BMDCGS Draft Trial September, 2001

Tucker's First Draft Trial

Here are some photographs taken by both a friend and the BMDCGS photographer at the draft trial on September 15th, 2001. Tucker and I didn't pass this time, but we're going to keep trying. This is not a comprehensive overview of either the BMDCA or the GSMDCA draft trial components, though I have included descriptions of many portions of the test. For exhaustive information, please visit Northwest Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club Working Swissy webpage. Click on any photo to see a larger photo.

Here are Tucker and I, "on deck," as we are the next to enter the ring and begin the test. In novice, a steward brings your cart into the ring and positions it as you are about to complete the basic control portion of the test. In open, the handler must go fetch his own cart while the dog waits in a stay. The basic control portion of the test is loose-lead heeling (novice) and a recall. Forward, slow, fast, normal, right, left, about, and halt -- followed by a recall.
Far right above, my dog stands ready to begin the practical draft work portion of the test. The harness and hitch portion of the test consists of harnessing and hitching your dog! :) The judge then inspects your work. BMDCA rules do not require the dog be backed into the cart.

Here we are on parts of the practical draft work portion of the test. Above left, we are coming out of a mild left turn into a sharp right turn to a halt at the loading station. At the loading station, the dog stands still while the handler takes a load from a person sitting nearby, puts it in the cart, and goes off. If your load, in this case a sleeping bag, falls out of the cart, you fail. Thus, I secured my sleeping bag in the cart with bungee cord.
Another portion of the test is the narrows. The narrows are two "gates" placed side by side precisely one foot wider than the cart. All carts, harnesses and weights are inspected and measured in the morning at check-in, and stewards adjust the narrows for each participant. Tucker and I cut it close through the narrows just to get everyone watching to hold their breath a *really* long time ;). After coming out of the narrows, far right, we turned right into a figure eight pattern around two trees, addressing the requirements circle right and circle left. In the middle photograph, a wagon is seen, this is an obstacle that must be moved out of the way while the dog is in a stay, the dog passes through, and the obstacle is replaced while the dog is in a stay.

Above left, we're on the way to the unloading zone via a narrow path that places us about 3 feet away from a visual distraction. The distraction cannot be seen above, but in this test is was a furry rat toy on a 4 foot lead being dragged away from the dog as he walked toward it. Unloading is the opposite of loading, with one addition. The unloader approaches and pats your dog on the head. After unloading, we went to the backup portion of the test, one of the very few timed portions, where the dog must back up the cart a prescribed distance in one minute. The middle shot is on the test, but I can't recall where, I am working up to execute a left turn.
When the test was completed, we went out and waited for the group portion. Five or six dogs would go through the test, then all would come back in for a three minute down-stay (dogs do not have to down, they may stand or sit but may not change position). The handlers (novice) are positioned 30 feet away from the dog for the stay. Open dog handlers must leave the ring. After the down stay was the freight haul, above right. The dogs (novice) each carried 20 pounds of weight over a half mile distance, which includes at least one hill. Open dogs carry their own weight rounded down, ie a 138 pound dog would carry 130 pounds.
I hope this overview is helpful in illustrating a draft trial. Draft with your dog, it's HEAPS of fun!!


Here are Tucker and I, "on deck," as we are the next to enter the ring and begin the test. In novice, a steward brings your cart into the ring and positions it as you are about to complete the basic control portion of the test. In open, the handler must go fetch his own cart while the dog waits in a stay. The basic control portion of the test is loose-lead heeling (novice) and a recall. Forward, slow, fast, normal, right, left, about, and halt -- followed by a recall. Far right above, my dog stands ready to begin the practical draft work portion of the test. The harness and hitch portion of the test consists of harnessing and hitching your dog! :) The judge then inspects your work. BMDCA rules do not require the dog be backed into the cart.


Here we are on parts of the practical draft work portion of the test. Above left, we are coming out of a mild left turn into a sharp right turn to a halt at the loading station. At the loading station, the dog stands still while the handler takes a load from a person sitting nearby, puts it in the cart, and goes off. If your load, in this case a sleeping bag, falls out of the cart, you fail. Thus, I secured my sleeping bag in the cart with bungee cord. Another portion of the test is the narrows. The narrows are two "gates" placed side by side precisely one foot wider than the cart. All carts, harnesses and weights are inspected and measured in the morning at check-in, and stewards adjust the narrows for each participant. Tucker and I cut it close through the narrows just to get everyone watching to hold their breath a really long time ;). After coming out of the narrows, far right, we turned right into a figure eight pattern around two trees, addressing the requirements circle right and circle left. In the middle photograph, a wagon is seen, this is an obstacle that must be moved out of the way while the dog is in a stay, the dog passes through, and the obstacle is replaced while the dog is in a stay.


Above left, we're on the way to the unloading zone via a narrow path that places us about 3 feet away from a visual distraction. The distraction cannot be seen above, but in this test is was a furry rat toy on a 4 foot lead being dragged away from the dog as he walked toward it. Unloading is the opposite of loading, with one addition. The unloader approaches and pats your dog on the head. After unloading, we went to the backup portion of the test, one of the very few timed portions, where the dog must back up the cart a prescribed distance in one minute. The middle shot is on the test, but I can't recall where, I am working up to execute a left turn. When the test was completed, we went out and waited for the group portion. Five or six dogs would go through the test, then all would come back in for a three minute down-stay (dogs do not have to down, they may stand or sit but may not change position). The handlers (novice) are positioned 30 feet away from the dog for the stay. Open dog handlers must leave the ring. After the down stay was the freight haul, above right. The dogs (novice) each carried 20 pounds of weight over a half mile distance, which includes at least one hill. Open dogs carry their own weight rounded down, ie a 138 pound dog would carry 130 pounds. I hope this overview is helpful in illustrating a draft trial. Draft with your dog, it's HEAPS of fun!!