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Sporting
Dogs: Field Trials
For those of you who aren’t
too familiar with the term “field trials,” it is a sport
in which the sporting
dog competes under hunting conditions. The dog can pick up
the scent of a rabbit or small animal and follow the trail
until he’s found it. There is also the bird trials where the
animal retrieves a fallen bird. During competition, the different
breeds are divided into various groups. The following groups
are: Pointing Dog Trials, Retriever Trials, Spaniel Trials,
Beagle Trials & Hound Trials. The following guidelines
are an example of what is expected before entering your sporting
dog.
If a club is hosting a trial, they must advertise the trial
with a fitting advertisement which states the following information:
date of actual trial along with the place, location of drawing,
time of drawing, sponsoring stakes and lastly, the contact
person’s name, city and state.
The next condition for entering is the age
of the dog. There
are two seasons. If you are interested in entering your puppy
in the current season’s Puppy Stakes competition (July 1-December
31, 2005, he must be whelped (born) on or subsequent to June
1, 2004. The next half of the season is from (January1-June
30, 2006), the dog must be whelped on January 1, 2005 or after
this date.
Before entering your dog in a trial, make sure you have all
information on the dog being entered. It is very important
that all information is put on the entry form. It will consist
of the dog’s name, the breed of the dog, registration number,
color, sex and sire and dam’s names.
“Field
trialer” is the name of the owner or handler of the
sporting dog. Field trials is an enjoyable sport for field
trialers because of the exercise as well as the excitement
of seeing their dogs follow a trail. Talking with other field
trialers is another thrill of competing.
If you are new to the sport or just getting started, it can
be mind boggling choosing just the right dog, especially if
you don’t even know how to get started. The first decision
in choosing a sporting dog is deciding which pedigree you want.
When choosing a dog, if possible, find out information about
the sire and dam. What kind of accomplishments have they achieved?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
It’s a good idea to watch a particular breed in action to
see if that’s what you’re looking for in a sporting dog. Also
talk to other field trialers who are more experienced in this
area. They may be able to recommend a breeder. You can also
read magazines or books on the subject. Find out as much information
as you can before you choose your sporting dog.
Once you’ve chosen a puppy, look the puppy over from front
to back. Look for flaws in the structure of the puppy. Does
he have unsteady balance? Are his hind legs weak or stiff?
Are the front legs bowed? Serious flaws can prevent the dog
from performing well out in the field. The fields are not easy
obstacles. There may be bushes the dog may have to maneuver
through and other obstructions in the way. The dog must be
healthy and strong in order to maneuver quickly.
Many field trialers will refer to the nose of the dog as being
the animal’s ability to find the scent and pursue. Each dog
has its own personality as to how he pursues the game. Some
can be very aggressive, while others are more cautious. Each
dog may have its own style which is what makes them so unique.
One style is not better than another. It is really up to the
field trialer as to what he likes better. The way the dog follows
the scent is not the most important aspect of the sport. The
most important aspect is that he finds the trail and stays
on it until he finds the game. How well does their nose perform.
When they do lose the rabbit, how far do they wonder off course?
Do they try picking up the scent again, once they lost it?
These are questions to ask yourself about your sporting dog.
Field
trialing is an exciting sport, not only for the sporting
dog, but also for the field trialer. If this sport sounds
interesting
to you, get involved with various clubs that support this type
of sport. Go out and give it a try.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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