On 14/9/25 the FCRS jointly with the Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club held a Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate training and assessment day at Rickneys Dog Training Centre in Hertfordshire. 18 dogs were entered (7 flatcoats and 11 golden retrievers). The trainers and assessors were Phil Allen, Jim Gale and Sarah Young.
The aim of the Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate is to provide credible proof that a handler and dog are a competent partnership and ready for the shooting field. Nobody “fails” the assessment, although dogs may be assessed as “not yet ready”.
The dogs are tested for Control, Obedience, Temperament, Hunting and Retrieving. Standard Canvass dummies were used throughout. The day started with training in the morning practicing the exercises that were to be assessed in the afternoon and developing strategies to overcome any difficulties that were experienced. After a break for lunch similar exercises were repeated in the afternoon.
The large group was split into three groups of six and set off walking together with all the dogs off lead and under control of their handlers, walking to heel, focused on their handler and ignoring other dogs – assessing temperament, obedience and control.
There was a simple marked retrieve from water – which assessed willingness to enter water and swim, control, ability to retrieve and deliver securely to their handler.
The dogs were sat up in front of a pen and a dummy was thrown into the pen. The handlers had to leave their dog to collect this dummy. – assessing steadiness, quietness, temperament, obedience, and control. The dogs were then required to complete a marked retrieve with shot from the pen – assessing their control, willingness to negotiate an obstacle, and the ability to retrieve and return to their handler.
Dummies, marked with shot, were placed in an area of cover. The dogs and handlers worked in pairs to hunt the cover and pick four out of six dummies assessing hunting, retrieving, temperament, obedience, and control.
Finally six handlers and their dogs were sat up off lead while a simulated drive was held, with the rest of the dogs on lead with their handlers, acting as a beating line. After the drive each of the dogs in the retrieving line were sent in turn to pick one of nine dummies. The groups then swapped around enabling all dogs to be assessed in the retrieving line for steadiness, willingness to retrieve, temperament, obedience, control. In the beating line the dogs were assessed for quietness (whilst their handlers made a lot of noise!)
The day started in fair weather with a light breeze and good scenting conditions but by mid afternoon the heavens opened. Tea and cake were served whist paperwork was completed in the rain. Then the awards were made. Everyone received a feedback sheet and the assessors shared their advice about training dogs for the field.
Of the 18 dogs entered ten passed (including three of the seven Flatcoats) and eight dogs were assessed as not yet ready. Those passing were presented with a Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate lanyard. The award of a Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate on dummies will be recorded in the Field Trial Newsletter and they will receive a Working Gundog Certificate in the post from the Kennel Club.
Our warm congratulations go to all those who passed today:
Anja Waebeke with Old Style From Double Gold (GR)
Sarah Phipps-Baker with Maddouse Liberty (GR)
Pawel Zygadlo with Quag’s Quintessence Loyal Gold (GR)
Mike Hamilton with Tealcreek Reed Bunting (GR)
Alicia Bratby with Ravensfort Steady As You Go (FCR)
Sue Pounds-Longhurst with Rosgar Dolly O’Dare Among Mossbarn (GR)
Jannah Baert with Wayam Of Ridersfort (GR)
Rob Dean with Master Craftsman (FCR)
Francesca Grant with Tealcreek Fleur Delacour Per Vitaoro (GR) and
Peter Holliday with Sashkrox Never Grow Up (FCR)
If you might be interested in future KCWGC assessment days, please contact the FCRS Working Test
Secretary to register your interest – [email protected]
