp tight 90 degree corners, and execute circular patterns (such as figure 8’s). Then, in a group with other dogs, he must haul a weighted cart a distance of one mile, over varied terrain. He must work in spite of distractions, and must demonstrate teamwork with his handler, and prompt response to quiet commands. Oh, yes: all this is done off lead. The following Sweetbay dogs have earned draft (DD) titles. If you spot a TDD here and there, that’s a Team Draft Title. To earn a TDD, the dog works in tandem with one or more other dogs. They are harnessed separately but hitched to a single rig together, and they must perform the above exercises together, sharing the work equally. For an explanation of the title abbreviations, click here. NCA Draft Dogs Sweetbay’s Albert CD TD WD DD, OFA NF-4815 (Patti Pigeon) Sweetbay’s Alexis AmCanCD U-CD RA WRD CanWRD DD, OFA NF-8169, EL-2157 (Ken Norman) Sweetbay’s Alison UDX WRD DD, OFA NF-4756 (Nancy Nevin) Sweetbay’s Asia AmCanCD TD WD DD, OFA NF-3850 (Pat Aires) Sweetbay’s Azimuth WRD DD, OFA NF-7237, EL-1470 (Andrew & Robin Nelson) Sweetbay’s Bailey UDT CanUD WRD DD (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Baron CD WRD DD, OFA NF-2586 (Brian Smith) Sweetbay’s Barry CD TD WD DD, OFA NF-4726, EL205 (Maureen McCord) VN WA Ch Sweetbay’s Benson CDX RE WRDX TDD, OFA NF-7511, EL1666 (Patti Pigeon) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Bonne Amie CDX CanCD TD WRD DD, OFA NF-826 (Pam Mohr) Sweetbay’s Briare CDX CanCD TD WRD DD, OFA NF-3845 (Lee Udelsman) Sweetbay’s Brienna AmCanCD WD DD, OFA NF-2951 (Karen Brockway) VN AmCanCh Sweetbay’s Brigadier AmCanCD WRD TDD, OFA NF-1737 (Pat Aires) Sweetbay’s Bristol’s Brigate CDX CanCD WRD DD, OFA NF-2405 (Dawn Hockman) Sweetbay’s Brody RE WRD TDD CanDD OFA NF-8266, EL2238 (Jean & Mark Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Calypso CDX CanCD WRD DD, OFA NF-1300 (Pam Mohr) Sweetbay’s Carly CDX CanCD WRD DD, OFA NF-2345 (Pam Mohr) WA Sweetbay’s Caspian CDX BN RE TD NAP NJP WD-1 WRD-5 DD-1 DDX-2, OFA NF-11217, EL-4881 (Terri Desnica) Sweetbay’s Charlotte AmCanCD TDX CanTD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-3021 (M. Marcus) Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD TDD WD, OFA NF-4603, EL173 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Chelsea UDT CanUD WRD DD, OFA NF-1104 (Cheryl Dondino) Sweetbay’s Chesapeake CD WD TDD OA OAJ, OFA NF-5127, EL321 (George Brown) Sweetbay’s Clancy DD, OFA NF-5914, EL678 (Doug & Jennifer Thor) VN CH Sweetbay’s Coast CDX RE WRD TDD, OFA NF-7899, EL-1956 (Susan Kerby) Sweetbay’s Coburn CanCD CanTD WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD, OFA NF-4290 (Margaret Chandler) Sweetbay’s Cody DD, OFA NF-6997 (Karen Brockway) Sweetbay’s Corinanne CD RN TDD OFA NF-8246, EL2221 (Nancy Aliff) Sweetbay’s Cosmopolitan CD WRD TDD, OFA NF-4311, EL87 (Debby Rothwell) Sweetbay’s Coventry AmCanUDT AmCanWRD TDD, OFA NF-2182 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Cutter AmCanCD AmCanTD NA WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-5354 (Frosti Lange) Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL1205 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Desmond CD TDD, OFA EL613 (Pat & Rick Pourchot) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Destry AmCanCD WRD DD, OFA NF1561 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Doogie AmCanCD DD, OFA NF-3848 (Julie Saunders) Sweetbay’s Eliot AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-2969 (Mike Walthers) Sweetbay’s Emmaline TD WD DD, OFA EL746 (Brad & Jill Wall) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Erin AmCanCDX TD WRD DD, OFA NF-1936 (Mel Wunderlich) Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-7215, EL1456 (Judi Adler) Sweetbay’s Fairchild CD TD DD, OFA NF-3017 (Kathy Sylvia) Sweetbay’s Falco CD WD DD, OFA NF-2214 (Anne McPherson) Sweetbay’s Fiona AmCanCD RE TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA EL1924 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Frasier CanCD CanDD (Marci Johannson) Sweetbay’s Galileo DD, OFA NF-8283, EL-2252 (Pat Nevils) CanCh Sweetbay’s Gideon CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD (Bonnie Fergusson) Sweetbay’s Gilson WRD DD, OFA NF-4413 (Mike & Susan Acosta) WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2)), OFA NF-7523 (Ann Dunnigan) VN AmCanCh Sweetbay’s Harmony UDT CanCDX CanTD WRD DD, OFA NF-1824 (Cheryl Dondino) Sweetbay’s Harrier AmCanCDX TD WRD CanWRDX DD, OFA NF-4274 (Mary Ellen Thien) Sweetbay’s Hatteras CD WD DD (Sonja Carter) Sweetbay’s Hayley WRD DD, OFA NF-10036, EL-3686 (Carol & Mike Perkowski) WA Sweetbays Caspian CDX BN RE NAP NJP WRD DDX, OFA NF-11317, EL-4881 (Terri Desnica) Sweetbay’s Illuminata UD WRD DD, OFA NF-6397 (Susan Kerby) VN Ch Sweetbay’s James CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-8867, EL2706 (Maria Rizzuto) Sweetbay’s Janeiro DD, OFA NF-4743 (Judi & Ellis Adler) VN AmCanCh Sweetbay’s Jason AmCanCD AmCanTD WRD DD, OFA NF-1379 (Pam Mohr) Sweetbay’s Jillian CDX CanCD WRD CanWRDX DD, OFA NF-3844 (Cheryl Dondino) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Josie CD TD WRD DD (Gaby Cohen) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Karisma AmCanCD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-1616 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Kayla AmCanCDX WD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-3060 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Kirby DD (Dawn Holbrook & Scott Bruns) Sweetbay’s Kona AmCanCDX WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDDX, OFA NF-2351 (Michael Marcus) CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189 (Bonnie Fergusson) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Liam CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-7984, EL-2023 (Patti Pigeon) Sweetbay’s MacArthur AmCanUDT WRD DD, OFA NF-2893 (Lee Udelsman) Sweetbay’s Magic CD RE DD, OFA NF-9448 ( Ida & Robert Freimer) Sweetbay’s Maisie CDX RE DD, OFA NF-8251, EL2225 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Mandalay AmCanUD WRD DD, OFA NF-1812 (Butch Martin) Sweetbay’s Matigan AmCanCD DD, OFA NF-3007 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s McKenna AmCanCDX TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA EL602 (Judi & Ellis Adler) CanCh Sweetbay’s Meara CD CanCDX AmCanTD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-2899 (Bonnie Fergusson) Sweetbay’s Meghan TD WD DD (Cheryl Dondino) Sweetbay’s Meridian WRD DD, OFA NF-6328 (Robin & Andrew Nelson) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Misty AmCanCDX WRD DD, OFA NF-736 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL2111 (Jean & Mark Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Paisley AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-4263 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Pawley AmCanDD (Karen Brockway) Sweetbay’s Petra CDX U-CDX RN UR01 WD DD(Sharon & Michael Marcus) Sweetbay’s Quin CD RE WRD TDD OFA NF-8101, EL2105 (Sue Rainey) Sweetbay’s Remy UD RN WRDX DD, OFA NF-9157 (Ann Dunnigan) Sweetbay’s Reuben AmCanCD WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD, OFA NF-4095 (Sharon & Michael Marcus) Sweetbay’s Rigel CD WRD DD, OFA NF-6511, EL1011 (Barbara Adams) Sweetbay’s Rio AmCanCDX AmCanTD WRD CanWRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-3065 (Judi & Ellis Adler) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Romney AmCanCD WRD TDD, OFA NF-1502 (Pat Aires) WA Sweetbay’s Ruca CDX RE WRD TDD NAP NJP, OFA EL4152 (Sue Raney) Sweetbay’s Sagan CanWRD DD (Sharon & Michael Marcus) Sweetbay’s Sailor UDX WRD DD, OFA NF-3470 (Nancy Nevin) Sweetbay’s SaltyDog AmCanCD TD AmCanWRD TDD, OFA NF-3450 (Gaby Cohen) Sweetbay’s Scout CD TD WRD DD, OFA NF-5140, EL323 (Marilyn Wilson & Art Hafdelin) Sweetbay’s Seabury AmCanCD WRD DD, OFA NF-2686 (Bill & Cathy Meade) Sweetbay’s Shadyn AmCanCD TD WRD CanWRDX DD, OFA NF-3336 (Byron Caine) Sweetbay’s Shandy WRD DD, OFA NF-2052 (Wendy Capstick) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Shane CD WRD DD, OFA NF-2211 (Rhyne/Williams) Sweetbay’s Sherpa WRD DD, OFA NF-6299, EL903 (Debby Giard) Sweetbay’s Sloane CDX RA WRDX DD OFA NF-6830, EL1214 (Debby Rothwell) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Sullivan CD RE WRD DD (EL-4795, EL-4795 (Patti Pigeon) Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, OFA NF-7777, EL1867 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Triton CD WD DD (Alan & Marilyn Rhodes) Sweetbay’s Truman UD WRD DD, OFA NF-6292, EL900 (Sonja Carter) Sweetbay’s Whitney CD WD DD, OFA NF-4489, EL124 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Vivian CD RE TD TDD WRD, OFA NF-10505, EL-4130 (Maria Rizzuto) Sweetbay’s Zara CDX WRD DD ThD, OFA NF-10497, EL4123) (Rick & Pat Pourchot} NCA Draft Dogs Excellent WA Sweetbay’s Caspian CDX BN RE TD NAP NJP WD-1 WRD-5 DD-1 DDX-2, OFA NF-11217, EL-4881 (Terri Desnica) NCA Team Draft Dogs VN WA Ch Sweetbay’s Benson CDX RE WRDX TDD, OFA NF-7511, EL1666 (Patti Pigeon) VN AmCanCh Sweetbay’s Brigadier AmCanCD WRD TDD, OFA NF-1737 (Pat Aires) Sweetbay’s Brody RE WRD TDD CanDD OFA NF-8266, EL-2238 (Jean & Mark Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Charlotte AmCanCD TDX CanTD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-3021 (M. Marcus) Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD TDD WD, OFA NF-4603, EL173 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Chesapeake CD WD TDD OA OAJ, OFA NF-5127, EL321 (George Brown) Sweetbay’s Corinanne CD RN TDD OFA NF-8246, EL-2221 (Nancy Aliff) Sweetbay’s Cosmopolitan CD WRD TDD, OFA NF-4311, EL87 (Debby Rothwell) Sweetbay’s Coventry AmCanUDT AmCanWRD TDD, OFA NF-2182 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Desmond CD TDD, OFA EL-613 (Pat & Rick Pourchot) WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2), OFA NF-7523 (Ann Dunnigan) VN Ch Sweetbay’s James CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-8867, EL2706 (Maria Rizzuto) Sweetbay’s Kona AmCanCDX WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDDX, OFA NF-2351 (Michael Marcus) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Liam CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-7984, EL-2023 (Patti Pigeon) Sweetbay’s McKenna AmCanCDX TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA EL-602 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL-2111 (Jean & Mark Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Quin CD RE WRD TDD OFA NF-8101, EL2105 (Sue Rainey) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Romney AmCanCD WRD TDD, OFA NF-1502 (Pat Aires) WA Sweetbay’s Ruca CDX RE WRD TDD NAP NJP, OFA EL4152 (Sue Raney) Sweetbay’s SaltyDog AmCanCD TD AmCanWRD TDD, OFA NF-3450 (Gaby Cohen) Sweetbay’s Vivian CD RE TD TDD WRD, OFA NF-10505, EL-4130 (Maria Rizzuto) Canadian Draft Dogs Sweetbay’s Brody RA WD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8266, EL2238 (Mark & Jean Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Charlotte AmCanCD TDX CanTD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-3021 (M. Marcus) Sweetbay’s Coburn CanCD CanTD WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD, OFA NF-4290 (Margaret Chandler) Sweetbay’s Cutter AmCanCD AmCanTD NA WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-5354 (Frosti Lange) Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL1205 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Eliot AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-2969 (Mike Walthers) Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD (NF-7215, EL1456) (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Fiona AmCanCD RE TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA EL1924 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Frasier CanCD CanDD (Marci Johannson) CanCh Sweetbay’s Gideon CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD (Bonnie Fergusson) VN Ch Sweetbay’s Karisma AmCanCD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-1616 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Kayla AmCanCDX WD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-3060 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Kona AmCanCDX WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDDX, OFA NF-2351 (Michael Marcus) CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189 (Bonnie Fergusson) Sweetbay’s McKenna AmCanCDX TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA EL602 (Judi & Ellis Adler) CanCh Sweetbay’s Meara CD CanCDX AmCanTD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-2899 (Bonnie Fergusson) Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL2111 (Jean & Mark Ochsner) Sweetbay’s Paisley AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-4263 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Pawley AmCanDD (Karen Brockway) Sweetbay’s Reuben AmCanCD WRD CanWRDX AmCanDD, OFA NF-4095 (Sharon & Michael Marcus) Sweetbay’s Rio AmCanCDX AmCanTD WRD CanWRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-3065 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, NF-7777, EL1867 (Judi & Ellis Adler) Canadian Draft Dogs Excellent Sweetbay’s Kona AmCanCDX WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDDX, OFA NF-2351 (Michael Marcus) CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189 (Bonnie Fergusson)) For more information about our dogs: Sweetbay
Newfoundlands |
Bosco and Alison take Nancy Nevin and friendsfor a flying dog-powered ride in a Sacco cart. Draft work doesn’t necessarily mean a wheeled rig, and Romney agrees that pulling a sled is just as much fun. Michael Marcus and Reuben show the crisp footwork necessary for exemplary maneuvering as they negotiate a sharp corner in a draft test. Look closely. Count the legs. This is a team at work, two dogs working in perfect tandem. Parma and Mackie back up smoothly on owner Judi Adler’s command. Parma and Mackie have energy to spare on the one mile "freight haul" exercise at a recent draft test. They earned their TDD title for owner Judi Adler (pictured on the left).
Exceptional draft work is as much a matter of teamwork as it is of skills. If the one mile freight haul is challenging, the dog and handler will share the responsibility for decisions, and each will look to the other for suggestions. Communication is vital. Maureen McCord knows Barry possesses great intelligence and common sense, and she relies on him to work his way through difficult conditions. And he never lets her down.
Once you teach a Newfoundland how to cart safely and happily, the world opens up. Training sessions are never solitary, as neighbor children flock around hoping for a ride. Peggy Knight’s Newfoundland Clio is very willing to give this delighted neighbor girl a quick jaunt around the block.
Most of what one encounters during a draft test requires concentration and focus. Occasionally, though, there are moments where the course goes through open fields, and you can relax and just cruise. Judi Adler and Darby enjoy the relative ease of this grassy meadow section during Darby’s successful Draft Dog performance in 2000.
If one dog carting is fun, two dogs carting simultaneously is four times the fun. Under the watchful eye of the judge, Ellis Adler escorts his exuberant eight year old boys Chako and Mackie through a tricky maneuvering course as they earn their Team Draft Title.
Draft training can be done solo, but it’s much more fun in a group. Eleven Newfoundlands practice the down-stay exercise against the scenic backdrop at Salt Water Park in Washington state.
The instinct for competent, happy draft work is bred into Sweetbay dogs. Many take to it perfectly at their first introduction, pulling that cart like they’ve done it their entire lives. Benson, pictured here, was like that. Patti Pigeon, his owner, popped him in a harness, slipped him between shafts, and said “Let’s go” and they were off. No fuss. No muss. Just hauling happily. Patti Pigeon's two Newfoundlands pull their weighted cart with ease. Liam (the Landseer) and his pal Benson think carting is even more fun with a partner. |