Grade 3 Assessment Requirements

Retriever

Obedience requirements

HEEL: The dog must be in acceptable heel position at all times during the test, close to and alongside the handler and despite minor distractions. ‘About turns’ and changes in direction will be required. The handler will be required to ‘heel’ the dog past an assistant, to remain at heel whilst the assistant rolls a ball or dummy across the path of the dog and handler (10 to 15 yards from the dog), and past dummies lying on the ground. The assessor may incorporate heelwork into the other aspects of the tests as he sees fit, he or she will record the dog correctly completing neat left and right turns, and at least two 180 degree about turns without losing the correct heel position at any time. 

SIT / STAY: The ‘stay’ will be 3 minutes in duration. During this 3 minutes that dog will be tested as follows:

• Steadiness to fall - an assistant will throw two dummies within 10 yards of the seated dog. The handler to be at least 20 yards from the dog at this time.
  
• Handler out of sight - The handler must be out of sight for at least 10 seconds during the course of the stay
  
• Handler distance - the handler must walk 50 yards from the dog at some point during the stay, the dog should be able to see the handler clearly during this exercise

The order in which these distractions are presented is at the discretion of the assessor.

STOP: The dog must stop quickly to whistle whilst hunting the area of fall as follows: An assistant will throw a mark at 25 yards from and in clear view of the ‘dog at heel’. The handler will turn the dog and walk away whilst the assistant removes the dummy. The assessor will ask the handler to send the dog to the area of fall, and to stop him there by whistle.

RECALL: There are two recalls;

• After the Stay (50 yards)
  
• After the Stop (25 yards)
  

The dog should return directly to the handler when recalled and on arrival return to the heel position without delay.   

Field Skills

RETRIEVE 1: Marking, memory, nose & persistence

Marked retrieves:

- Two singles mark on land at 70 – 80 yards. 1 on land & 1 in cover* concealed from view as defined above, and run along a guideline such as a hedge/fence or path.

- A straightforward water mark at up to 50 yards, the dog to retrieve from the surface of the water.

The dog will be scored for accurate marking & lining, effective persistent hunting, holding the area of fall, style/speed, and delivery. 

RETRIEVE 2: Directional Control

Blind retrieves: Handling will be tested with two simple short blinds as follows:

- Back 30 yards - single retrieve

- Either a Left or a right 20 yards - single retrieve

Handler to give directions from a distance of ten yards from the dog. Blinds will be set up using visual guidelines such as a fence or barrier.

Hunting Retriever (Spaniels)

Obedience Requirements

Heelwork is carried out off the lead in two parts with the 'stay' in between

HEEL 1: The handler is required to walk his dog at heel without a lead from the line to the 20-yard sit marker. Spaniel heelwork is not expected to be precise. But the dog must be clearly under control and not forging ahead of the the handler. Points will be lost for repeated commands from the handler, or poor control of the dog. 

SIT & STAY: The handler is required to sit the dog at the 20-yard marker with a single sit command and to return to the line without the dog. The dog must remain seated for 2 minutes. Points will be lost if the dog stands up, or creeps. No further commands may be given. 

HEEL 2 (with distraction) The handler will return to the dog and heel the dog 20 yards back to the start line. As the dog and handler approach the Assessor, a dummy will be thrown at right angles to the dog. The dog must remain at heel throughout this distraction, heelwork standards as above. 

Field Skills

Hunting, retrieving, response to whistle commands

CONTROLLED HUNTING: For the main body of the field skills section, the dog will hunt closely in front of the handler whilst the handler walks forwards for a distance of approximately 50 yards. The handler must demonstrate close control over the dog with appropriate use of the turn whistle. The terrain will consist of moderate cover. 

RECALL: The dog will be tested on the recall whistle once during hunting on the direction of the assessor.

STOP WHISTLE: The dog will be tested on the stop whistle twice during hunting, each stop to be followed by a dummy throw and shot, once the dog is firmly seated. (i.e. this is not a 'drop to fall' test, but steadiness to fall is required).

RETRIEVING : Three marked retrieves to be carried out - the first two as follows: The assessor will direct the handler to go out to the dog after each stop whistle test and once steadiness to fall is demonstrated. The dog will be sent for each of the marks from the handler's side. Delivery to hand is essential. For the third and final marked retrieve, the dog will be sent across a minor obstacle such as a small stream or ditch. Swimming is not required. The final retrieve may be carried out separately from the hunting test if the terrain requires it.