BSCBAA Working Ability Certification
Program
The BSCBAA offers a Working
Ability Certification Program in addition to the AKC's Spaniel Hunt Test titling
program and a future opportunity in the AKC's Spaniel Field Trial program.
The Working Dog Test program
is administered by the BSCBAA's Hunt & Field Committee. Any club or group with
prior approval from this Committee may offered to judge Boykin Spaniels under
the following program guidelines and grant Boykin Spaniels with the award of the
WD or WDX designation.
Any questions or comments
regarding this program should be directed to the Hunt & Field Committee
BSCBAA Working Ability Certification Program
Board Approved 2007
Revised
& Approved By The BSCBAA Board July 2007
WORKING DOG TEST
Purpose/Procedures/Judging
Guidelines/ Requirements for WD &WDX
Purpose: The Working Dog Test is an introduction to upland flushing
work for
both handlers and dogs. The program is designed to give Boykins and
other
flushing spaniels the opportunity to demonstrate their natural and
trained
abilities in a NON-COMPETITIVE event. Two award levels may be
earned. The WD-Working Dog Certificate for satisfactory work and the WDX-Working
Dog Excellent
for outstanding work.
Procedures: The Working Dog Test may be offered by a flushing
spaniel club or
by a group of flushing spaniel owners. Requests for BSCBAA approval
to hold
Working Dog Tests at which Boykin Spaniels may earn the BSCBAA WD or
WDX may be obtained by a letter written on a club or groups letterhead and
mailed to
BSCBAA Hunting Committee, PO Box 107, Sargent, GA 30275 at least
90 days
before the event. The letter should include the dates, time,
location, and
judges names. The completed Judging Sheets should be mailed within 1
week to
the BSCBAA Hunt Committee. Owners of other flushing spaniel
breeds must
notify their respective parent club secretaries.
Judging Guidelines: Steady on Line-Land: The dog must sit at the
handlers side
until the judge instructs the handler to begin the hunt.
Satisfactory: The dog
may be lightly restrained with a lead or by the collar. The dog
should not
struggle against the handler.. Excellent: The dog stays in place
with a minimum
of commands off lead. Fail: The dog fails to sit and stay until sent
by the
handler.
Efficient Quartering: Satisfactory: The dog should demonstrate
reasonable
quartering, use of wind, and sufficient desire to search cover for
game.
Excellent: The dog should quarter and hunt with enthusiasm with a
minimum of
handling. Fail: The dog hunts out of gun range, does not respond to
the handler
or covers ground too slowly.
Finds and Flushes Birds: Satisfactory: The dog should have
sufficient hunting
ability to find and flush birds in a workmanlike manor without undue
urging.
Excellent: The dog performs as above in an enthusiastic and
superlative manner.
Fail: The dog shows lack of nose, requires excessive urging to
flush, points,
or refuses to flush.
Marks and Retrieves Birds-Land: Dogs are not required to be steady
to flush and
shot. Satisfactory: The dog should mark the fall of the bird and
deliver the
bird within close proximity of the handler. The dog may be handled
to the fall
if the dog has not marked it due to any reasonable circumstance.
Excellent: The
dog marks and retrieves enthusiastically and delivers to hand. Fail:
The dog
refuses to retrieve or requires excessive help in find the fall.
Steady on Line-Water: The dog should not leave the line until sent
by the
handler. Distances of the fall shall be no less than 30 yards and no
more than
60 yards. Satisfactory: The dog may be held by leash or by the
collar until the
judge directs the handler to send the dog. Excellent: The dog must
be line
steady (sit and stay unrestrained by the handler). Fail: The dog
struggles
against the handler or breaks if unrestrained.
Marks and Retrieves Bird-Water: Satisfactory: The dog should mark
the fall and
enter water to swim without undue urging and retrieve the bird out
of the water
with close proximity of the handler. Excellent:
The dog marks the fall enters the water and retrieves
enthusiastically and
delivers to hand. Fail: The dog refuses to swim, refuses to retrieve
or
requires excessive urging to complete the task.
Does Not Display Gunshyness: Satisfactory: The dog should have
sufficient
desire that he shows little reaction to the gun. Excellent: The dog
has such
high desire that he shows no reaction to the gun or the gun
increases his
desire to hunt and retrieve. Fail: The dog shows fear to the gun.
Hardmouth is a serious fault. When a dog delivers a damaged bird
unfit for the
table by chewing the dog shall not qualify.
Requirements: A dog that completes all parts of the test with
Satisfactory
scores or higher shall be awarded the Working Dog Certificate (WD).
A dog that
completes all parts of the test with Excellent scores shall be
awarded the
Working Dog Excellent Certificate (WDX). A dog that receives a
failing score in
any part of the test shall not qualify. Birds to be used can be
Pigeons or
Chuckers.
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Boykin Spaniel Club
