I have a 9 month Leonberger who is completely obsessed by water (those who know Leos will not be surprised!).  I currently take him to a hydrotherapy pool every week with my GSD (she has mild hip dysplasia).  He is such a clown and swims round and round in circles, and refuses point blank to come out at the end of the session.  When I take them walking along the canal he swims the whole way, when I pull him out because I think he may be tired, he jumps straight back in again!  So I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me of a water rescue club in the Cheshire area - I know there used to be one at Sale Water Park but I can't find any contact details.  The thought of him actually rescuing someone, as opposed to drowning them is hard to believe, but I'd like to give him the chance to prove me wrong!

There is some stuff on you Breed Club website under Working Section that might be helpful to you.
If there is nothing near enough to you the Newfoundland Club might help you, I think that breed has something at Sale but I don't know if they allow other breeds.

North West Newfoundland Club go to Sale Water Park once a month, so seeing as you are in Cheshire doubt that that's to far away from you.  THey're a friendly group of people and have had Leo's before training with them.

I've really got to start readingthreads fully before I reply :)  I'm sure that they still do Sale Water Park.

Whoops just realised Sale Water Park has blue/green algae for the first time ever so there won't be any training there for the forseeable future.

PLEASE DON'T SWIM YOUR DOG THERE, I HOPE THAT THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS WARNING PEOPLE OF THIS!

We haven't been able to go to Barton for a couple of years now because of the algae :(
There are some brilliant photos on the site, Susieq, of Hinchingbrooke  'rescuers' and if you look in on ukleos they very often update with  new water groups for us to go to :)

I had already contacted the Leo club to no avail, have now sent an email to the Northern Newfie club.  I remember years ago seeing them train at Sale, but cannot for the life of me find any contact details (the watersports centre have no contact either).  Thanks for your help.

Missie - do you swim your Leos?

Only at an equestrian centre :)

Aggghh just wish my brain would work,  ahhhhhh Canis Major don't know whether it was all one word rings a bell. 

Hi All

I hope Susieq managed to find a group up north, I run Wiltshire Wet Leo's near Swindon, we have a lovely big group and anyone interested can check out our dedicated website at www.leonius.net/WWL%20-%20Home%20Page.htm.  I am hoping to get details of more groups up north soon.  I guess its too far to come from Cheshire but if your ever near by you are more than welcome to come and join us for a training session.  I hope you find somewhere soon.

Becki (wiltshire wet leo's)