Page 7 - 2018 WT Almanac

IS THIS FOR ME? early 1930’s, Working Trial competitions
By Barrie James were opened up to certain other breeds that
were capable of doing Working Trails, such
as the Doberman and Rottweiler.
Recently there has been some posts on the
Working Trials Facebook Page that appear So, let us look at the type of dog that was
to throw into doubt the whole existence of engaged in trials in those early days. It was
Working Trials as it stands. But, hold on, reported that dogs obtaining Working Tri-
what are the facts? Who is questioning the als ‘tickets’ between 1947 and 1960 were
relevance of Working Trials today. Is it ex- Alsatians (German Shepherds), Dobermans,
perienced competitors and those that help Labradors, Boxers and Rottwielers. In 1953
out at Trials by tracklaying, stewarding or it was requested that A.S.P.A.D.S recom-
running the Base, or onlookers on the side mend to the Kennel Club that Working
lines purporting to be interested in becom- Collies be permitted to enter the PD Stake.
ing involved in our sport? Maybe there is a Dogs winning ‘tickets’ during 1961 to 1974
case for stating how Working Trials came were: Alsatians (German Shepherds), Bor-
about, for whom, and why we have the vari- der Collies, Crosses and Working Sheep
ous exercises that make up the sport so that Dogs, Labradors, Rottweilers and a Boxer.
perhaps a more constructive view can be The first Border Collie to win a Working
presented. Trials ‘ticket’ was not until 1964 and then
the same dog again in1969 and a different
Before we delve into the above lets be clear Border Collie in 1969.The first WSD to win
that the majority of us in Working Trials are a Working Trial ‘ticket’ was in 1971. It can
not against change per se, indeed Working be seen that these breeds of dog were all ca-
Trials has changed over the years when re- pable and suitable of executing the Working
quired, but that change needs to be relevant Trials exercises due to their size and build
and benefit the many not just a few. John and providing they were sound and fit.
Cree wrote a book concerning the history of
A.S.P.A.D.S. and Working Trials in the UK Whilst discussing the origin of Working Tri-
entitled “A.S.P.A.D.S History Of Working als exercises perhaps we need to look a lit-
Trials” and some information in this article tle more closely at the original breed it was
is derived from this work . This may still be intended for as it was for this breed that the
available from this Society. exercises were formulated. It appears that
the German Shepherd in its homeland was
During the First World War some officers quite strictly regulated regarding its regis-
from the British forces had seen the Ger- tration and breeding and had to have certain
man Shepherd Dogs that the German forces working qualifications before breeding and
used and were impressed by their size, bear- showing was allowed. These working quali-
ing and courage. Some of these dogs were fications were Schutzhund qualifications.
brought back to England after hostilities Schutzhund (German for “protection dog”)
ended. At this time A.S.P.A.D.S. and the is a dog sport that was developed in Ger-
German Shepherd Dog League of Great many in the early 1900’s as a breed suitabil-
Britain were formed and subsequently the ity test for the German Shepherd breed. The
first Working Trials were organised solely test would determine if the dog displayed
for German Shepherds (called Alsatians in the appropriate traits and characteristics of
Great Britain at this time). Later, during the a proper working German Shepherd. I also
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