Working | gwpa

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Working

Working events/opportunities available to the German Wirehaired Pointer in the UK:-

So you have added or are thinking of adding a German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP) to your family – now what can you do with it?

Field trials and working tests measure the ability of a gundog in a competitive arena. They are designed to resemble a day’s shooting as closely as possible, to compare gundogs in the discipline they have been bred for.

Field Trials:

Competitive sport: These are the only working events currently held, recognised and run under Kennel Club rules, and more specifically for the HPR’s are held under the ‘J Regs’ rules and regulations.

There are three levels you can compete at:

Novice Stake – ideally you should start here, – you must gain two First’s in Novice stakes to gain preference in a draw for an Open stake.

All Aged Stake – anyone can run in an All Aged trial, but the standard of work is more on a parr of an Open stake – you must either have one First in a Novice stake and a First or Second Place in an All Aged stake or a First and Second in an All Aged Stake to gain preference in a draw for an Open stake.

Open Stake – the top of the sport – this is where Field Trial Champions are made! – you need two Open First places or a First place at the HPR Championships to make your GWP into a Field Trial Champion.

The HPR Championships – These are held annually, usually in November. To qualify you must have been awarded either a First or Second place in an Open Field Trial, within two years of the event, and to continue to run you need to requalify every two years.

Spring Pointing Tests/Grouse Pointing Tests: These are a great way to start your working career, they are competitive, but are an opportunity to assess your GWP’s natural working ability in the field.

Dogs are assessed as either a Junior dog; (for dogs over 6 months of age and under two years on the 1st January in the year of the test) and Adults. Junior dogs will normally take priority if a draw of runners is required.

Spring Pointing Tests should be limited to 12 dogs. Dogs can only be graded on Partridge (juniors can be graded on Pheasant also) (SPT) and Grouse (GPT).

The two judges grade your dog rather than there being a winner, there are three possible gradings:

Good
Very Good
Excellent

Gundog Working Tests: Working Tests are a fun and sociable, but competitive way of training and competing your GWP. They are usually held under the ‘J Regs’ rules and regulations.

Most Gundogs aren't ready to work in competition for at least two years and the first sort of competition you will probably enter will be a Gundog Working Test. There are 3 basic classes, but many clubs run other classes too. Generally the tests consist of two land retrieves, hunting and a water retrieve.

You may have a different judge for every part of the test.

PUPPY: Confined to dogs of less than eighteen months of age on the date of the test.

NOVICE: Confined to dogs which have not gained a place or certificate of merit at a field trial, been placed first, second or third in an Open GWT or first in a Novice GWT held in accordance with Kennel Club Rules and Field Trial Regulations.

OPEN: Open to all dogs although preference may be given to dogs which have gained an award or Certificate of Merit at a Field Trial, been placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in an Open Working Test or 1st in any Test.

Below is a list of other working events you can take part in with your German Wirehaired Pointer:

Grouse counting – these are by invitation and are held on Grouse Moors.

Shot over days – specific days arranged to enable you to train your dog on game.

Working in the field: Working your dog for guns on a walked up shoot, Peg dog, Picking up, Beating, Dogging in, Deer stalking, Falconry/Hawking, Wild fowling, Duck flighting

Game worked: Grouse, Partridge, Pheasant, Woodcock Snipe, Hare, Rabbit, Deer, Duck, Geese