About British Field Trials
British Field trials differ quite substantially from the field trials and hunt tests held in the states.
American trials are test contrived by judges in controlled environments, which are meant to simulate an actual hunting experience. Dogs are run individually on exactly the same test pattern.
Contrarily, a British or Irish Field Trial is conducted on an actual day's hunt, where all dogs work from a line on a driven or walk-up shoot in a field, woodland setting or over water.
There are three types of field trials recognized by The Kennel Club of Britain: a 12-dog (one day), a 16- dog and the 24-dog (two day). Each trial will host 3 or 4 judges.
All trials are actual shoots involving gunfire and live game in free flight. Designated shooters (guns) are in the line with handlers and judges. Dogs are sent from each side of the line in prescribed order, each instructed to "pick up" the specifically identified fallen game.
Numerous birds, hares and rabbits may be shot on the drive before a retrieve is requested.
The shot game my well fall among unflushed game, yet when sent, the successful retriever must pick the specific fall requested by the judge while ignoring all other live and fallen game.
In an Irish trial, it is not unusual for a drive to result in 50 birds down at one time before retrievers begin!
Once a trial begins, all dogs form in one of two lines for the shoot. At this time the dogs' leads are removed and they are expected to remain quiet and at heel, without verbal correction, throughout the entire drive.
The actual qualification of an outstanding British Field Trial Retriever is, above all else, their game-finding ability. The dog that quickly and stylishly locates and retrieves to hand both dead and wounded game whose location is unknown to the guns or which perhaps lies in difficult terrain will be recognized.
A good trial dog, as well as an excellent personal shooting retriever, needs to possess a good nose, wide range, a soft mouth and remain under complete control of the handler.
A dog on the line of a trial must be rock steady and absolutely quiet. Should a dog as much as whine, move in off the line or require a verbal reminder of such manners, he is promptly eliminated.
The amazement to many is how calm these dogs are on the line in the company of strangers and other dogs; remain under the pressure of constant gunfire and multiple game falls; distinguish between wounded and live game on a retrieve and yet remain absolutely quiet and steady until sent. When sent they run with the speed, drive and style equal to any exceptional retriever.'
Section J(B) 3.a Judges will be selecting dogs that pleases them most by the quality of
its (dog) work from the shooting point of view. They should take natural gamefinding to be of first importance.
Section J(B)4.g A good gamefinding dog should not rely on the handler to find game.
It should however, be obedient and respond to its handler?s signals when necessary. Dogs showing gamefinding ability and initiative should be placed above those which have to be handled to their game.
Section J(B) 5.f Credit Points: Natural gamefinding ability, nose, marking ability, style, quickness.
Note: The last time the USA ran a team against International Competition (Eukanuba), we placed 5th.
The Scotch, Welsh, English and Irish have fantastic dogs.
Final results and positions.
Wales 642
England 626
Ireland 583
Holland 575
USA 575
Austria 572
Italy 570
Scotland 561
Sweden 559
France 555
Belgium 553
Canada 539
wildfowling.co.uk
British Field trials differ quite substantially from the field trials and hunt tests held in the states.
American trials are test contrived by judges in controlled environments, which are meant to simulate an actual hunting experience. Dogs are run individually on exactly the same test pattern.
Contrarily, a British or Irish Field Trial is conducted on an actual day's hunt, where all dogs work from a line on a driven or walk-up shoot in a field, woodland setting or over water.
There are three types of field trials recognized by The Kennel Club of Britain: a 12-dog (one day), a 16- dog and the 24-dog (two day). Each trial will host 3 or 4 judges.
All trials are actual shoots involving gunfire and live game in free flight. Designated shooters (guns) are in the line with handlers and judges. Dogs are sent from each side of the line in prescribed order, each instructed to "pick up" the specifically identified fallen game.
Numerous birds, hares and rabbits may be shot on the drive before a retrieve is requested.
The shot game my well fall among unflushed game, yet when sent, the successful retriever must pick the specific fall requested by the judge while ignoring all other live and fallen game.
In an Irish trial, it is not unusual for a drive to result in 50 birds down at one time before retrievers begin!
Once a trial begins, all dogs form in one of two lines for the shoot. At this time the dogs' leads are removed and they are expected to remain quiet and at heel, without verbal correction, throughout the entire drive.
The actual qualification of an outstanding British Field Trial Retriever is, above all else, their game-finding ability. The dog that quickly and stylishly locates and retrieves to hand both dead and wounded game whose location is unknown to the guns or which perhaps lies in difficult terrain will be recognized.
A good trial dog, as well as an excellent personal shooting retriever, needs to possess a good nose, wide range, a soft mouth and remain under complete control of the handler.
A dog on the line of a trial must be rock steady and absolutely quiet. Should a dog as much as whine, move in off the line or require a verbal reminder of such manners, he is promptly eliminated.
The amazement to many is how calm these dogs are on the line in the company of strangers and other dogs; remain under the pressure of constant gunfire and multiple game falls; distinguish between wounded and live game on a retrieve and yet remain absolutely quiet and steady until sent. When sent they run with the speed, drive and style equal to any exceptional retriever.'
Section J(B) 3.a Judges will be selecting dogs that pleases them most by the quality of
its (dog) work from the shooting point of view. They should take natural gamefinding to be of first importance.
Section J(B)4.g A good gamefinding dog should not rely on the handler to find game.
It should however, be obedient and respond to its handler?s signals when necessary. Dogs showing gamefinding ability and initiative should be placed above those which have to be handled to their game.
Section J(B) 5.f Credit Points: Natural gamefinding ability, nose, marking ability, style, quickness.
Note: The last time the USA ran a team against International Competition (Eukanuba), we placed 5th.
The Scotch, Welsh, English and Irish have fantastic dogs.
Final results and positions.
Wales 642
England 626
Ireland 583
Holland 575
USA 575
Austria 572
Italy 570
Scotland 561
Sweden 559
France 555
Belgium 553
Canada 539
wildfowling.co.uk
Last edited:
Not sure what breed your talking about here.
