Working Trials
Working trials are the civilian equivalent of police work, however for the competitor it is purely for competition. All breeds can take part, however, it is a physically demanding sport so the dog and owner must both be physically fit.
Working Trials date back to 1924 when the Associated Sheep, Police and Army Dog Society held the first event. In May 1927, the first Championship Working Trial to be recognised by the Kennel Club was held by the Alsatian League and Club of Great Britain at Castle Bromwich.
In 1961 the Working Trials tests were changed into a format which has continued until the present day. The very minor amendments made since then bear testimony to the standard set all those years ago. Dogs compete in ascending levels called ‘stakes’. From the lowest stake, Companion (CD), through Utility (UD), Working (WD), Patrol (PD) and Tracking Dog (TD) at the very top, the dog is required to obtain 70% of the marks in each section and 80% overall in order to qualify and thereby progress upwards to the next stake. Two wins in Championship TD or PD stakes qualify the dog to be awarded the title of ‘Working Trial Champion’.
The exercises are basically divided into three sections:
• Nosework
• Agility
• Control
Nosework
The dog follows 'a track' – laid by a ‘tracklayer’ (who is a stranger to the dog) walking a set ‘pattern’. The track is approximately half a mile long and laid on grassland, ploughed field or heathland with each competitor working on similar terrain to others in the stake.
As the dog follows the track it has to seek out and recover articles placed along the track by the tracklayer. In UD the track is laid half an hour before the dog works and in TD the track is three hours old. The other component of nosework is ‘search’ where the dog has to search for and retrieve articles placed in a marked area.
Agility
Consisting of a three foot hurdle, six foot scale and nine foot long jump. In the CD and UD stakes, the height and length is reduced depending on the size of the dog:
- Dogs not exceeding 254mm (10in) at shoulder
- Dogs not exceeding 381mm (15in) at shoulder
- Dogs exceeding 381mm (15in) at shoulder
Control
Consisting of heelwork, sendaway, retrieving a dumbbell, down stay, steadiness to gunshot and speak on command. In the PD stake, in addition to the control, agility and nosework exercises, the dog has to quarter the ground for a hidden person, complete a test of courage, escort a person following a search by the handler, detain a running person and perform a recall from a running person. These exercises are completed under strict control and the dog has to qualify Working Dog Excellent before entering the Patrol Dog stake.
Whatever competition you choose, your dog will be a happier pet for being trained.
For further information and details of training clubs please contact the Kennel Club on 0870 606 6750, extension 212 or email clubsandtraining@thekennelclub.org.uk.
