Ken and Nancy Kline's Charlevoix home has been dubbed "Camp Salvation" by their kids and grandkids.
Their home is the place to come to be saved -- by a Newfoundland.

"We've got the whole family out there and trying to be (saved), and now the neighbors are in on it," Kline said.
The Newfoundland is Hannes, a 5-year-old named after Johannes Brahms, measuring about 4 feet nose to tail and weighs 140 pounds -- 136 when he's in tip top shape. He's earned his water dog certification, and is going for his water rescue dog certification this September.
Kline said he and his wife were retiring and looking to get a canine after being dogless for 17 years. Kline was familiar with the breed because of his co-worker, who would occasionally bring his Newfoundland to the office.

Kline went to a meeting of the Newfoundland Club of America and became involved in the water tests as a steward. Stewards help with the various events of tests. Kline said he was fascinated that such large dogs are not couch potatoes.
Because of his involvement with the water tests, two breeders said they would have a dog for the Klines. Kline went with the breeder in Michigan, and after months of negotiations he and Nancy walked away with the puppy they wanted.
Hannes was 9 weeks old when he became a member of the Kline family, and his training began right away. Kline said he used the purely positive method, where bad behavior is not acknowledged and good behavior is rewarded.

Hannes' first competition was in 2007, and Kline said he did well despite never having towed a boat before. However, he did not pass one of the categories.
"With a water test, the dogs are competing against a standard. They either pass (every category) or they don't (pass)," Kline noted.

At the 2008 water tests, he passed the water dog test and tried for water rescue dog, but once again barely missed making certification.
As handler, Kline practices with Hannes three days a week. With the help of neighbors, the family puts a boat onto the small lake by their home, and run practices from the boat and from shore. He added that the work and training is mutually beneficial.

"The big thing is that he really likes to work. If we go through a period of time without meaningful work, he gets a look in his eyes that I liken to a hostile takeover," he noted. "He's big and sweet, but big and sweet because he gets the opportunity to work."

Maggie Peterson can be contacted at (231) 439-9397 or mpeterson@petoskeynews.com.