Aspire to become
a judge?​
To qualify, you must be a full WGSDCA member for at least 5 years, aged 30-60, and not earn significantly from breeding, handling, or selling dogs.
You must have trained and titled at least 2 dogs from BH-VT to IGP3 and obtained a passing IGP3 score at a WGSDCA National Championship under an SV judge. If you have similar experience, the Board may consider your application for a Judge Apprenticeship.
To apply, send a cover letter, a recommendation from your Club president, and your resume to the WGSDCA Director of Judges.
Aspire to become
a Helper?
The objective of our Helper Program is to provide education in form of sanctioned Helper Seminars, promote membership involvement and participation through ongoing education.
The Program is pursuant to the FCI Utility Dog Regulation which governs the conduct of Trial Helpers and provide detailed instructions on how the sleeve work is to be undertaken during a trial.
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All licensed Trial Helpers have a Helper Passport which is a record of their participation in WGSDCA sanctioned Helper Seminars, Helper evaluations and trials.​​
Aspire to become
a Tracklayer?
Are your interested in mastering consistent track laying for IGP trials?
A successful tracklayer needs to understand the Rules & Regulations, have good directional skills, and arrange tracks based on the field's layout while following directions from the Tracking Coordinator or Judge.
The Tracklayer Program seeks to boost member engagement through ongoing education in track laying, with seminars on rules, track pattern variations, and land division to optimize track numbers.
Our Judges
Judge's Code of Practice & Conduct
A Judge shall not judge dogs who are in his/her ownership or are in his/her possession, or dogs whose owners reside with him/her, or dogs that are owned by another person of the same household.
Judge Apprenticeship
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The Apprenticeship requires attendance at a minimum of 5 WGSDCA trials of which at least one is under a SV judge. The Judge Apprentice must judge a minimum of 25 dogs which must include a minimum of 5 BH-VT, 3 IGP1, 3 IGP2, 3 IGP3 and 1 ZAP-W entries. If this is not achieved over 5 trials, then the Apprentice must judge additional trials until this requirement is met. The Director of Judges may request an Apprentice Judge to do more than 5 trials. Of the five trials, at least 2 must be hosted by different WGSDCA clubs. A written SV-Judge exam must passed as well.
The Apprenticeship must be completed within 4 years.
The Judge Apprentice must request BOM permission to apprentice at a WGSDCA trial no later than 4 weeks prior to the trial event and no later than 4 weeks after trial conclusion submit a report to the Director of Judges.
Cross licensing
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Judges based in Australia who hold a license from another dogsport organisation can apply for a WGSDCA judge license.
To be considered, applicants must submit an application along with recommendation from their organisation, signed by the President and Director of Judges. Additionally, they need to provide a copy of their Judge passport and proof of having judged at least 25 levels according to the FCI IGP rule book, which must include a minimum of five BH-VTs, three IGP1s, three IGP2s, and three IGP3s.
If these criteria are met, the applicant must also pass the written SV test to obtain a cross-license for judging at WGSDCA sanctioned working trials.
Helper Seminars
The Helper seminars are hosted by one of our Helper teachers at one of our club affiliates.
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They cover a wide range of topics, including appropriate and safe testing of dogs and the role of the helper in IGP trials.
Participants may attend as spectators or active participants, but must provide their own suitable dog.
A Participation Certificate signed by the Teacher Helper is provided to all participants.
Helper Certification & Helper Passport
A WGSDCA Club must notify the WGSDCA about an upcoming certification.
The Trial Helper Evaluation Test is crucial for achieving the goals of our Trial Helper Curriculum. It assesses a Helper's ability to perform sleeve-work safely and accurately during simulated trial conditions. It includes a written test as well as a performance assessment in IGP1 and IGP3.
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The following prerequisites must be met to apply for certification:
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Subscribe to individual WGSDCA membership and a member of a WGSDCA Club Affiliate;
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Minimum age of 18 years;
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Provide a General Health certificate from a GP, and;
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Provide proof of attending at least 3 WGSDCA Helper Seminars.
You can apply for a Helper Passport if passing the Evaluation Test.
WGSDCA Trial Helpers & Teachers
Tracklayer Program
Reach out and we can help you organising a tracklayer seminar
Tracklayer Seminars
Are there members in your club who are eager to master the skill of consistently and reliably laying tracks for IGP trials? A successful tracklayer should possess a solid understanding of the Rules & Regulations, a keen sense of direction, and the ability to arrange tracks according to the geographical layout of the field. Tracklayers must also be capable of understanding and following directions from the Tracking Coordinator or Judge.
The Tracklayer Program aims to enhance member involvement and participation through continuous education in track laying. Seminars will cover the rules of track laying, variations in track patterns, and land division to maximize the number of tracks.
Tracklayer Certification
Did you know that you can become a certified Tracklayer?
Our Tracklayer Certification Program involves laying two IGP3 tracks with a 10-minute interval. After 60 minutes, you will need to walk the laid tracks and successfully locate the placed articles.
Additionally, you must complete a written test to achieve final certification.