Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America

GSMDCA Draft Titles

Draft Tests are a series of exercises designed to develop and demonstrate the natural abilities of purebred Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs (GSMD) in a working capacity. Swissies historically functioned as draft dogs in various capacities, and performance of these exercises is intended to demonstrate skills resulting from both inherent ability and training which are applicable to realistic work situations. A dog must be willing to work with its handler and the exercises must be accomplished efficiently. It is also desirable that the dog shows willingness and enjoyment of his work through a combination of controlled teamwork with his handler and natural independence.

There are four draft titles for GSMDs: Novice Draft Dog, Draft Dog, Novice Team Draft Dog and Team Draft Dog. To earn a GSMDCA draft title, the Swissy must earn a passing score in all elements of a single draft test.

Novice Draft Dog (NDD): The Novice Draft Dog (NDD) title is for all dogs that have not earned a title. For dogs entered in the Novice Draft class of a draft test, all exercises except the recall, group stay and harnessing are performed on leash. The leash must be visibly slack and is not to be used to physically guide the dog during the exercises. Guiding, jerking and/or a tight leash will result in a failing performance.

Draft Dog (DD): Dogs attempting to obtain a Draft Dog title compete in the Open Draft class at a draft test. A dog is not required to pass the Novice Draft class in order to compete in Open Draft. Testing for Open dogs is similar to Novice, with the most significant difference being all exercises are conducted off leash.

Novice Team Draft Dog (NTDD): A team title is earned with two dogs attached to the same cart.
Both dogs must have at least a Novice Draft Dog (NDD) title. A copy of the Novice Draft (or Open Draft) title of both dogs must be submitted with the entry form. All exercises, except the recall, group stay and harnessing are performed on leash.

Team Draft Dog (TDD): Both dogs must have a Draft Dog (DD) title. A copy of the Open Draft title of both dogs must be submitted with the entry form. All exercises are performed off leash.

GSMDCA Draft Tests

Here is an article describing the basics of a GSMDCA draft test:
The Basics Of A Draft Test
And here is an article on a draft test from a judge's perspective:
Competitive Drafting: A Judge's Perspective

Other Breed Club Draft Tests

It is also possible for a Swissy to earn a Novice Draft Dog (NDD) or Draft Dog (DD) title from both the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) and the New England Draft and Driving Club (NEDDC). Swissies also may earn a Draft Dog (DD) title from the Newfoundland Club of America (NCA). Corresponding Team Draft titles may also be earned. If a Swissy passes one of these clubs' draft tests, the GSMDCA will bestow an applicable GSMDCA draft title upon receipt by the GSMDCA Draft Chair of either copies of the judges worksheets indicating qualification or a copy of the hosting club's certificate of title

BMDCA. The agreement between the GSMDCA and the both the BMDCA states Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can participate in their tests,so long as no Bernese Mountain Dogs are displaced. The BMDCA Draft Test Regulations can be seen here: BMDCA Rules.

NEDDC. Swissy are fully eligible to participate in New England Drafting and Driving Club draft tests. NEDCC DraftTest regulations can be found here: New England Drafting and Driving Club Rules

NCA. In the case of the NCA, the agreement states Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will not be tested with the Newfoundlands, but may have a separate testusing the test site and judges on the same day. Note the NCA only offers Open DD and Brace Open DD titles. The NCA Draft test rules can be seen at: NCA Draft Test(PDF) or (HTML).

In addition, the GSMDCA delegate to the AKC has been working with the AKC to establish a unified set of draft rules to be used by all draft breeds, with the hope that one day there will be the opportunity for Swissies and other draft breeds to be tested side-by-side for an AKC Draft title.

Last Modified: 12/26/2005