Gun Dog Forum

I am wondering if any of you who run these trials could give me a general idea of what degree a dog has to be trained to compete. I know the retrieve but when can the dogs break? at the shot? I also know you dont want them to run lines but is there anything else? I will be attending my first trial as a spectator at the end of the month so I am sure I will learn alot there. But I wanted to get a general Idea as to how I should train my dog to compete. thanks.

The dog has to be steady till the bird moves from his resting place ...
I prefer mine to be steady to shot this way they are not in my way incase of a low flying bird...
also a dog that is steady to shot will attain a little higher score then a dog steady to flush as when you go in for the flush the dog starts to change positions getting ready to run as the bird leave the ground which on an over all score of a point will take away just a bit..it shouldn't be a major knock as the NSTRA rules state steady to flush but the better trained the better they look and the better they will score

Where are you attending the trial at?

Your dog really needs to be finished in order to compete. If you are going just for fun, try anytime. You will learn alot on your first trial!

Dog must retrive bird to hand and demonstrate basic obedience. Know what commands your dog will obey and don't give ones they won't. Must stay in the field as marked so should turn on command.

The dog has to be steady till the bird moves from his resting place .

If the bird runs out, while attempting to flush, but does not fly is it considered moved from it's resting place and if the dog moves are you deducted points?

Dirtysteve wrote:

The dog has to be steady till the bird moves from his resting place .

If the bird runs out, while attempting to flush, but does not fly is it considered moved from it's resting place and if the dog moves are you deducted points?

If you have attempted the flush and the bird has moved, technically you could shoot the bird on the ground. It won't do much for the retrieve points. But you can do it. In that case I usually just ask the judge what he/she wants me to do. Usually you can get them to fly, but you never know with pen raised birds.

Actually you are never suppossed to shoot a bird on the ground without the permission of the judge.

That's right, I should have worded that different. Thanks Brenda.

Key thing is, the judge is usually right there. If something weird happens, ask them what they want you to do. I have found them all to be helpful.