Do I have to be a hunter?
No, and that is precisely the point. Working tests use only artificial dummies, so they are open to anyone with a retriever and an appetite for technical work.
Hunting dogs
Working Tests for Retrievers
The same exercises as the hunting trials, but with artificial dummies instead of game. They run out of season and are the best way into the retriever world.
About the discipline
What Working Tests are
Working tests were created to allow training and competition outside the shooting season. Instead of game, dummies are used - artificial retrieves made of canvas.
The exercises stay identical: single and multiple marks, blind retrieves handled by whistle, work in water, crossing cover. Only the object retrieved changes.
For most retriever owners who do not shoot, this is the natural entry point. You need no licence, no gun and no open season.
How it works in practice
What a test contains
- single and multiple marks, with launched dummies
- waiting at the line until sent
- blind retrieves, handled by whistle and signal
- work in water and crossings
- retrieves from dense cover
- a clean delivery to hand
- steadiness to the launcher or starting pistol
Which dogs it suits
- retrievers of all types
- owners who do not shoot but want technical work
- dogs that retrieve cleanly and work at distance
What you need
- dummies of different weights and colours
- a handling whistle
- access to ground with water and cover
- a dummy launcher, optionally
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Working Tests for Retrievers
What is a dummy?
An artificial retrieve made of filled canvas, with a weight similar to game. They come in several sizes and colours, some deliberately visible, others hard to spot.
Are they easier than real trials?
Technically the exercises are the same and can be just as hard. What is missing is the unpredictability of a real shooting day, which adds another layer of difficulty.
Which dummies do I need to start?
Two or three standard ones of medium weight, plus a more visible one for marks. Colour matters: white shows up easily and suits beginners, while green or brown are used when you want the dog to work with its nose rather than its eyes. A launcher only becomes useful later, for long marks.
The rule figures on this page come from FCI - Rules for International Working Tests for Retrievers. Rules change and federations differ - always check the rulebook of the competition you are entering.
From the same category
Related sports
Blood Tracking
Following a simulated blood trail.
Field Trials
Assessing hunting dogs in the field.
Retrieving Trials
Recovering game or artificial dummies.
Pointing Trials
Searching for and pointing game.
We do not run Working Tests for Retrievers
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.