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What are Working Trials ?

Working Trials is the most practical of our dog activities,
involving "Nose Work", "Control Exercises" & requires extensive training.  Please contact us for further information as training is by arrangement only. Working trials originated in Great Britain as competitions for working police dogs, at that time all German Shepherds.  The exercises in trials today reflect the skills needed for working as a police dog. There are 4 grades or stakes as they are called.  Companion Dog, Utility Dog, Working Dog, Tracking Dog.
The first CD was held in Ireland in 1980 and the first UD in 1983.  A couple of years later we were holding all four stakes.  Today about 9 full trials are held every year between September and March. CD is the only stake where there is no tracking. All stakes have a search, heelwork, sendaway and agility, which consists of clear jump, long jump and scale. In all tracking stakes there is steadiness to gunshot. In CD,UD and WD there is a retrieve, which is replaced by speak on command in the TD. To qualify excellent, you must get 70% in each section and 80% overall. If you qualify twice in one stake the dog can use the appropriate letters after its name. e.g. CDEx  If a dog wins 2 TDs on qualifying marks under different judges, the dog is then Working trials Champion.

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