Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and Standard Poodles may compete in retriever field trials, while retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, Barbets and Standard Poodles may enter hunt and working certificate tests. Dogs are tested both on their ability to mark the location of downed birds and on their retrieving skill, over land or in the water. At the higher levels, dogs are required to carry out very sophisticated retrieving tests, including marking multiple birds and finding unmarked birds (blind retrieves).
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CKC Retriever Field Trial Rules & Regulations
The purpose of a retriever field trial is to determine the relative merits of retrievers in the field and to test both the natural and trained abilities desired in a hunting retriever. Field Trials showcase and improve the retriever breeds by identifying the dogs which best demonstrate the desired abilities of a hunting retriever. Tests should be held in a natural hunting terrain and should be designed to test and separate the competing dogs with the dogs giving the best performances on that particular day being awarded placement. All dogs running in the trial should be given the opportunity to run as many of the tests as time and circumstances allow and if completing the tests in a satisfactory manner, shall be awarded certificates of merit.
Eligible breeds: all breeds of Retrievers.
(“Retriever” means Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Irish Water Spaniels and Standard Poodles)
CKC Hunt Test Rules and Regulations for Retrievers, Barbet, Irish Water Spaniels & Standard Poodles
The purpose of a hunt test for Retrievers, Barbet, Irish Water Spaniels and Standard Poodles is to test the merits of, and evaluate the abilities of these dogs in the field in order to determine their suitability and ability as hunting companions. Hunt test should simulate as nearly as possible, the conditions met in a true hunting situation.The test allows a dog to demonstrate these characteristics and continue breed improvement of these qualities.
Eligible breeds: all breeds of Retrievers, Barbet, Irish Water Spaniels and Standard Poodles.
CKC Working Certificate Test Rules & Regulations
The primary objective of the WC, WCI and WCX tests is to encourage the development and use of those natural abilities for which retrievers were originally bred. The tests provide a means to help determine future breeding stock, encourage retriever owners to develop their dogs’ natural abilities, and to have retrievers become more proficient as hunting partners. The tests are noncompetitive and those dogs that pass the tests to the satisfaction of the judges will be recorded as having basic work ability.
Eligible breeds: all breeds of Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels, Poodles, Airedale Terriers and Barbets