Dog Sports - Working Trials

Working Trials date back to 1924 when the Associated Sheep, Police and Army Dog Society (ASPADS) held the first event. In May 1927, the first Championship Working Trial to be recognised by the Kennel Club was held by the Alsatian League and Club of Great Britain at Castle Bromwich.

The format of Working Trials was changed in 1961 and since then, only very minor amendments have been made to the sport.

Although Working Trials tests were originally based on training for police work, for today's participant Working Trials are purely a competitive sport. They are physically demanding, and both dog and owner need to be healthy and fit. Trials always take place outdoors, often in stunning landscapes, and are run right through the year.

Working Trials tests, especially the tracking exercises, tend to be dispersed over a relatively large area of land.

As a result, trials rarely attract many spectators apart from the competitors themselves - the exception being the annual Kennel Club Working Trial Championships, the 'top' event of the Working Trials calendar.

Almost any dog of any breed of can take part in Working Trials, provided they are fit and healthy. The lower levels of competition - called 'stakes' - are geared to virtually any size of dog. However smaller dogs are not normally able to attain the top stakes (Tracking Dog and Patrol Dog) due to the height and size of the equipment used for the 'agility' exercises.

CSJ & Working Trials

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Wendy and Paul Beasley says ...

" After feeding a more expensive food for many years and becoming dissatisfied with it I am delighted to find that all my dogs and those that are in for training do so well on such a reasonably priced food. "

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Wendy and Paul Beasley

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