HOW TO ENTER

AT A FIELD TRIAL The permission of the Society holding the Trial must be obtained and the dog must be entered on the entry form of the meeting. The fee charged by the Society should be the same as that for the dogs entering the Trial.

AT A SHOW GUNDOG WORKING DAY These are organized by a number of registered societies in the UK and are run entirely for the purpose of Show Gundogs to achieve the SGWC. In recent years the number of these days has gradually increased along with training days aimed particularly at this Certificate.

Any Kennel Club registered Society authorized to hold Field Trials may apply for permission to run a Show Gundog Working Day. A ‘Secretaries Checklist for running a Show Gundog Working Day is available free of charge from the KC Field Trial Department.

Clubs presently organizing Show Gundog Working Days:

• Brittany Club of Great Britain
• Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club
• Flat Coated Retriever Society
• German Wirehaired Pointer Club
• Golden Retriever Club
• Hungarian Vizla Club
• Kent, Surrey & Sussex Labrador Retriever Club
• Labrador Retriever Club
• Midland English Springer Spaniel Society
• Utility Gundog Society

These days may not be held every year, as they are dependent upon demand and availability of grounds

METHOD OF ACHIEVEMENT The granting of a Show Gundog Working Certificate will be at the discretion of the Judges at the meeting, and two Judges, one of whom must be an “A” Panel Judge, must sign the Certificate. Before doing so they must be satisfied that the dog has fulfilled the following requirements:-

• The dog has been tested in line.
• The dog has shown that it is not gun-shy.
• For a Retriever, that it hunted for, and found, dead or wounded game, faced cover, and retrieved tenderly.
• For a Spaniel, that it hunted, faced cover, produced game and retrieved tenderly.
• For a Pointer or Setter, that it hunted and pointed game.
• For a Hunt, Point and Retrieve Breed, that it hunted, pointed game, and retrieved tenderly.
• For all retrieving breeds, that the dog entered water freely, swam and retrieved (If a natural retrieve from water is not possible, then a dummy may be used. If suitable water is not available the dog is permitted to undertake a special water test on a separate date at a separate location recognized by the issue of a Certificate, to be signed by two Field Trial Panel Judges one of whom must be on the “A” Panel.
• The dog has not whined or barked in line. (Subject to the Breed Standard)
• The dog has been under reasonable control. (Absolute steadiness is not essential)

JUDGES However you decide to attain the Certificate, at a Field Trial or a Show Gundog Working Day, there will always be two Judges assessing the work of your dog at least one of whom will be on the “A” Panel.

If a dog passes the test to the satisfaction of these Judges a Certificate will be issued on the day, signed by the Judges and the secretary of the society. This will be sent to the Kennel Club to be recorded for inclusion in the Kennel Club Stud Book for that year and the Certificate will be returned to the owner of the dog. (If the water element has not been undertaken please note the following paragraph on the “Water Test” in which case the certificate will be held by the Kennel Club until completion of the water element).

The production of game to the guns is not assisted by noise, and those present should conduct themselves quietly and ensure that no unnecessary disturbance is created which might disturb game.

WATER TEST If suitable water is not available for the retrieving breeds at a Field Trial or Show Gundog Working Day, Show Gundogs will be permitted to undertake a Special Water Test on a separate date and at a separate location. This will be recognized by the issue of a separate Water Certificate, to be signed by two Field Trial Panel Judges, one of whom must be on the “A” Panel and sent to the Kennel Club to be recorded in order that the dog can be given its complete Show Gundog Working Certificate.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE NOTES Whilst the Judges on the day are looking for natural working ability, for retrieving breeds it is expected that your dog has had experience of freshly shot game and to particularly note that:

• Dogs which make a noise will not pass the certificate (subject to the Breed Standard)
• Although absolute steadiness is not essential a reasonable amount of control is expected at the discretion of the Judges
• The term “Champion” [Full Champion] must not be confused with the term “Dual Champion”. A Dual Champion is a dog that has become a Champion in the show ring and a Field Trial Champion, which in recent years has become quite a rare occurrence.

However, the acquisition of the Show Gundog Working Certificate does indicate that a qualified dog has retained its working ability with prestigious recognition in the Kennel Club Stud Book.

For further help and information on these Certificates and Gundog training opportunities please contact Hilary Gould in the Kennel Club Field Trial Department:

020 7518 1059 Fax:1046
hgould@the-kennel-club.ora.uk
fieldtrials@the-kennel-club.org.uk