Working Dog Excellent Certification

The Working Dog Excellent (WDX) program was designed to test a dog's working ability in as natural a situation as possible in order to ascertain his willingness to work in difficult situations over a period of time. These accomplishments should reflect endurance, attitude and training above and beyond that of the average working dog. The program administrator has the right to reject any applications which do not reflect the spirit of the program. WD certification is not a prerequisite in order to apply for a WDX certificate.

Working Dog Excellent Titles

Dogs may earn certification in the following areas: 

1. Working Weight Pull Dog Excellent (WWPDX)
2. Working Pack Dog Excellent (WPDX)
3. Working Team Dog Excellent (WTDX)
4. Working Lead Dog Excellent (WLDX).

Certification Requirements

Competitive events must be open events. Open events are those which are not restricted to certain breeds or clubs and are sufficiently advertised so that the public has the opportunity to participate. 

Courtesy and good sportsmanship must be evident throughout all events and trips. Any applicant who is abusive to his dogs or other people shall not be eligible for a WDX title for his or her dogs. Dogs must present a good example-- manageable, nonaggressive workers not posing a threat to other dogs or people.

Witnesses for competitive events or club-organized excursions should be event officials or organizers. Witnesses for non-competitive sledding and pack excursions must be impartial, which excludes family members, residents of the same household such as the applicant, the dogs' breeder and the like.
Documentation for back-country packing and sledding trips may be difficult to obtain in some situations, but the applicant must provide sufficient evidence that the trip has taken place as stated. Maps such as topographic maps with the route designated on it must be included with the application. Other documentation must include the signature of one or more impartial witnesses encountered on the trail and a statement verifying that the applicant was at the stated location on a given date, or verifiable photographs of the applicant's team or pack dog at a specified location such as a trail sign.

Anyone planning a trip or race for the specific purpose of earning a leg toward their WDX should check with our program administrator beforehand, to ensure that their event will qualify under the WDX rules.

Working Weight Pull Dog Excellent -- WWPDX

ISDRA or IWPA rules will apply.

Dogs must be weighed at each event.

Dogs must qualify in 5 individual weight pull competitions by:

pulling 14 times his body weight on snow with a sled; and/or

pulling 16 times his weight on any other natural surface with a wheeled cart; and/or

pulling the following weights by weight class, on an artificial surface: 

1. 80# and Under Class - 23 times the dog's weight;
2. 80-100# Class - 21 times the dog's weight;
3. 101# and Over Class - 19 times the dog's weight.

All weights are rounded down to the nearest whole #. 

In addition to the above, the dog must place in the top 1/3 of his weight class in each event. If the top 1/3 comes out as a fraction, the dog will be considered to have qualified.

If over 75% of the dogs in the competition pull the required weight, that pull will be disallowed for purposes of the WWPDX.

To download the relevant application form, click here.

Working Pack Dog Excellent -- WPDX

The dog's weight and the weight of his pack must be verified by an impartial witness or trip official prior to the start of the trip. The dog must carry an initial load of at least 30% of his body weight. The weight of the pack may decrease only by normal consumption of items such as food or water.

Pack trips shall be back-country trips with the dogs carrying the equipment required for the trip. Back-country is defined as a remote area, inaccessible and unsuited to wheeled traffic at the time of the trip, where support and aid are not generally available. Campouts will be necessary due to the distance requirements. Campouts will take place in the back-country, not at trailheads, roadside campgrounds and the like. Suitable locations for pack trips are Crown Reserves, Provincial Parks, hiking trails and undeveloped natural terrain.

A total of 120 miles must be completed in 1 to 3 trips.

Each trip wiill be a minimum of 40 miles with an average of 10 miles per day on traveling days under normal conditions (maintained trails and normal weather conditions). Day trips from the base camp must adhere to the weight requirements unless the applicant does not wish to include those miles in the trip total.

If a trip takes place in mountainous terrain, each 1,000 feet of elevation gain may be substituted for a mile of the total mileage requirement.

To download the relevant application form, click here.

Working Team Dog Excellent -- WTDX

If the event is a race, rules shall be ISDRA.

Dogs may run on any size team and need not run on the same team for each event. Sledding may be Alaskan style or Nordic style (single file team pulling a pulk).

Skijor teams may qualify under the same rules as sled teams.

Total mileage for all applicants shall be 180 miles.

Races must be a minimum of 60 continuous miles or two or more heats of at least 40 miles where the applicants has completed at least two consecutive heats.

Back-country excursion trips shall be a minimum of 60 miles. They must take place in remote areas inaccessible at that time of year to motor vehicles other than snowmobiles. The team must travel as a self-sufficient unit hauling supplies necessary for the trip. Examples of suitable places are Crown Reserves, Provincial parks or other areas where trail and roads are not maintained for winter use by vehicles other than snowmobiles. If the trip takes place in a wilderness area where there are no defined trails and dogs are expected to break trail, the trip must be a minimum of 40 miles.

Working Lead Dog Excellent -- WLDX

The WLDX title will be for dogs who have completed requirements for the WTDX, who have completed at least half those requirements running in single lead in a team of at least three dogs, where that team is also in the lead for approximately 50% of the time if several teams are traveling together.

To download the relevant application form, click here.

For more information on earning a WDX title, please contact our Program Administrator at, WorkingDogs@malamuterescue.com