Horsham Working Newfoundlands is an informal group of Newfoundland owners and devotees. Our members span the breadth of several counties including Sussex, Surrey, Kent, London and some even further afield. We meet regularly to work our dogs, enjoy each other's company and spend quality time with our dogs.

Our members are varied. Some of us show our dogs, some of us work our dogs and some of us simply enjoy our wonderful dogs as pets. We come from all age groups, all backgrounds and indeed all levels of experience. We have one primary thing in common and that is our dogs.

Our aims as a group are:

1. To provide a regular forum to meet to work our dogs, share experiences and problems, to get to know each other, to further understand our breed and to provide a central forum where new Newfoundland owners can find help, encouragement, advice and support as well as finding new friends.

2. To provide an opportunity for our dogs to socialise and learn basic obedience Newfie-style (especially important when the dog is a puppy or adolescent) and where they can develop their natural instincts for water work and carting.

The group meets regularly during the summer months in Egham to work our dogs in the water. We run a couple of open days each year to introduce potential members and associate members (see membership section for further explanation of associate membership) to the merits of water working. On cooler days in spring and autumn we undertake carting training at various locations and in the winter we host winter walks to get us outside with the dogs.

We receive several invitations each year to undertake display work in both the water and on land as well as offer cart rides to children at fetes, open days, boat shows and other events.

We also support tests run by the Newfoundland Club, the Northern Newfoundland Club and the newly created Southern Newfoundland Club focusing our water and draught training on the regulations of these bodies.

Formal events such as tests, fun days or displays during the year offer us the opportunity to go away en masse either in tents or caravans to take full advantage of a weekend of working the dogs whilst including some social time for the humans.

The group has quarterly committee meetings to discuss and review the running of the club and to agree our activities moving forward.

In order to ensure unity amongst our members, a consistent way of working and safety for humans and canines at all times, we have produced the following set of standards:

• The Constitution
• The Code of Practice
• The Safety Rules
• Boat Handling Qualifications
• Carting Regulations