WC Test

The Working Certificate Test

(WC)

Purpose:

In 1975, the FCRSA established the Working Certificate test (WC) primarily to encourage the use and maintenance of the natural working and retrieving abilities of the Flat-Coated Retriever and as a useful aid in the selection of breeding stock.

 

The WC test is designed to test the natural abilities of the Flat- Coat including its memory, intelligence, attention, nose, marking ability, courage, perseverance, and style.

 

In addition to the following WC requirements, judges and contestants should be familiar with AKC’s “Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedure for Retrievers” and “Regulations and Guideline for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers.”  Except as specifically stated herein, all regulations that govern those events shall apply to the WC test.

 

Description of the Test:

  1. A double marked retrieve on land-
    1. Moderate cover (i.e. bird cannot be seen from a distance of more than a foot)
    2. Falls approximately 40-50 yards
    3. Throws slightly angled back at approximately a 45 degree angle, and at least a 90 degree angle between adjacent falls
    4. The falls should not be converging, i.e. thrown toward each other.
    5. Birds should not be thrown into the wind, if practical.
    6. Birds shall be pigeons or upland game birds, or if no golden retrievers are entered, ducks maybe used. Birds shall not be mixed species in the same series.
    7. All dead birds may be used; a live flyer is strongly encouraged on the diversion mark at the discretion of the judges and the test committee
  2. Two single marked retrieves on water (back-to-back)-
    1. One retrieve is into light cover in the water or at the edge of the shore in cover if there is no cover in the water
    2. The other retrieve can be in open water
    3. Falls are approximately 25-30 yards away
    4. Birds shall be dead ducks

 

WC Test Rules:

  1. Bird throwers and the guns should be in white or light-colored shirts or jacket to be clearly visible to the dogs in both land and water tests.
  2. Handlers and/or judges may wear light or dark clothing.
  3. Birds should not be thrown into the wind and should be clearly visible throws.
  4. Throws must not be converging or thrown towards each other.
  5. Shotguns must be used.  Popper loads shall be used for all dead birds.  Steel or non-toxic shot shall be used where required.  Safety and gun safety education should be of the utmost consideration when setting up the test and assigning workers.
  6. Wingers, Strong-Arms, or other mechanical bird-throwing devices shall not be used.
  7. Birds must be in good condition; ducks shall not be water-logged or damaged.
  8. On arriving at the line, the handler may briefly point out the various gunners in the field before signaling to the judges that they are ready to begin the test. It is the discretion of the judges as to the duration of time spent by the handler pointing out gunners. The judges may choose to begin the test if an inordinate amount of time has passed
  9. Dogs may retrieve the birds in any order without penalty.
  10. A shot must be fired for each mark without a duck call or other attention getting devices.  The shot can be immediately before the throw or while the bird is in the air.
  11. Both water retrieves should be from swimming water, if grounds allow, but swimming water is a mandatory requirement for one, preferably for the longer retrieve.
  12. Decoys may not be used on land or water.
  13. Handlers will not be required to handle a gun.
  14. A test dog must be used to allow the judges to evaluate their test. By running a test dog the judges may discover unforeseen situations or hidden obstacles that weren't obvious when setting up the test. A test dog need not pass the test in order for the judges to make a good evaluation of their test.
  15. The dog may be brought to the line on lead and gently held on line by a flat buckle collar without tags or a slip cord.  (No choke, pinch, prong, “British slipcord”, or other training collars are permitted.)
  16. The dog must not be released to retrieve before its number or “dog” is called by the judge.
  17. The dog need not deliver to hand, but must bring the bird within a clearly defined area that is not more than 6 feet from the line.  Should the line for a water test be at the water’s edge, the dog shall bring the duck out of the water so the handler does not have to wade after the bird.
  18. Handlers may not handle a dog to a mark or do anything to encourage a dog in its hunt.  But, once the dog has found the bird, the handler may use voice, whistle, and/or gesture to encourage its prompt return.
  19. The dog may be gently guided by its collar (no manhandling) into position for the second retrieve.
  20. A dog may be recast from the line on a mark, but only if, in the opinion of the judges, the dog was confused as to whether it was sent.  Generally, the dog will make a start towards a marked fall, but then stop a very short distance from the line and return or is recalled by the handler.  The judges will agree upon a distance from the line after which a recast is not allowed.
  21. Once the dog has picked up the bird, it should return promptly to the handler.
  22. When the dog has completed its retrieves or is “picked up” in the case of a “no-bird,” the handler may immediately take the dog by its collar or put it on lead before leaving the line.
  23.  The judge’s decision is final.

 

WC Judging/Handling Guidelines

The tests should be fairly straight forward, yet difficult enough to enable a dog to display its natural marking abilities, desire to retrieve, desire to work, and willingness to re-enter the water.  Tests must not be tight or tricky or set up to intentionally confuse the dog.  

 

A basic level of training is essential, but abilities acquired though training should not be given precedence.

 

The suggested guidelines for distance are maximum, but terrain, cover, and conditions of the day must be taken into account when setting up the test.  For example, maximum distances would be used in lighter cover with level terrain. 

 

In general, the test should be run and judged along the lines of a Derby test, except for the following:

  • Dogs may be brought to the line on lead and gently held until released to retrieve by the judge
  • Dogs need not deliver to hand
  • Dogs may be gently guided by the collar into position for the second retrieve
  • The test is non-competitive and simply judged on a pass/fall basis

 

The judges will score each dog as PASS or FAIL. A dog that fails any one series will not qualify at the test.  A dog must receive a passing score from each judge to qualify at the test.

 

A list of the total number of qualifiers and each qualifying dog number will be submitted to the test secretary.  Both judges must sign the officially marked catalog/running list. (See “Report to the WC/X Administrators.”)

 

Mandatory Elimination or Failure of the WC Test

    • Releasing the dog to retrieve before the dog’s number/”dog” is called or dog is released by the judge.
    • Letting a competing dog watch the location of a fall for another dog before its turn to run.  This will be a mandatory elimination of the dog, and possibly an elimination of the handler from the test if the judges or test committee believe the violation to have been deliberate.
    • Manhandling the dog between birds of a double, e.g. unusual physical handling and/or excessive “helping” the dog to remember the second (memory) bird.
    • Noisily or frequently restraining a dog from breaking, except in extraordinary circumstances, from the time the handler signals the judge until the dog’s number/”dog” is called.
    • Loud or prolonged barking or whining.
    • “Breaking,” i.e. dog leaves the line to retrieve before the dog’s number is called by the judge. (Note: a dog will not be eliminated for a “controlled break,” when the dog leaves to retrieve before being sent and is quickly brought under control by a verbal command or whistle without manhandling and promptly returns to the line.
    • Using a signal, a vocal command, or throwing anything to direct the dog to a fall or to persuade it to enter the water.
    • The dog returning to the handler, either without the bird or without having been called in, except when the dog is obviously confused as to whether it was really ordered to retrieve.
    • The dog stopping its hunt.
    • Giving up after a search for one bird and going to the area of another fallen bird, or dropping a bird the dog is retrieving and going for another, i.e. “switching birds”
    • Ignoring a bird when found and leaving it, i.e. “blinking the bird.”
    • Failing to find a bird that the dog should have been found
    • “Hard mouth” or badly damaging game which, in the opinion of the judges, was caused entirely and solely by the dog, without justification.
    • Extreme “freeze,” or unwillingness to release a bird on delivery until compelled to do so by severe means.

 

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