Ability trial
for go-to-ground breeds
The trial
consists of two parts: the empty cave inspection and the test with the actual
game.
The empty
cave inspection is to determine whether the dog has the ability to check the
empty caves as completely as possible and in silence so that the owner knows
that there is no quarry in the cave. The dog must pass the empty cave trial
before getting the permission to go to the actual game trial.
In the
actual game trial, there is a live fox behind a grate in a so called "search nest"
and the dog must find it. The dog has to stay 10 to 15 cm from the grate and bark
loudly that the game is been found. After that the grate behind the fox is
opened and the fox is given a chance to move to a branch base and after that
the grate in front of the dog will be opened and the dog will follow the fox.
The dog starts to work the quarry and depending on how close and how well the
dog bays and pressures the fox, the judge will evaluate the dog's
abilities.
Dog's work
can be considered as very good or excellent only if the way the dog is working
is completely dominant. If there is a confrontation between the dog and the fox
the trial will be terminated to protect the animals.
Dog owner
or handler lets his dog go into the tunnel on his own responsibility. The foxes
used in the trials are farmed red or silver foxes. Foxes have been vaccinated, they
are healthy and in good condition. In a trial the fox has to be replaced after three
full-time trials or sooner if the dogs have been particularly hard and the fox
has had a tougher than normal pressure.
Development Stages
In the
trials the abilities of the dogs will be classified in different stages of
development.
- E-trial
Development
stage E = a dog that during the trial has gone through the needle-eye and
indicated by baying about finding the fox from the "seach base" behind the
grate has completed an acceptable job. Trial time is 10 minutes.
- D-B-trial
After going
through the needle-eye and indicating by baying about finding the fox from the
search base, the grate behind the fox is being opened and the fox moves to
branch, corner or end base. The dog needs to follow and start baying the fox
with no grate between the fox and the dog. There are lowerings in front of the
bases . The trial time is 20 minutes.
Development
stage D = dog, who during the trial has shown a satisfactory ability. Development
stage C = dog, who during the trial has shown a good ability.
Development
stage B = dog, who during the trial has shown a very good ability. After
gaining the development stage B twice, the dog can attempt the A-trial.
- A-trial
Otherwise
like the D-B -trial but the dog must dig through a sand barrier before getting
to the search base. The foxes used in an A-trial are normally a bit tougher.
Trial time 20 minutes.
To get the
Working Champion title the dog needs: A development stage (excellent abilities),
inspection of a natural den and the minimum quality grading of Good from a dog
show.
The tunnels The dimensions of the tunnels are width 18cm x height 20cm. The dog goes
in from the funnel (60cm long) through the needle - eye (50cm long and
dimensions 18x13cm). In front of the bases (except the search base) there is a 70cm long lowering part where the
tunnel is 18cm x 15cm. Each tunnel is 2m long and the bases are 40x40x20cm. The
size of the double base is 40x80x20cm.