Post
by gunner » Fri Dec 25, 2009 3:01 pm
I believe there is so very much more to hunting than just the shooting and killing of game. And likewise there's so much more to field trialing than dogs that run big and to the extreme though some posters seem to champion the idea.
Most hunters that have only owned and hunted over perhaps a dozen bird dogs in their life and have never attended a traditional field trial only know what they've heard or read about field trial dogs.
Many of those fellas are pretty adamant, vocal and biased in their beliefs, and have little experience of winning field trial dogs.
Some try to polarize hunters and field trialers. Field trialers are bird hunters that enjoy well trained dogs and have come up through the ranks enjoying raising and starting pups, the training and conditioning of those animals to a higher level and presenting those dogs in open competition to knowledgeable and experienced judges and to the scrutinizing public. These trials are held on grounds and courses that are managed to conserve and maintain various game bird species or offer venues similar to upland hunting coverts.
Trying to paint pointers as being a breed strictly for the horseback hunter is being very naive. Pointers easily know the difference between a handler on foot or on horseback and their need to change tactics to the cover presented.
American Field traditional field trial Open Stakes are competitive stakes open to all breeds and handlers, professional and amateur. Why restrict some breeds from competing against others? Excuses for not running in open competition are lame. Good dogs of any breed can win open breed competition, There are so many types of open competition today and there is no doubt good judges will place competent dogs.
Pointers have dominated traditional field trials for close to a century. They also excel in walking gun dog stakes, NSTRA competition, cover dog stakes as well as bringing home game for the average and hard core bird hunter. They have shown their abilities and adaptability from the Texas quail camps to the piney woods quail plantations of Dixie to New England and the upper Midwest's cut overs and popple thickets. Pointers have the inherent endurance, stamina, and bird sense to handle the prairie vistas and the various bird species that live in those habitats too.
I believe that pointers of any breeding can handle any game bird, pen reared or wild, in any cover presented . The ability of a good trainer to evaluate a dog and give that dog the opportunity to experience various game birds, their habits and, covers where they live, the many varying weather conditions and scenting abilities are paramount.
Speaking of field trial standards. I like the one used for the National Bird Dog Championship. It's also known as the Amesian Standard. It would be a good yardstick for any pointing dog, field trial pointer or companion gun dog.
What Is A Field Trial Dog?
THE AMESIAN STANDARD
The dog under consideration must have and display great bird sense.
He must show perfect work on both coveys and singles.
He must quickly determine between foot and body scent.
He must use his brain eyes and nose to the fullest advantage and hunt the likely places on the course.
He must posses speed, range, style, character, courage and stamina, and good manners, always.
He must hunt the birds and not the handler hunt the dog. No line or path runner is acceptable.
He must be well broken, and the better his manners the more clearly he proves his sound training.
Should he loose a little in class, as expressed in extreme speed and range he can make up for this, under fair judgment, in a single piece of superior bird work, or in sustained demonstration of general behavior.
He must be bold, snappy and spirited. His range must be to the front or to either side, but never behind.
He must be regularly and habitually pleasingly
governable (tractable) and must keep uppermost in his mind the finding and pointing of birds for his handler.
Clarke Venable Nov. 20 1895
National Field Trial Champions…. William F Brown
Last edited by
gunner on Fri Dec 25, 2009 3:17 pm, edited 3 times in total.
) or Red setters capable of winning they would be entered in and win the qualifers.
