John sorry for constantly calling on you but,- Having joined the Northen URC and been to a training day, I have another one on Saturday. I cannot take Penny with me as her hips are quite stiff and sore at the moment. I was using her as my training aid to train Bailey. He is doing really well but he will only be 19weeks on Saturday. Do you think it would be ok to take him and allow him only to do everthing on a lead and his retrieves on a lunge reign. or do you think he would still be too young. at the moment his retrieves are done in the back garden and are only about 3-4ft away from him. Or do you think I should just take him for socialisation (he desperately needs this) and just watch. Any other suggestions would be very welcome. Also at what age will he be able to compete in puppy working trials? And what is a walked up open working test, I have been given entry forms by the club for this. It is on 15th August and Bailey will be 6and a half months, I am sure I have read somewhere that he should be 9months or older. Many thanks

Kay

I would take him even if only for the experience. A young puppy watching a GOOD dog can learn a lot. I always try to avoid a puppy of mine seeing something going wrong because I only want them to see what I'm aiming at.

Have a word with your instructor. It is up to him or her whether you can go in the class or not. If it was me I would take you into the class with the proviso that you dropped out for a rest part way through.

Best wishes, John

PS. I'll answer the rest tomorrow. Old men like me need their sleep ;)

Thanks John, I will take him and see what happens.

Kay

Hi again Kay.
Right, the rest of your post.
Literally he can work in a working test as soon as he's ready. The minimum 6 month rule applies the same as showing but few are ready to start before 9 months to a year old. As far as the URC is concerned the maximum age to enter in a puppy test is under 2 years of age on the day before the test. Be careful because other organisations use different rules, the Game conservancy use the 1st of January following the puppy's first birthday!

There are normally four classes catering for different standards of training. Puppy, Novice Dog/Novice Handler (Neither dog or handler have passed out of this class), Novice (The handler may be very experienced but the dog is still a novice) Open (Open to everyone although in practise only very experienced people usually enter). Occasionally a club may run an intermediate test which would usually be a sort of halfway house between novice and open.

These tests would normally include a variety of retrieves including simple marks, doubles, blinds, water retrieves and usually a walk up. The retrieves would of course be easier for a puppy of novice dog/novice handler than for say, an open test.

A walk up test is normally run four dogs at a time. The dogs in a line across the field walking forward in line and at heel off lead. At intervals a dummy would be thrown either in front, behind or even one in front and one behind and a dog will be detailed to retrieve it/them. The remaining dogs must sit quietly at heel while this is going on.

Another variation is a Cold Game retrieve. This is where, instead of dummies being used, previously shot game is used. There are not many cold game tests held because of the difficulty of storing enough birds to be able to run the test!

Try to get to a test to watch (or even help out) before you get around to entering and you will get an idea what's required. Also try to enter a puppy test first. With a more advanced test there is likely to be a wall or fence to jump which is not a good idea for a puppy.

Hope this gives you a few answers.

Best wishes, John 

Thanks John, you have been extremely helpful. I have decided to take him on Saturday. If he is allowed to do the basics that would be great, Probably a half hour would be enough for him. There are usually three training units going on at one time, basic, novice and exprienced. Bailey will quite happily go to sleep in the car, so I can then go and spectate the more experienced dogs and handlers. The cars are in the field along side us so I will not be too far away from him.  August's trials are open walk up so I definately will not be competing but I will go and spectate if allowed. His training is coming on so well and he is very keen, just too young.  Many thanks again for all your help and advice.

Kay