Here you'll find information to help you get started or continue practicing the tasks that will prepare you and your Portuguese Water Dog for participation in water trials.

Where and When do We Train?

• Where: In the Phoenix area, Lake Pleasant, northwest of Phoenix is one source of water for practice. Click on the lake's name to see a map of Lake Pleasant
  
• When: Right now there is no schedule available for training.
• Contact Stephanie Rollins if you are interested in water training in southern Arizona at Patagonia Lake.

• Get a copy of the PWDCA Water Trial Manual- it is downloadable from www.pwdca.us or you can get a hard copy from Lauren McDermott (click on her name to send her an email) for $6 dollars.
• Come with a plan of what you would like to accomplish and start training those things you can at home. Much of the water exercises can be trained in the backyard and then transferred to water. If you don’t have a plan or a goal, find someone to talk to about setting training goals before you come to the lake; it's not a good idea to interrupt someone else's training for the day by asking them questions that can be answered at a better time.
• Bring lots of small easy to chew treats to reward your dog. Hot dogs, cut into tiny pieces are great training treats, so are pieces of cheese.
• Train in short sessions (10-15 minutes), then let your dog rest and reflect for awhile. One good tip is to quit on a successful note.
• Help others while your dog rests. Generally, we can use someone to hold a boat, act as a steward or any number of tasks that involve more than one person. If there are no duties required, then just sit back and observe, you can pick up many helpful training tips just by watching others.

• Some teams will be doing individual work- please try to give them space so their dogs can work with minimum distractions, do not walk into their training “space” or let your dog interrupt their work
• Other teams may be working with the boats and might need extra hands, - - if you are not actively training, always be available to help when needed.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help, we may not be immediately available, but we will for sure work with you on any exercise you are having problems with.
• Please! If you are not working with your PWD and training, keep him/her on leash. There is a County leash law so you really shouldn’t be letting your dog run free, but make certain you are well away from the area where others are training if you do.
• Pick up after your dog! Always come prepared with a supply of ‘poop’ bags and keep the area free from dog litter.
• Lake Pleasant is a fisherman’s paradise! There may be broken fishing line as well as fishhooks along the shore! Always make a survey of the area you plan to work your dog and pick up any debris, fishing line, etc.

• For equipment specifically designed with PWDs in mind, email: 4MyPWDS@aol.com or visit their web site at: 4MyPWDS.com
  
• Lowe’s, West Marine, pool supply stores.

What to bring for you:

• $5.00 entry fee to Lake Pleasant State Park, $7.00 entry fee for Patagonia Lake State Park
• Life vest- A requirement of the PWDCA Water Committee and Team PWD AZ, also a State Park requirement
• Water compatible shoes – anything you don’t mind getting wet and that offers good support- the shore is very rocky
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Drinks and snacks
• Change of clothes and shoes if you don’t like driving home damp.

What to bring for your dog(s):

• Crate, Xpen or tie-down to secure your dogs for breaks
• TREATS- something that won’t turn to mush when it gets wet
• Poop bags
• Water Harness.