A group of dog lovers helps their dogs return to their roots in water rescue.

Joanne Fisher, a longtime dog owner and trainer from Newfoundland, meets with her group twice a week during the summer to help train the dogs in water rescue.

They take their furry friends to the Ottawa River in Dunrobin for training in various scenarios, which may include pulling boats or people from the water and bringing ropes to the victims.

People who bring their dogs volunteer to act as victims in the water. They wear swimsuits and sometimes wave toys to catch the dog's attention, splash in the water, and call for help.

Fisher said there are three different training levels that dogs can achieve, but unlike other sports or dog training activities, there is no sense of competition.

She said everyone wants to see the dogs succeed, adding during an interview last week with CBC Radio in Ottawa Morning: "Everyone is cheering for the dog's success."

"All dogs matter to everyone, so it's a wonderful friendship."

Connecting dogs to their breed's past

Fisher's eight-year-old Newfoundland dog is currently training at the advanced level.

Fisher, who is of Newfoundland breed, said she grew up with the strong breed. She noted that her father owned Newfoundland dogs, and she always wanted to have a dog of her own.

She pointed out that the large breed of dog was once used as companions for fishermen, helping to pull nets and rescue people or things from the water.

Fisher said, "We are just a group of Newfoundland dog enthusiasts who love training dogs to do what they were bred to do."

Referring to the fictional Newfoundland dog Nana from Peter Pan, Fisher said the breed is also incredibly protective, with great instincts to help children and weak swimmers first.

But it's not just Newfoundlands that are part of the group. A six-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Ranger also joins the training.

While he is still working on achieving the junior training title, he is already giving it his all: last week, Ranger swam fearlessly to a rowing boat, pulling the boat and a person in distress about 20 meters to shore.

Fisher said, "I will train any dog that wants to come," adding that the training sessions are fun for both the dogs and their owners.

She said, "The moment you open the car door, [the dogs] are out." "It's an amazing experience for them. They love coming here."