Page 11 - 2018 WT Almanac

these things are achievable, and although to IS WORKING TRIALS FOR ME?
the beginner it may seem like an awful lot By Anne Bussey
to teach the dog, the sense of achievement Checklist
when their dog gets it right is almost impos- Can you train a dog?
sible to match. Have you taught your dog to sit, down, wait
Now we look at the dreaded jumps, and al- and come on command?
though I’m not intending to enter into the ar- Does he/she want to be with you?
guments for and against these, I will just say Will he/she bring a ball or toy back to you?
that for the moment they are part of trials Is he/she keen to play games with you, or
and as such must be considered when con- work out how to make you click and treat?
templating entering into the sport. I will also Do you want something less tedious than
say that in 30 plus years that I have been precise obedience, something more diverse
trialling I have never personally witnessed than agility, something that does not include
any dog of any breed come to grief on the killing animals, or keeping sheep?
agility equipment. My own dogs are collies Are you motivated to get outside and train
and have no problem at all with the jumps, your dog?
and in fact usually continue jumping until 9 If the answer to the above questions is ‘yes’
or 10 years old without any problems then then Working Trials could well be what you
or later. However, I do appreciate that this are looking for.
might not be the case for all breeds, and that
is a discussion that may have to take place Why Do Trials?
at some stage, but perhaps it’s worth noting In my opinion, Working Trials is the most
that working trials were originally started as challenging and rewarding dog sport in the
a character and structural test for German world. If you are looking for easy rosettes,
Shepherds to ensure they were suitable for choose another sport! Trials allows, encour-
breeding, and back then the jumps were de- ages and teaches the dog to use his own nat-
signed for that breed, so perhaps we should ural ability to follow tracks and seek out lost
be asking what has changed since. articles. This is what your dog wants to do!
Whatever the outcome of current discus- Allow him to use his nose productively and
sions, we should perhaps just take a minute he will never cease to amaze you with his
to celebrate this wonderful sport that has talents. He will use his nose to follow tracks
continued more or less unchanged for not that have been laid by a stranger and locate
far short of 100 years, and has given count- dropped articles as he goes. Tracking is the
less dogs and handlers a worthwhile job to core of working trials.
do, an unparalleled hobby and, even with Whilst training for Trials your dog will also
today’s reduced numbers, a circle of like- develop self-confidence and enthusiasm for
minded people that really enjoy the chal- his work as he learns to think for himself
lenges its brings. So for those of you that and work far away from you. He will learn
are interested don’t be put off before you’ve to do long sendaways (not a short, precise
tried it, come and talk to some kindly dino- ‘send to’ but really running across the fields
saurs and maybe give it a go. with confidence). Maybe you could go to
a championship working trial and see how
wonderful this is. The dogs love it!
********* Then – here’s the challenge! Back to the
control exercises. This is what keeps you on
your toes. The constant handing over and
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