AAWTS Stakes

The information contained in these pages should not be considered authoritative. It is meant to provide a basic feel for the sport, and hopefully contains enough information to get you started training. A detailed rule booklet is available.

In Working Trials, each level of achievement is known as a 'stake', each stake requiring greater skills, versatility and control than the previous one. Each stake is composed of a set of exercises, divided up into a number of groups.

A qualifying score at any stake is achieved when the team receives at least 70% of the points in each group and at least 70% overall. An excellent score is achieved if the team receives at least 70% of the points in each group and at least 80% of the points overall.

A title is awarded at each stake once the team receives two (one for WCD) qualifying scores at that stake. If both of the scores are qualified excellent, the title is qualified excellent. A dog cannot compete at a stake until it has received a title at the previous stake. A dog cannot receive an excellent title unless it has excellent titles at the previous stake. The prerequisite for both WTD and WPD is a WD title (eg: they are branches at the same level).

Therefore, the stake sequence (through WD) proceeds as follows:

• A WCD title will be earned with one qualifying score at a WCD trial, with a WCDex awarded if the total marks equal or exceed 80.
• To earn a title at any stake except WCD, a dog must earn two qualifying scores at that stake.
• To earn the excellent qualification at any stake except WCD, the dog must earn two excellent scores (80%), AND hold an excellent title in the previous stake. Hence, to receive a WDex, a dog must hold a WUDex title, and also receive two 80% qualifying scores in WD trials.
• A title at the previous stake will be required for entry into a working trial in a given stake (eg: a WCD or WCDex will be required for entry into a WUD trial).
• Dogs can continue to participate & qualify in trials in which they already hold titles, but are not eligible for placements at those trials if they would not be eligible to participate under British rules, or if they have earned an excellent title at that stake or have earned a title at a higher stake (eg: once your dog has earned a WCDex title or a WUD title, he/she can continue to compete at WCD trials, but cannot take a placement (1st, 2nd, etc)).

Example: If a dog qualifies in all four groups in the Working Companion Dog stake, and receives a total score in excess of 70 points, it will be awarded the title of Working Companion Dog (WCD). If, however, the overall score is in excess of 80 points, the dog will be awarded the title of Working Companion Dog, Excellent (WCDex). A table of the stakes, groups, exercises, points and qualifying scores is shown below.

Championships will be conducted similarly to the British Championships. Basically, a dog must win with an excellent score in two Championship trials, in either (or both of) the WTD or WPD stakes (eg: 2 WTD wins, 2 WPD wins, or a WTD and a WPD).