The purpose of Carriage Dog Trials is to demonstrate the use of Dalmatians in one of the roles they have been bred through the years to perform: that of a companion, decoration and guard for horses and carriages in past times.
It is both an endurance and obedience event and all competing dogs must do a basic obedience test alongside their handler’s horse or carriage. The aim of the obedience test is to replicate, as far as possible, modern horse and carriage working environments, where the dog must be under the handler’s control at all times. The endurance element tests each competing Dalmatian’s stamina and capacity for work. It is essential that the dog shows willingness and enjoyment of its work throughout the trial.
So, the trials comprises an obedience and an endurance test for the dog, and includes vet checks.
These are the distances and times for each class:
| Awards | Distance | Max Time Allowed | Vetinary Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road and Carriage Certificate | Nil | n/a | n/a |
| Bronze | 10km | 80 mins | Start |
| Silver | 20km | 3hrs | Start, 10km and Finish |
| Gold | 40km | 6hrs | Start, 20km and Finish |
