Field Trials
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Field Trials |
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Golden Retrievers were bred as Gundogs - to assist the bird hunter in retrieving dead or injured game birds. It is part of their history and very much a natural instinct to all Golden Retrievers - to RETRIEVE!! Field Trials are great fun and the dogs enjoy it tremendously! There is nothing better than seeing 10 to 30 Golden Retrievers and Labradors running around, splashing in the water and chasing each other around ....just before or just after a field trial. Training your dog for field trials is a serious commitment and takes a lot of effort and practice - but in the end when your Golden brings back a successful retrieve ..... there is no better feeling!! If you are interested in starting field trial training please send me an email and I will forward the necessary contact details through to you, with the relevant field trial dates for 2009. Below is a bit more information and what it all involves. |
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What is Gundog Field Trialling? Gundog field trailing is a competition to find the best hunting dogs, which either find and point game birds - (Pointers, Steers ad Hunt Point, Retriever breeds) - or quarter, flush and retriever these birds (Spaniel breeds) or simply just retriever shot birds, especially duck (Retriever breeds). Each gundog section is very specialised, therefore each section in South Africa runs its own separate trials. In England field trials are run on naturally keepered game birds, for example English pheasant, and therefore are the closed to the real hunting situation. The Pointer/ Setter and some HPR trials in South Africa are run on wild birds. However, Spaniel and Retriever and some HPR trials are run with reared game, as the number of dogs and the nature of retrieving make this necessary. In this country, the USA and most other countries in the world, field trials are simulated hunts. Field trailing is the platform for hunters and breeders to ascertain that the dogs bred and sold preserve true hunting capabilities, i.e. drive,. perseverance, superb nose (scenting abilities), biddable soft mouth (does not harm the bird) are not gun-shy. One might ask why are dogs used in hunting situation? The Pointer / Setter/ Spaniel breeds are used to find the game (they can also be used for retrieving) and the Retrievers (although they can be sued to find game), are specialised in retrieving wounded game as quickly as possible.
Contents:
Obtained from: Dog Directory 2003 - Dale Fabian
People from all walks of life participate in the sport. There are dedicated hunters, who want to prove their dogs. There are other who are very competitive and train almost every day to reach the high standards demanded to achieve this points needed for a Field Trial Champion. Overseas the number of participants are such that there are professional trainers and handlers in field trials who make living just by doing this. The again, there are others who just enjoy watching their gundogs do what they were originally bred for, and enjoy the company of others who feel the same. Even young children enjoy training their dogs for this purpose. Everyone gets a chance to get out onto the farms for training, tests and trials.
How is it done in South Africa? Field trialing is run under the auspices of KUSA and the NFTA - both bodies have preciprocal agreements. At the moment Pointer / Setter trials are run mainly in the Eastern and Western Cape, with HPR trials in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Spaniel trials are run in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and there are a larger number of Retriever trials run in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Natal and the Western Cape.
Different stakes are run at varying levels of difficulty, starting with puppies and up to the Open Stake which carries points towards Field Trial Champion title. Every two years there are the KUSA National for Retriever trials, for which dogs must qualify, by either being Field Trial Champions or being placed first or second in an Open stake in the last two years. Except for the Open stake, which is often run over two days, the other stakes are one-day events. Usually most stakes are offered over a 3-4 day trial. Dogs are run in the stakes according to draw numbers.
The dogs are required to hunt up and point, in the case of Pointers for a specified time, and are judged on their style and game-finding ability. Spaniels and Retrievers are set specific series, whereby their hunting and retrieving skills are fully tested. Spaniels are mainly tested in their quartering, game-finding and flushing abilities. An example of Retrievers is an Open Retriever stake, in which a dog is required to walk quietly at his handler's side and mark (watch) two or three birds down on land and water. There will also be a bird placed in cover that it has not seen. The handler will then be required, when commanded by the judge to send his dog to pick up the birds in a designated order. The most difficult task for the dog, is to ignore the birds is has seen go down, and to go for the one it has not seen, especially if it is on the far side of a large expanse of water, approximately 100 meters.
How to get started, who to ask and where it happens To get started, one should get in touch with the various Clubs that run field trials specifically for your gundog breed. Unfortunately only registered gundogs may run in trials, and then only gundogs. Recognized gundogs that currently run in SA are: English Pointers, English, Irish and Gordon Setters, Brittany, English, Clumber Cocker, and American Cocker Spaniels, Wiemaraners, Hungarian Vislas, German Shorthaired / Wirehaired Pointers, and Chesapeake, Labrador, Golden and Flatcoated Retrievers. Those with unregistered dogs may partake in training and tests, and enjoy the fun days. Since there are so many Clubs around the country, it is best to contact KUSA, which will put you in touch with the Club Secretaries. Some clubs hold regular training courses over weekends, and in this way you will meet people who are trialling in your area. Most of the training is done on farms, as the area needed to work is very large. Basic exercises can be done around the parks or public open ground. Often people living close to one another get together in smaller groups, and help one another in training during the week.
How to train for Field Trials? Most retrieving training and some tests are done using dummies (an oblong canvas "bird" stuffed with sawdust of foam chips). Water dummies are made of hard plastic for floating. A slip lead is used for heeling in the beginning stages. A whistle is of great importance, as the dog must be taught to sit on the whistle and take hand signals to the unseen birds. Gunshots can be simulated with sports starting pistols or dummy launchers using blanks. You can do certain basic exercises with your dog on your own, but as you advance it will be necessary to train with other people to help you throw the multiple dummies out at the required distances. There are very many books and videos available from the UK and USA on Gundog field trials, which can help you immensely. However, nothing trains better than the real thing.
Like all animals, gundogs do best early in the morning and later afternoon. However, trials go on all day, and if you were out shooting you might expect your dog to work for longer hours, so you will need an extremely fit dog, and one that can handle a little heat. Having said that, it must be pointed out that dogs get heat stroke very quickly and you have to be very vigilant and try not to work them in the heat of the day. At most trials, dogs are not working all the time, and closeness to dames and rivers is uppermost in the officials' minds. Handlers take great care to bring along water for their dogs, and even teach the dogs to drink out of their flasks. Trials are run from April to October, avoiding the very hot months. If you can train your dog every day for at least 10 minutes of solid running and a little longer over the weekends, you will have it up to steam for the trials.
There is no greater thrill than watching your dog hunting cover with style and speed, suddenly winding the scent, and zooming onto a point, its body frozen - or lifting it head into the wind, screeching to a halt at the scent and racing onto its retriever from a distance. Nothing exhilarates a gundog more than when it is doing what is was bred for.
Obtained from: Dog Directory 2003 - Dale Fabian
A Visitors Guide to Field Trials (Obtained from the GRC Field Trial Magazine) The whole purpose of Retriever and Spaniel field trials is to simulate, under competition, conditions which are similar to those encountered in a natural shooting situation. Only too often, birds are shot where no working dogs are present. This results in unnecessary suffering and waste. The reason for training Retrievers and Spaniels is to persuade those people that shoot and hunt, that the only way to hunt is with a trained dog. The work that you will see in a field trial, will generally surpass the work that is expected of a rough shooting dog. To give you a feel of what the judge are looking for, here is a guide to assist you.
Because birds are often hunted in line, it is essential that dogs walk steadily to heel off lead. The must not whine, nor retriever before being sent my the handler, and this could interfere with the work of another dog. Good marking of the position of the fail is essential in a Retriever, as he should not disturb the ground unnecessarily. Judges should give full credit to a dog which goes straight to the fall, picks up and returns the game directly to hand, at a good pace.
The bird must be held firmly, but gently by the dog, until it is commanded to release to hand. There must be no evidence of chewing or hard mouth. On a marked retriever, it is a retriever where the dog has seen the fall, the dog should not require handing, the more the dog is handled, the lower the points.
On a blind retrieve, where only the handler is given a general idea as to the position of the game, the dog which takes the line offered and requires the least handling, will be awarded the highest marks.
Most important a dog which show game finding ability and use its nose, should be placed above those which require handling or happen to stumble upon the game.
Eliminating Faults: Hard-mouth, breaking before commanded to retrieve, whining or barking continuously out of control, chasing other game, failure to enter water, blinking game.
Major Faults: Failure to find game, unsteadiness at heel, disturbing ground not related to the fall, poor control.
Good Points: Natural game finding ability, use of nose, good marking of the fall, quick pick-up and return, good control, keenness and attentiveness.
PUPPY TRAINING FOR FIELD TRIALS: The Basics (written by Jenny Smith - Pareora Golden Retrievers)
The first four months of y our puppy's life are the most important. It's at this time that his whole character is moulded - the success you have with him retrieving when he is older will be an extension of his character formed during this time. Get the basics right and you will save yourself many hours of frustration down the line.
When you take your pup at seven weeks, you will be taking the place of its mother. It is now that you establish who is boss - by replacing it's mother you have the perfect opportunity to become pack leader. This should be achieved by plenty of reward with little or no punishment, no matter what happens!
All pups start with a strong desire to please. The stronger you develop this desire to please, the easier the training will be. Always remember that your pup will respond very quickly to your pleasure as well as your displeasure. Giving time and love at this age will intensify the rapport between you and your pup and make him feel safe in the relationship. A secure puppy is happy and outgoing - an insecure pup is quiet and sensitive.
One cannot emphasize enough the importance of time and attention, loving and playing with your pup at this age. Get down to its level, play rough and tumble on the grass with him.. If he is going to be y our mate, treat him accordingly and play games with him.
Your pup is a natural retriever. He will pick up anything lying around the house. Never scold him for this - he is only doing what come naturally. Take the object and praise him, encourage him to bring things to you. You will need to educate the whole family. They need to apply the same rules. Also never chase the pup, no matter what he has. By chasing him you are turning retrieving into a game where the pup is suddenly boss and he quite likes the idea - he thinks it's great fun! However it creates a habit that is extremely difficult to break once you get into serious training. Remember, a smart dog will quickly take advantage of his handler.
Purchase a couple of toys for your new friend and make some fun dummies. Keep these around the house, the toys can be his at all times. When the pup brings you something, praise him and then throw a dummy for him as a reward. Encourage him to bring the dummy back to you as well.
Start socializing your pup as soon as possible after his second inoculation. Away from home he may appear very shy and nervous. This is a new experience for him which only time and constant exposure will change. Mixing with other puppies normally solves this problem very quickly.
Retrieving with puppies for the first 12 months should just be a lot of fun. In Trials all puppies run on leads = they only need to be steady once they start running in Junior Stakes. There are however some basic rules that you should remember at all times.
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This website was created and maintained by Arnel Sauer. All rights reserved. Copyright 2003No content or photograph's on this website may be used or reproduced in any format, at any time, without the explicit consent of the author / owner. |
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Last Updated: 04/12/2012 09:50:26 PM |
