:: Quicklink - Judges Guidance | Primary Test | Junior Test | Intermediate Test | The Senior Test
Approved by both the Bearded Collie Club and the Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club.
Revised 1987.
1. |
These tests may be taken only by members of the Bearded Collie Club, and/or the Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club. (More Bearded Collie Clubs are now included) |
2. |
The tests are not competitive and to qualify a dog needs to gain 80% of the marks in each exercise. |
3. | The tests are restricted to any dog owned by a member of the club, but Diplomas and Medallions are restricted to Bearded Collies (Registered or Unregistered). Each Bearded Collie that qualifies will receive a Diploma from the club running the tests, signed by the Judge and a Club Official. A Bearded Collie that qualifies in the Senior Test will receive a Club Medallion. Members other dogs may take the tests at the discretion of the judge. |
4. | Diplomas will be awarded at the end of the tests. The Stewards are responsible for filling in the details on the Diploma and informing the Club Secretary of the results which will be published in the next edition of the club magazine or newsletter. |
5. | The Club will endeavour to run these tests in any area of the country where there is a minimum of six dogs wanting to qualify. |
6. | Members wanting a Working Test meeting in their area must be prepared to find the ground. The Junior, Intermediate and Senior Test must take place in the open. |
7. | Dogs which without provocation, attack people or other dogs will be disqualified. Members are responsible for keeping their dogs under control. |
8. | Bitches in season must not enter the ground. The handler should inform the judge of the bitch's condition and the judge will examine her after all the other dogs have finished. |
9. | Members may nominate judges but such names have to be approved by the appropriate Club Committee. |
10. | There should be at least two stewards to assist the judge. |
11. | Any disputed matter arising at the tests and requiring a decision on the ground will be decided by a majority of the judge, stewards and any officers or committee members of the club running the tests who may be present at the meeting. Their decision shall be final. |
12. | A dog must have qualified in the Primary Test before taking the Junior, in the Junior Test before taking the Intermediate, and the Intermediate Test before taking the Senior. |
Directions for guidance of judges
These working tests were devised so that the Bearded Collie Breed Clubs could offer some award for temperamentally sound, well behaved Bearded Collies. The exercises were designed to have a practical aspect and, for this reason, extra commands and encouragement (unless otherwise stated) should not be penalised except where they are excessive and imply lack of control over the dog. Titbits or toys should not be used as a reward or bribe. The breed standard states that the Bearded Collie should be alert, lively and self-confident with good temperament anessential, and Working Test judges have discretion to penalise the cowed, unwilling worker. Judges may request the withdrawal of any dog they consider to be unduly distressed by the test.
The accuracy and precision required for obedience competitions are not vital in qualifying for these tests. The dog should be attentive and responsive therfore consistent lagging, wandering or an appreciable delay before responding to a command are faults, whereas minor faults such as the straightness of the sit are not important. The Primary Test has been made very simple to encourage as many people to enter as possible. The Primary and Junior Tests (especially in the lead work) should be judged as assessments of the rapport existing between dog and handler. Great stress has been laid throughout on the dog allowing strangers to examine it.