The working certificate is another way
of testing the working ability of your dog. As with hunt tests
the dogs are marked against a standard. The tests are designed
to assess a dog's natural abilities such as marking, memory of
fall, intelligence, desire, perserverance, nose and courage.
There are three levels of Working Certificate
Tests; the Working Certificate, the Working Certificate
Intermediate and the Working Certificate Excellent. The dog
only has to pass each set of tests once to receive the title.
Working
Certificate
This is the basic instinct
test. The dog may be brought to the line on a lead and may be
held in heel position. The dog will be asked to make back to
back land retrieves of between 50 to 75 yards and back to back
water retrieves between 25 to 40 yards. The dog is not
expected to deliver to hand.
Working Certificate
Intermediate
The dog is expected to
come to the line without a leash or collar and must be steady.
They will be asked to do a land double of approximately 75
yards and a water double of approximately 50 yards. They will
be expected to do an honour on the land double.
Working Certificate Excellent
In this level the dog will be tested on a walk up land
double or land and water double an honor on a walk up water
double. They will also be tested on a land blind and a water
blind the handler may wear white for the blinds, this assists
the dog's ability to spot the handler, when looking for
direction.
