Page 9 - 2018 WT Almanac

I think the term is very relevant to Working be able to compete in Working Trials with
Trials. Working Trials is the pinnacle of dog their dog. It is no ordinary canine sport. It
activities. It has always been this way from is the creme de la creme. Be proud in pick-
the beginning. A lot of time and energy (and ing up that certificate that says you and your
money) goes into training a dog for Working dog achieved at least 70% of the marks in all
Trials. It takes at least 12 months to get a Groups and at least 80% of the marks over-
dog ready to start to compete, and that is for all - An ‘Excellent’ qualification after your
a very experienced handler and also bearing Stake - Priceless! Only fellow competitors
in mind that training may not really begin know what you went through to get that!
until the dog is 6 months to 12 months old.
It can take much longer for a beginner but if If Working Trials is not for you then there
they seek out a proven experienced Working are many other dog activities to become in-
Trials trainer (not any old dog trainer!) they volved in and to enjoy with your dog. Re-
will minimise mistakes and have a smoother member, whatever you do, enjoy your dog
passage into Trials. Working Trials is the fa- and enjoy your training and good luck in
ther of all canine activities in this country. whatever you do.
Obedience was started by the early Work-
ing Trials folk. Agility was formulated by So, is Working Trials for me? - You bet it is!
Working Trials folk in the 1970’s and from (psychiatrist comes twice a week now).
these dog training concepts evolved all the
other canine activities. *********

Working Trials training and competing is DINOSAURS AREN’T ALL BAD
very time consuming as there are so many By Wendy Beasley
elements to train for. This training cannot
be taken in the kitchen or in the back yard. So how do we promote this wonderful sport
Fields and wide open spaces are required, in of ours to newcomers? If we take too much
all weathers! There are no short cuts to good notice of social media, we are all a bunch
solid training to build a strong foundation of unfriendly dinosaurs, so perhaps we are
in each exercise. If this strong foundation is not coming across quite as we would like.
not carefully built then it will come back to I think it’s more about fear of the unknown.
bite you in the bum - usually whilst compet- Little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and it
ing. would appear that those that have found out
that working trials exist, seem only to have
In conclusion taking into account the suita- heard horror stories of impossible tests, cul-
bility of the dog (and handler) to do the exer- minating in an enormous dangerous wall
cises, The time and money involved in train- rather like something from “Wipe out!”
ing for trials and the time and cost involved It is difficult to know where we are going
in competing then it is obvious that Working wrong, as when I first found out about trials
Trials is not for everyone. However, when it seemed such an exciting and challenging
you complete that track on the muddy field sport I could not wait to try it, and although
in the hissing rain with all the articles col- I met with what seemed like insurmountable
lected there is no better feeling in any dog problems on the long journey to CD, the
sport than that achievement - you and your sense of achievement with even the smallest
dog against the terrain and elements and progress was unmatched by any previously
beating them! Dog handlers should aspire to experienced in other canine competition.
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