Already competing in working trials?

Qualification in working trials is obtained by achieving sufficient marks in each group of exercises and also at least 80% of the available marks overall for the stake in which you are competing. You will initially enter each stake at an open trial level; if you are successful, this can qualify you to enter the same stake at a championship trial.

From the first stake, companion dog (CD) or open utility dog (UD), through championship utility dog (UD), open and championship working dog (WD), to open and championship patrol dog (PD) and working trials tracking dog (TD) at the very top. A dog is required to obtain 70% of the marks in each group of exercises and 80% of the overall total marks in order to qualify and thereby progress upwards to the next stake.

When your dog gains a qualifying mark of at least 70% in each group of exercises, and at least 80% overall at a championship working trial, it is entitled to use the title 'Excellent' after the qualification, e.g. UD Ex., WD Ex. or TD Ex. The titles TD Ex. and PD Ex. are automatically added to the dog's record by The Kennel Club on receipt of the trial's marked catalogue.

To apply to add other Ex. awards to a dog's record, a copy of the relevant qualification certificate should be sent to the awards team at The Kennel Club, 10 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB.

Read more to find out if you are eligible for the working trial stakes.

The highest accolade in working trials is the title of Working Trial Champion (WT Ch), which is awarded to a dog that has won two working trial certificates at a T.D. and/or P.D. championship trial (with an 'Excellent' qualification) under two different judges.

The winner of a Kennel Club working trial championship which has qualified 'Excellent' automatically gains the title of Working Trial Champion.

A dog that wins The Kennel Club working trials championship, qualifying Excellent will also gain the title of Working Trials Champion.

The 'Excellent' qualifications CD Ex., UD Ex. and WD Ex. can be added to a dog's record on application. A copy of the relevant qualification certificate should be sent to the awards section of the canine activities department at The Kennel Club, 10 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB.

The TD Ex. and PD Ex. titles will be automatically added to the dog's name when The Kennel Club receives the marked catalogue from the trial organisers.

Competitors are invited to take part if they have won 1st place in a championship TD or PD stake with an 'Excellent' qualification during the previous qualifying year, from September to August. Dogs which have qualified in both stakes can compete in both PD and in TD.

The previous year's championship winners are also automatically invited provided they qualified Excellent at the previous year's championship.

Judges for the championships are nominated by the Working Trials Liaison Council and selected following a ballot of representatives on the council, subject to approval by the activities committee and the board.

The championships are usually staged with a view to allowing some opportunity for spectators to observe the dogs working, even in the nosework rounds, and they offer an opportunity to appreciate some of the best handlers and dogs at work in this demanding discipline.

1st - Andy and Emma Baker with Bryn Some Lose Some, CDEx-TDEx
2nd - Barry Gilbert with Wtch Glenalpine Makar, CDEX-TDEx
3rd - Gary and Julie Atkins with WTCh Glenalpine Ken, CDEx-TDEx

1st - Jo Quick with WTCh Falkenwald High Places, CDEx-TDEx, PDEx
2nd - David Clark with WTCh Blade of the Glade, CDEx-TDEx, PDex. 274

The Working Trials Liaison Council is made up of 18 representatives who are participants in working trials and two who take part in Bloodhound working trials. 

The council acts as a channel of communication between The Kennel Club and those who compete in, judge and organise working trials and Bloodhound trials. The council was set up to represent grassroots opinion within these two related disciplines at The Kennel Club, and to promote a better understanding among competitors of how we function.

It reviews the regulations and advises The Kennel Club on any changes that may be needed, and is actively involved in strategic planning to enable working trials and Bloodhound trials to continue and flourish. Council proposals can result in fundamental changes in The Kennel Club's policy and we value the important work the councils do.

Representatives are elected for a period of three years and the current term of office of all The Kennel Club's Liaison Council representatives ends on 31 December 2024. 

Representatives are elected by The Kennel Club's registered societies and clubs which hold championship working trials.

The next meeting of the Kennel Club Working Trials Liaison Council is scheduled to be held on Thursday 11 July 2024. Proposals for inclusion on the agenda should reach the Working Trials Liaison Council Secretary by 12 April 2024.

Each eligible society may submit, through their representative, items for the agenda. Individuals may also submit items for the agenda direct to the Kennel Club. Proposals must be concise and, if an amendment or an additional regulation is proposed, the regulation number must be given.

All items for inclusion on the agenda should be sent by email.

11 July 2024

• Agenda
• Minutes
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D
• Annex E

30 January 2024

• Agenda
• Minutes
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D

18 July 2023

• Agenda
• Minutes
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex E
• Annex F
• Annex G
• Annex H
• Annex I 

19 January 2023

• Agenda
• Minutes
• Annex A

7 June 2022

• Agenda
• Minutes
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D

13 January 2022

• Agenda
• Minutes 
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D
• Annex E

6 July 2021 

• Agenda
• Minutes 

4 February 2021

• Agenda
• Minutes 
• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D
• Annex E
• Annex F