What should I expect at the WRSF Working Trial?

The Trial has 3 phases and during each phase the judge observes the dogs performance. During each phase the dogs ability, intensity and execution are challenged. There are 3 levels (IPO1, 2 or 3) and the higher the level, the more difficult the exercise.

Phase A (Tracking): The dog must find and follow a handler or strangers tracks and recover articles left behind. The track can vary from 300 paces to well over 1200 paces and is aged anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours before the dog begins tracking. The tracklayer walks across any terrain and the dog is expected to follow the same path, ideally from footprint to footprint, and indicating every articles left on the track by the tracklayer.

Phase B (Obedience): The dog must always obey the handlers commands and move at the handlers side while walking or running unless instructed to sit, down, stay, jump or climb obstacles, retrieve dumbells, return to or go away from the handler as directed.

Phase C (Protection): The dog must search for a hidden subject (the helper) as directed. After finding the subject the dog must guard, prevent escape, and defend any threat to self or handler. The dog must obey the handlers command to release when there is no more threat.

What should I expect at the Conformation Show?

The Riesenschnauzer is evaluated according to the Breed Standard as written by the country of the origin (Germany). The Conformation judge will thouroughly inspect the dog before, during and after the dog is exercised.

The judge will give the handler and spectator a VERBAL CRITIQUE of the following:

Temperament- (balanced, agressive or shy)

Head- (skull, stop, nose, muzzle, lips, jaws, teeth, eyes and ears)

Neck- (muscle, arch, throat and blending into withers)

Body- (topline, withers, back, loins, croup, chest, underline and tail)

Forequarters- (shoulders, upper arm, elbows, forearm, carpal, pastern, toes, nails and pads)

Hindquarters- (upper thigh, stifle, lower thigh, hocks, metatarsus, hind feet)

Gait and Movement, Skin, Coat (top and undercoat, coarsness, density and color), Size and Weight.

The dogs are required to move vigorously and also to stand freely for evaluation of conditioning, grooming and to determine what strengths and faults the dog displays. This is an honest evaluation that helps us recognize and improve the breed known as the Riesenschnauzer.