Regulations of the International Working Test for Retrievers

a. The IWT is a competition for the purpose of assessing, without game being shot, the working abilities of the various breeds of Retrievers.

b. The IWT is held yearly, each time in a different country.

c. Although the IWT is a competition, it is also an event to bring Retriever handlers closer to each other.

d. The IWT is a two-days team-event.

e. The IWT is open for all Retriever breeds trained to an advanced level.

f. Five British Field Trial judges (A or B panel) will be invited to judge the IWT.

g. The judges will design the tests.

a. The IWT must be designed by a person or persons with experience of dog work under shooting field conditions. Each dog or team of dogs must be given as near as possible, equal opportunity with the element of luck reduced to a minimum.

b. The organisers of the IWT must always try to simulate events that occur on a shooting day. They must also ensure the tests are designed to further good gundog work, and not inhibit dogs from marking or showing natural working ability. It is very important that guns and dummy throwers are positioned with this in mind.

c. During the IWT only standard dummies (500 gr) will be used.

d. When dummies are thrown, and gunfire is used, the shot must always precede the thrown dummy, with the gun positioned no further than approximately 40 yards from the retrieve. With unseen retrieves gunfire is optional.

e. When retrieving, a dog must not be required to pass too close to another retrieve.

f. Organisers and judges must be careful for the safety of dogs and must not require them to negotiate dangerous obstacles.

a. Those taking part in the IWT shall not openly impugn the decision of the judge or criticise the host, ground, or helpers.

b. The organisers shall have the power to exclude dogs from the competition and will have the right to refuse an entry.

c. Each country may delegate four (4) teams to the IWT. Each team may consist of three (3) dogs of the same or different retriever breed.

d. The maximum number of teams participating is thirty (30).

e. Only National-Teams are accepted. (free-teams only, if all team-members are residents of the same country)

f. The organisation may restrict the numbers in the IWT, in which case the right to compete shall be decided by ballot.

g. All judges must have experience of dog work under shooting field conditions.

h. All handlers must carry out instructions of the judges who are empowered to remove from the IWT any dog whose handler does not obey them or whose handler wilfully interferes with another competitor or his dog.

i. No person attending the IWT may allow any bitch in season to be on the IWT ground or to foul any ground to be used by competing dogs.

j. No dog shall wear a collar whilst competing.

k. No person shall carry out punitive measures or harsh handling of a dog whilst within the boundaries of the IWT.

a. When coming into line the handler must ensure the dog is on the lead, the judge will then explain what is expected. Judges must ensure that spectators are a reasonable distance from competitors in the line.

b. Judges will give dogs every opportunity to work well by seeing that conditions, as far as possible are in their favour. They will be looking for dogs which need the least handling and please them most from a shooting point of view.

c. In all retrieving breeds good marking is essential with a quick pick-up and a fast return. Judges will not penalise a dog too heavily for putting down a retrieve to get a firmer grip, but this must not be confused with sloppy retrieving.

d. Serious faults will disqualify a dog from any awards and may lead to elimination.

e. The judges are empowered to withhold any prize or award if in their opinion competing dogs do not show sufficient merit.

a. At the start of the IWT, judges must ensure they have the correct dogs in the line.

b. A Retriever must be steady to shot and fall and retrieve on command. Also, whenever possible, all dogs should be tested at a drive, walking up and water. A dog must walk steady at heel.

c. Good marking is essential with a quick pick-up and a fast return. Dogs showing marking ability and initiative should be placed above those which have to be handled onto their retrieve.

d. The shot must always precede a thrown dummy.

e. Credit points: Natural marking ability - Nose - Drive - Style - Speed in gathering retrieve - Delivery -Quiet handling - Control.

f. Serious faults: Failing to retrieve - Whining or barking - Running in or chasing - Out of control - Failing to enter water - Changing retrieve.

a. During the IWT a meeting with former IWT organisers will be arranged.

b. One of the issues to be discussed is the venue of the next IWT