Dallas-Ft. Worth Labrador Retriever Club...

DFWLRC -WC-JWCI -JWCX RULES

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Dallas/Ft. Worth Labrador Retriever Club
Working Certificate Tests
These variable level tests recognizing hunting companions are not AKC titles; they do not appear on AKC pedigrees.

GENERAL RULES APPLYING TO ALL TESTS

  1. Test are pass/fail; no numerical scoring
  2. Only one test pass is required for certification at each level
  3. Cover, water, and distance descriptions depend upon availability
  4. Eligibility:
    1. Bitches in season are not allowed
    2. Spayed/Neutered and ILP are allowed
    3. Other breeds or mixed breeds are allowed only if limits are not filled by Labradors
  5. Birds may be pigeons, upland game, ducks or any combination
  6. Judge(s) will hold a handlers’ meeting prior to each test
  7. Test dogs will be run at all stakes
  8. Dogs may not observe the test prior to running
  9. Automatic elimination at all three levels include
    1. Refusal of a retrieve
    2. Refusal to enter or re-enter water
    3. Gun shyness
    4. Uncontrolled break or sending dog before judge calls dog’s number
    5. Swallowing or deliberately destroying the bird
    6. Any aggression towards a dog or person
    7. Unsportsmanlike conduct by handler or owner
  10. To preserve marking ability, handling on marks is not allowed
  11. Recasts at the judge’s discretion
  12. Returns through water are not required
  13. Only flat buckle collars without attachments , or no collar are allowed
  14. Physically correcting or threatening a dog is not allowed.  Verbal corrections shall not be abusive, overly load or excessive
  15. Gunners will be clearly visible from the line, none will retire
  16. Dogs must be able to view the entire fall of the bird
  17. WCI/WCX gunners and handlers will wear hunting attire; WC gunners will wear white; WC handlers may wear white
  18. Water decoys will be used in WCX only
  19. No on-site training the day of the test until all tests are run
  20. Call backs will be given following each series.  If time allows, non-passing dogs will be run later in the day
  21. Where unspecified herein, AKC Guidelines/Regulations for Hunting Retriever Test shall apply except judges may not enter/handle

 

Working Certificate (WC) Requirements

  1. A land single retrieve of a shot bird over a distance of approximately 50 yards in light cover
  2. Back to back singles in the water.  One bird should be retrieved in swimming water if possible
  3. The dog is not required to be steady or to deliver to hand, however, the judge(s) may designate an area for delivery
  4. The dog should not be gun shy

Rules

  1. Test of natural ability; after sending and until recall, handler is silent unless the judge instructs or permits otherwise
  2. Line manners are not to be judged.  Dogs may be held by the collar
  3. Angled water entries, excessive water distances and lines set way back from the water are strongly discouraged
  4. Two shots may be fired, first for the dog’s attention; second at the apex of the fall

Working Certificate Intermediate (WCI) Requirements

  1. The dog to retrieve a land double of not less than 50 or more than 75 yards at least 90 degrees apart in light cover
  2. Judge(s) may make use of slight terrain variations
  3. A water double not over 50 yards at least 90 degrees apart in open swimming water, if possible
  4. One of the land birds may be a live shot flyer
  5. The dog is not required to be steady, but must deliver to hand
  6. Duck calls may be used

Rules

  1. Automatic elimination for switching, excessive motion or noise on the line, hard mouth (rendering the bird unfit for the table)
  2. The dog may be gently restrained by slip cord only
  3. Quiet encouragement on the return is allowed

Working Certificate Excellent (WCX) Requirements

  1. The dog to retrieve a land triple of not less than 30 or more than 100 yards, at least 60 degrees apart in light cover
  2. A water double, with decoys,  not less than 50 or more than 75 yards, at least 60 degrees apart in swimming water, if possible
  3. Honor land dead bird mark, behind the working dog with full view of the falls
  4. Land blind, set well away from the land triple, approximately 50 yards, simple terrain, light cover
  5. The dog is required to be steady and deliver to hand
  6. Duck calls may be used

 

Rules

  1. Automatic elimination for switching, hard mouth, excessive noise or motion on the line, honoring dog and/or handler disturbing the working dog, retrieving a decoy
  2. The dog comes to and leaves the line off lead
  3. No exposed training equipment allowed at the line except a whistle
  4. Controlled breaks are allowed except on the honor
  5. Quite encouragement is allowed on the return
  6. Other than receiving the bird, the handler may not touch the dog
  7. Honor dog may stand, sit or down.  The honoring handler may not verbally re-enforce the “stay” once the judge signals for the birds to be thrown.  If the honoring dog breaks, it is an automatic elimination.  All effort should be made to control the break.  The honoring dog is to remain in position until the working dog is sent; lead may be used once the dog and handler have turned away.  Bye dog may be restrained
  8. Land blind handling no limit on whistles/casts.  The dog must demonstrate trainability by reasonable response to commands, improving the dog’s position in regard to the bird

Gallery

For both safety and consideration of the working dog and handler

  1. Keep voices and activity to a minimum during a retrieve
  2. No bright clothing in the gallery
  3. Parents are to be responsible for their children
  4. The gallery shall park vehicles and sit in such areas as directed by the judge, marshal, or member of the Test Committee

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