Get documents about "Field Trials and Gundog Working Tests
Document Sample
A Beginner’s Guide to...
Field Trials and Gundog Working Tests
What are Field Trials?
Field Trials have developed to test the working ability of Gundogs in competitive conditions. Trials resemble, as
closely as possible, a day’s shooting in the field and dogs are expected to work with all manner of game, from rabbits
and hares, to partridges and pheasants.
Many of our best loved breeds were Finding out about the sport The Kennel Club attends with a stand at
traditionally developed to help man in Before you decide whether you want to the larger Game Fairs and the staff are
hunting. Retrievers gathered game in get involved with this sport you should find more than happy to discuss the sport
the field; Cocker Spaniels flushed and out as much as possible about countryside with you and help to clarify any rules and
retrieved game; Pointers and Setters sports from a number of sources. regulations you need help with.
ranged over the fields helping us seek out
If your dog comes from working stock, There are plenty of specialist publications
birds and rabbits for the table. A great
the breeder should be able to advise you which are filled with articles and tips about
many still help us in shooting and hunting
about how to start to develop your dog training your Gundog and the role of the
today. Field Trials are very popular, attract
into a working Gundog and introduce you dog and owner in the countryside. Titles
hundreds of competitors and are still very
to other people in your area with similar include ‘The Shooting Times’, ‘Shooting
much part of our countryside sports. If
interests. Gazette’ and ‘The Field’. These magazines
you have a love and understanding of the
also have sporting calendars which list
countryside and like to see dogs working There are many large Game and Country when and where Game and Country Fairs
as they were intended to, this friendly Fairs held all around the country every are being held.
and relaxed sport may be just what you year which are well worth attending if
are looking for. you want to find out more. The Kennel Gazette also features
articles about Field Trials and working
If you want to own a dog capable of There are usually working Gundog Gundogs, as well as providing the dates of
performing at a day’s shooting you are demonstrations at these Fairs and you forthcoming Field Trials.
more likely to succeed if it comes from should take time not only to watch the
working stock. displays, but also to talk to the people
Some dogs which have been bred for involved and ask their advice.
the show scene, or simply as pets, may
have lost much of their working and
hunting instinct, which is vital in working
Gundogs. You will need to be dedicated
to developing your dog as a working
animal as, not only will it require a lot of
training. A working Gundog can also be
more demanding than a pet, or a show
dog. They need plenty of exercise off
the lead and their minds need to be kept
active by working in the field.
A Show Gundog that has won certain
awards in the show ring can also enter for
a Show Gundog Working Certificate if it is
able to demonstrate a good standard of
working ability relevant to its breed.
www.thekennelclub.org.uk
Training The Kennel Club will be able to help you Joining Field Trial Societies is also the
If you decide that this sport is for you, find the most suitable society near to only way you will be able to enter gundog
you can begin the process of training. you. Field Trial Societies will be able to competitions. Over 600 Field Trials and
You should remember that not only must help you with specialist Field Trial training many Gundog Working Tests are held
your dog be fit and healthy to do a day’s and can suggest trainers who may be every year, and they are nearly all over-
work, but you need to be as well. You willing to train you to the gun on a one to subscribed. Preference is always given to
will need to be fairly robust to be able to one basis. Training a working Gundog is club members so, if you want to go into
tramp across some of the rough terrain really a sport in itself and can take many competition, you will have to join several
encountered on some country shoots! years of hard work, developing a good clubs to stand a chance of getting a run.
Breeds of Gundog fall into four groups: rapport with your dog to create a dog
Once you have joined a Field Trial Society
capable of working in the field.
• Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels you should ask to attend as a guest at one
Field Trial Societies may organise or two Trials to see the standard required
• Spaniels other than Irish Water
members’ competitions and training of dogs working in the Field, and also
Spaniels
assessments which are designed to to try to pick up training tips from top
• Pointers and Setters develop your dog’s ability and help handlers in competition.
• Breeds which Hunt, Point and Retrieve with your training technique. These are
The majority of Field Trials are held in the
helpful as your dog should learn to work
The training you do must bring out the autumn and winter during the shooting
surrounded by other people and dogs,
traditional working abilities for each season, with Pointer and Setter “circuits”
as it would do out in the field. Clubs may
category of Gundog in the shooting field. in April/May and August/September.
also publish newsletters and magazines,
The first step is to join a Field Trial society and organise a range of social events.
or gundog club which can offer a range
of training opportunities throughout the
summer months.
Gundog Working Tests (GWTs)
Most Gundogs are not ready to work in competition for at least two years and the first type of competition you will probably enter will
be a Gundog Working Test. These competitions are usually for members of the organising club only.
They are designed to further good, sound, Gundog work and encourage dogs’ natural working ability, but do not involve shooting
live game. Work is done with dummies, and these friendly competitions are a natural extension of the training you will already be
doing with your dog. Gundog Working Tests are designed to suit the different working abilities of the three Gundog groups, Spaniels,
Retrievers and breeds which Hunt, Point and Retrieve.
Breeds
Retrievers Spaniels Pointers and Setters HPRs
At a Field Trial dogs will be Spaniels will be judged At a Field Trial dogs shall be At HPR Field Trials, dogs shall
required to be steady by the on how well they quarter required to quarter ground be required to quarter ground
handler whilst being shot over the ground at a Field Trial, systematically with pace and systematically in search of
until commanded to quest for hunting for game and other style in search of gamebirds, to quarry, to point game, to flush
dead or wounded game, from quarry species, to be steady point gamebirds, to be steady on command, to be steady
land or water, and retrieves to flush, shot and fall and to to flush and shot and, where to flush, shot and fall, and to
tenderly to hand. retrieve tenderly to hand on applicable, to fall. Dogs should retrieve tenderly to hand on
command. not be gun shy. The dog should command from land and water.
At GWTs Retrievers are tested
work its point out freely, on
on their game finding ability At tests exercises are set to It is difficult to assess pointing
command, without the handler
and the speed and directness try and assess a Spaniel’s through artificial tests and
either touching the dog or
of the retrieve. Judges will retrieving and game finding there are limitations to how
moving in front of it.
be looking for quick pick ups abilities using seen and this can be done in a Gundog
and fast returns, natural hidden dummies. The judges There are no GWTs for Working Test. HPR breeds
nose and marking ability, will also be looking for good Pointers and Setters. will be tested and judged on
quietness in handling, control, directional control. their quartering, hunting and
drive and style. retrieving skills in similar ways
to the Retrievers and Spaniels.
Field Trials After the closing date for entries the Field Trials usually mean a long car journey
Society Committee will conduct a draw so think about your dog’s needs too - a
Entering a Field Trial to pick the competitors for the Trial. As good strong travelling box and plenty of
When you have been a member of a Field has already been mentioned, Field Trials water will make its trip comfortable. Often
Trial Society for some time and been are usually over-subscribed so you may working dogs are not fed before a day’s
attending training sessions and Gundog not be lucky enough to get a run the very work but you should remember to pack
Working Tests, you will be advised when first time you apply for entry. Different your dog’s bowls and some dog food as
your dog is ready for competition. Field types of Trial allow different numbers you may not return home from a Trial until
Trial Societies send schedules to all their of competitors and the Trial Secretary late in the evening.
members before a Trial and when you and will advise all entrants of their placing
Although the Schedule and draw will tell
your dog are ready you should complete in the draw. If there are only 20 places
you where the Trial is going to take place
the entry form and return it to the Field available, and you are number 32, you will
you should also take a good map with
Trials Secretary. not get a run unless 12 people in front
you. Field Trials are usually signposted
of you drop out. With so many people
The schedule will tell you when and when you get near to the meeting point
keen to compete you must advise the
where the Trial is taking place and which but it can often be very difficult to track
Trial organisers immediately if you have
Stakes are scheduled. Field Trials can down exactly which field you need to be
to drop out of a Trial to give another
consist of one or more Stakes, which are heading for.
competitor a chance to run in the Trial.
separate competitions at that Trial and
Many people choose to travel the
can be limited by the age or previous
experience and awards of the dog. You
Preparation day before the Trial and stay in bed
There is a great deal to think about before and breakfast. If you do decide to do
should study the schedule carefully to
you go to a Field Trial. Firstly, you must this, always double check that the
ensure that you enter the correct Stake
dress appropriately. You should wear management are happy to take dogs
for your dog.
plenty of layers of warm clothing, suitable and that there is somewhere suitable to
It is also important to complete the entry boots and a water and wind proof coat exercise your dog.
form as legibly and accurately as possible; are a must. It is also important that your
your dog’s registered details should be clothes are dark, or in neutral tones - bright At the Trial
exactly as they appear on the Kennel Club coloured garments may startle game. You should allow yourself plenty of time
registration certificate and your name to reach the meeting point. If you are
With the vagaries of the British weather
and address should be clearly marked to late, one of the reserves may get the
you are well advised to take a change of
assist the Field Trial Secretary in advising chance to run in your place and all your
clothing with you, so that you are not faced
competitors of the draw. The schedule preparation and long journey will have
with a cold and damp car journey home.
will also tell you by what date your entry been wasted.
form should be returned to the Trial You should also pack the food and drink
organisers, known as the ‘closing date’. you are going to need during the course Once you have found the meeting point
of the day. Sometimes Judges do not you should let the Field Trial Secretary
stop for lunch, particularly when there are know that you have arrived. They will
reduced daylight hours in the autumn and mark you as present on the card, which
winter, so you should think about things lists all the people and dogs taking part
you can eat in the field if you cannot wait in the Trial, and give you a numbered arm
until a day’s competition is over. band which you must wear throughout
the Trial. This is the means by which you
will be easily identified during the Trial.
Before the Trial starts, a briefing will be
held to introduce the host (if present),
the gamekeeper and the guns, to
explain how the day will run and
any special instructions.
Competitors must always attend this briefing both for their own If for any reason you become aware that your dog is not going to
interest and to be courteous to the Trial organisers and host. work well – we all have our off days - you should ask the Judge’s
Field Trial Societies rely on the generosity of land owners to permission to withdraw. This is a courtesy that must be observed
host Trials and keep the sport alive. The host not only provides and ensures that the Judges’ and Stewards’ time is not wasted.
the land to hold the Trial and the game, but also the guns,
the beaters, the game carriers and the gamekeeper. It is vital, Leaving the Trial
therefore, that you treat the countryside with respect and are At the end of the Trial there will be a number of presentations
always courteous to the estate staff. that all competitors are expected to stay for. The host,
After the briefing, everyone will either walk or drive to where the gamekeeper and guns will be thanked; four awards for each Stake
Stakes are to take place. Safety is a very important consideration will be presented, together with any Certificates of Merit other
and spectators, and dogs and owners not competing, will be dogs may have earned; the overall winner will thank the Judges
asked to stay behind a red flag carried by one of the Stewards. and make any other comments about the Trial.
This ensures that everyone stays out of the way of the guns and So, as you can see, there are many exciting and interesting
that people do not stray onto parts of the estate they are not challenges on the long road from basic training to Field Trial
meant to. competition. Careful preparation at every stage is vital. Put the
effort in and you’ll find it an enormously rewarding process.
During each Stake the Judge(s) will ask each dog to work a
number of times under various conditions. The Kennel Club’s J
Regulations set out in detail the manner in which the Trial should
proceed. Competitors should make themselves familiar with the
Regulations well before they enter their first Field Trial. Judges INFORMATION BOX
will be looking closely at how your dog works, making a note of Working Gundog Certificate
all its strengths but also of its major faults. The aim of the Working Gundog Certificate is to
There are also a number of eliminating faults in each Stake such provide credible proof that the handler and dog are
as whining and barking, hard mouth, running in and chasing, competent partnership, with the qualities to fulfil the
failing to find game that another dog can find, and changing general requirements of work on a shoot.
game whilst retrieving. There are different eliminating faults for The certificate may be taken on dummies and on game
each Gundog sub-group and handlers should be well aware of so that all aspects of the dog’s work in the shooting
these, both in training and in competition. field can be recognised as its training progresses.
If your dog does commit an eliminating fault it is excluded from Partnerships already fully experienced in working with
further participation in the Trial. This can be very disappointing game can just take the certificate on a shoot. The
if it occurs on your dog’s first run but you should lose with good certificate will be issued by the Kennel Club and will list
grace and enjoy the rest of the day’s shooting. It is considered those tasks achieved on the day.
very poor form to leave a Trial early simply because your dog has
Successful partnerships will also have the distinction of
not performed to the best of its ability. Having asked permission
having their names published in the Kennel Gazette.
to leave the ground always thank the Judges and Chief Steward
before you leave. The WGC Handbook gives full details for organisers,
participants and assessors and these, or further help
Handling your dog and advice on this prestigious award can be obtained
Attending your first Field Trial may cause your dog to behave from Hilary Gould.
differently than it does in training. Young dogs in particular can
be bothered by crowds and if this is the case you can move
a little way from other competitors and officials. You must,
however, let the Chief Steward know what you are doing and
why. You will not be penalised for controlling your dog in this
manner. In fact, it is a good idea to tell your Judge and Chief
Steward that you are competing in your first Field Trial as they INFORMATION BOX
will make their directions very clear and offer you help. For further information on all aspects of Field Trials
Working Gundogs should be kept under good control at all times, and Working Gundogs please contact either Hilary
both whilst waiting to compete and during the Stakes. You Gould, Field Trials department on 020 7518 1059.
should always be aware of how your dog is reacting and what it or vist www.thekennelclub.org.uk to see the
is doing. If it does misbehave, you should never handle your dog events calendar.
harshly, or use punitive correction during a Trial. This could land Email: hilary.gould@thekennelclub.org.uk,
you in trouble with the Kennel Club and also indicates that you
have not trained your dog properly. All dogs should be trained
and worked using plenty of encouragement.
KC/CAT/114C/02/10
