Dogs in Competition, Field Trials & Hunting

Field Trials & Hunting Events

Field trials and hunting tests are pratical demonstrations of a dog's ability to perform the functions for which it was bred. Field trials are open to registered pointing breeds, retrievers, spaiels, Beagles, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds that are more than six months old. Pointers, retrievers and spaniels, including those with ILP numbers, are eligible for hunting tests.

In the hunting tests, the dog's ability to perform is judged against a standard of perfection established by the regulations. Dogs receiving qualifying scores at a number of tests achieve titles of Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH), and Master Hunter (MH). Each successive title requires greater skill. At field trials, dogs compete against one another for placements and points toward their championships. Successful dogs in the Sporting Group can earn a Field Championship (FC) or can earn an Amateur Field Championship (AFC). Basset Hounds and Dachshunds can earn only a Field Championship.

The field events are divided by type of dog (spaniels, retrievers, etc), and are somtimes limited to specific breeds. Each type of event varies according to the breed's function as a hunting dog.

Beagles may compete in 3 types of trials: Brace, in which groups of two or three dogs are judged primarily on their accuracy in trailing a rabbig; Small Pack Option, in which the dogs are divided into packs of seven to pursue rabbits, and Large Pack trials, in which dogs are turned loose to find and track hares.

Basset Hounds and Dachshund field trials are held separately although they are run in similar fashion to the Beagle Brace trials. Hunting tests are not available for these three hound breeds.

Pointing breed field trials and hunting tests are open to Brittanys, English Setters, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Pointers, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Vizslas, Weimaraners, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. Run in pairs around a course on which birds are liberated, the dogs demonstrate their ability to find birds, point and retrieve downed birds.

Retrievers are tested on their ability to remember the location of downed birds and return those birds to their handlers. The hunting tests and field trials have different levels of difficulty and require dogs to mark multiple birds and at higher levels, find unmarked birds. The eligible breeds are the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Irish Water Spaniel. Standard Poodles are eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests.

Spaniels are judged on their natural and trained ability to hunt, flush and retrieve game on both land and water. Clumber Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels and Welsh Springer Spaniels are eligible to compete.

Titles Available

Junior Hunter (JH)

Senior Hunter (SH)

Master Hunter (MH)

Field Champion (FC)

National Field Champion (NFC)

Amateur Field Champion (AFC)

National Amatur Field Champion (NAFC)