Rules for Working Tests for Retrievers

1. lntroduction

1. A Working Test (WT) is a competition for the purpose of assessing, without game being shot, the working abilities of the various breeds of VIII. F.C.I. - retrievers, scouts and water dogs.
2. The breeds of VIII. F.C.I. - retrievers, scouts and water dogs are the shooting man's indispensable help during a shooting day. The aim of a WT is to select the best dogs having good temperament, good marking, good use of nose and showing initiative. Handling is to be considered as an indispensable complement to these qualities, keeping the dog steady while walking at heel or at the stand, willing to obey the handler's instructions when sent for game, which it has not been able to mark.

2. Organisation of a WT

1. A WT must be designed by a person or persons with experience of dog work under shooting field conditions. Each dog must be given, as near as possible, equal opportunity with the element of luck reduced to a minimum.
2. On the occasion of a WT, the organisers must always try to simulate events that occur on a shooting day. They must also ensure the tests are designed to further good gundog work, and not inhibit dogs from marking or showing natural working ability. lt is very important that guns and dummy throwers are positioned with this in mind.
3. When retrieving, a dog must not be required to pass too close to another retrieve.
4. Organisers and judges must care for the safety of dogs and must not require them to pass dangerous obstacles.
5. The competition is not open to:

            a) warming bitches, pregnant bitches in the second half of pregnancy and lactating bitches;

            b) dogs injured, sick or suspected of having a disease which would affect their performance or cause them pain, suffering or impairment;

            c) dogs being treated; such dogs may participate only after examination by a veterinarian and with his consent;

            d) dogs aggressive towards humans and other dogs;

            e) dogs with an operation performed in violation of the provisions of § 4 par. 1 let. g) of Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on the protection of animals against cruelty, as amended, especially dogs with cropped ears, tail.

3. Conduct of a WT

1. A WT is divided into 4 classes: Newcomers (E), Beginners (L), Novice (M), Open (S). Any dog, who obtaind three times "excellent" in one class, is not allowed to enter the same (or lower) class anymore. This rule doesn't apply in Open (S) class, where the dog can start without any limit. If the dog is qualified in any class, he cannot enter the lower class anymore. Description of the tests in respective classes is in the appendix nr. 1 to this Rules.
2. The decision of the judges is final. Those taking part shall not openly impugn the decision of the judge or criticise the host, ground, or helpers.
3. The organisers shall have the power to exclude dogs from the competition and/or will have the right to refuse an entry in the future.
4. The organisation may restrict the numbers in a WT, in which case the right to compete shall be decided by the date the registration form was sent.
5. The judges must have experience of dog work under shooting field conditions.
6. All handlers must carry out instructions of the judges who are empowered to remove from a WT any dog whose handler does not obey them or whose handler wilfully interferes with another competitor or his dog.
7. No person attending a WT may allow any bitch in season to be on a WT ground or to foul any ground to be used by competing dogs.
8. No dog shall wear a collar whilst competing.
9. No person shall carry out punitive measures or harsh handling of a dog whilst within the boundaries of a WT. Such a behaviour will be punished (after judges decision) by disqualification.

4. Judging

1. When coming into line the handler must ensure the dog is on the lead, the judge will then explain what is expected. Judges must ensure that spectators are at a reasonable distance from the competitors in the line.
2. Judges will give dogs every opportunity to work well by seeing that conditions, as far as possible are in their favour. They will be looking for dogs, which need the least handling and please them most from a shooting point of view.
3. In all retrieving breeds good marking is essential with a quick pick-up and a fast return. When pickingup and returning, judges will not penalise a dog too heavily for putting down a retrieve to get a firmer grip, but this must not be confused with sloppy retrieving. Dogs showing marking ability and initiative should be placed above those which have to be handled onto their retrieve.
4. Eliminating faults and faults which lead to zero will disqualify a dog from any awards.
5. The judges are empowered to withhold any prize or award if in their opinion competing dogs do not show sufficient merit.
6. Each exercise is judged on points.

5. Specific instructions

1. At the start of a WT, judges must ensure they have the correct dogs with their correct numbers in the line.
2. A breeds of VIII. F.C.I. - retrievers, scouts and water dogs must be steady to shot and fall and retrieve on command. Also, all dogs should be tested at working in water and hunting a zone. A dog must walk steady at heel.
3. During a WT only green standard dummies (500 gr) will be used. Exception: Launcher dummies for a dummy launcher.
4. When dummies are thrown, and gunfire is used, the shot must always precede the thrown dummy, with the gun positioned no further than approximately 35 meters from the retrieve. With unseen retrieves gunfire is optional. 6 mm pistols are used during a WT.
5. A WT should include at least five exercises.
6. The distance of a retrieve should not exceed more than 150 meters.
7. Credit points (alphabetical order): control - delivery - drive - natural marking - nose - quiet handling - speed in gathering retrieve - style.
8. Major faults (alphabetical order): bad control and/or disturbing the ground unnecessarily - bad heeling - bad marking and/or bad memory of the fall - being overdependent on the handler - being restless and asking the handler's attention at the post - noisy handling - sloppy retrieving - working slowly and/or without much initiative
9. Faults which lead to zero (alphabetical order): chasing - hunting with dummy in the mouth - changing retrieve - failing to enter water - failing to retrieve - gunshiness - out of control - running in - whining - barking.
10. If a dog makes a fault the combination (handler/dog) will get zero (0) points. The combination is allowed to complete the remaining exercises.
11. Eliminating faults (alphabetical order): aggressive behaviour - puncturing the dummy - physical punishment/ physical correction of the dog. If a dog makes an eliminating fault the combination (handler/dog) is not allowed to stay in the competition.

Effective from May 30th, 2021.