Working Test in a nutshell

Working test (NOWT) is one way to measure retrieving skills in hunting-like conditions. Working tests are official field trials under rules of the Finnish Kennel Club and participants must have passed the field qualification test. Working test in Curly World Seminar is unofficial (i.e. results are not registered in the database), so everyone can participate!

There are four levels in working test: novice class, beginner class, open class and winner class. (Novice class is for retrievers of age 9-17 months only, and field qualification test is not required.) If you get one first prize, you can advance to the next level. You cannot get any champion title, but working tests are highly appreciated as a very good way to train especially for warm game field trials.

Scoring

Instead of game only dummies are retrieved. One dog performs several different tasks in different stations (usually four), and all tasks are scored by points from 0 to 20. Finally all the best dogs, which still have possibility to get a first prize, perform one more task. In order to get any prize from the test, dog has to retrieve all dummies. For the first prize at least 75 % of the maximum points and at least 11/20 points from all tasks must be gathered. For the second prize 60 % and 8/20 and for the third 50 % and 4/20, respectively.

Tasks

Tasks at the stations are usually fairly short, such as a single mark, a double mark, a blind or a search at a certain small area - or combinations of these. The aim at all stations is to retrieve dummies as fast as possible. Dogs have to be under handler's control - heeling, stay and the amount of commands handler is using affect the scoring.

Working tests are usually held at a large field using the landscape such as bushes, woods, ditches and lakes when planning the tasks. Dogs are usually divided into groups by class so that they go from station to station together. Long day at a working test offers an excellent way to get to know fellow retriever lovers! This test is also a very sprectator friendly, since the tasks are short and the dogs are visible almost all the time.