Working test are great fun and useful for training . However no amount of wins, even at open level, can equate to a FT. They do not give you a Stud book number nor do they enable show Champions to convert to Full Champion.
K

No, perhaps not, but they are made to test the ability of a dog on a shoot day, the only difference is the level of training, and the fact that they aren't done with live game.  The lower end of the scale is great for those who want to dabble, and don't want to have to pick up dead things, the top end is much more competitive. 

That's why I can't understand the purpose of having a separate qualification, when tests are already there to make use of.  The main difference I can see is that this is not a competition, it's a qualification that the dog gets after being assessed. 

There are a couple of interesting articles on the Labrador Retriever Club about this sort of topic, I was interested to read in one, Mary Roslin Smith used to say that the term 'SH CH' stands for 'Shame Champion'.  And a very interesting article by Susan Scales.....

My BCs are duel registered with ISDS as well as KC. Many of the family work and I do feel that I let the side down because I have not got the ability to train and work my dogs as they deserve. They do agility and enjoy this but I worry sometimes about the lack of sheep in their lives !!

> Mary Roslin Smith

Mary Roslin Williams perhaps

> And a very interesting article by Susan Scales.....

This is taken from that very article

However, it is unfortunately true to say that the pure field trial strains almost never produce anything which could go very far in the show ring. Show strains might produce the occasional dog which could go a long way in trials, but most of them never get the opportunity. Those that do very often have novice owner/trainers who do not enhance their chances. If some of the top trainers could be persuaded to take on a show bred dog from a strain which has proved it can produce workers,

Which is in fact what we have been saying all along...

sorry, multi tasking and talking to someone called Smith :)

> Springers are still very popular working dogs here,

I meant the Srpringers had taken over from the Fields, Welsh, Sussex etc.

I think the easiest way to look at the SGWC is as a test of the dog to do what it has been bred to do (and obviously covers part of the breed standard) hence why it is for Show Dogs - it is not to assess how well they do that job or their abilites as Trials do.  There is an equivalent being used more and more by triallers (particularly FTCH stud owners) and that is having their dog's confirmation assessed according to FCI rules.  I suspect this has come about because of the requirement by some countries such as Germany and the Scandanavian countries for KC registration and the number wanting to use working bred studs in the UK.

"Can only talk about HPR's .. A dog with a show ring CC, or already a SH Ch, can apply to run at a FT for a SGWC. This is under true field conditions, the dog must hunt, cover ground methodically, be under control, point in contact with game, flush on command , be steady to shot & fall, retrieve tenderly (including runners) to hand and retrieve from deep water at the end of the day. "

A hard mouthed dog that pegs birds instead of pointing, chases game,possibily giving tongue whilst it does, could win an Open Working Test. It could NOT pass a SGWC