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What is a Field Trial...

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MNHunter

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
This is definitely going to seem like a dumb question to many folks here at RTF but I truly have no real idea. For those of us not versed in the world of field trials, derby's, stakes, ect. What do these terms mean and what do these events entail? Is there a place we can go online to learn about what a retriever field trial actually is? What takes place at these events and what types of challenges are presented to dog and handler?

I think that if i had a better idea of what it takes to win derby points, become a MH or a NFC I'd have a much better feel for whether or not it's something that I'd like to get involved in and be better prepared to train my dog to be ready for such events. All I really know is that dogs run out and fetch bumpers. Some that they can see being thrown and some that they need to be guided to by their handlers (I believe)

I'd really love to learn more about it, see some clear video of what the dogs and handlers do, and read about all the steps it takes to earn the designations that preceed so many of the names of my pups ancestors on his pedigree...
 
#2 ·
MNHunter said:
This is definitely going to seem like a dumb question to many folks here at RTF but I truly have no real idea. For those of us not versed in the world of field trials, derby's, stakes, ect. What do these terms mean and what do these events entail? Is there a place we can go online to learn about what a retriever field trial actually is? What takes place at these events and what types of challenges are presented to dog and handler?

I think that if i had a better idea of what it takes to win derby points, become a MH or a NFC I'd have a much better feel for whether or not it's something that I'd like to get involved in and be better prepared to train my dog to be ready for such events. All I really know is that dogs run out and fetch bumpers. Some that they can see being thrown and some that they need to be guided to by their handlers (I believe)

I'd really love to learn more about it, see some clear video of what the dogs and handlers do, and read about all the steps it takes to earn the designations that preceed so many of the names of my pups ancestors on his pedigree...
Click to expand...
A field trial is a goal…
To get there, we will take baby steps along the way.

With that though becomes knowledge and experience from peers and mentors through the journey. :)
When the times becomes, you will know. :)
 
#5 ·
Retriever field trials are competitions. Judges set up scenarios with marked (dog sees bird thrown) and blind (dog does not see, so handler directs dog to bird) retries that test the natural and trained abilities of the dogs. The performances of the dogs tested are evaluated against one another to determine the relative best dogs on that day. Look up "retriever field trial rules" (google), to learn about the various stakes (derby, qualifying, Amateur, Open, the requirements to title, ...

Retriever hunt tests are not competitions. Judges set up scenarios with marked (dog sees bird thrown) and blind (dog does not see, so handler directs dog to bird) retries that test the natural and trained abilities of the dogs. The performances of the dogs tested are evaluated against a standard. Look up "retriever hunt test rules" (google), to learn about the various stakes (Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, Master Hunter..).

The average guy with a good dog should be able to train his/her own dog to the highest hunt test title, Master Hunter title by training primarily on weekends and in the evenings. Only a very small percentage of dogs that are bought and trained for field trials ever achieve the Field Champion or Amateur Field Champion titles, even if they are professionally trained and handled.

The AKC is the organization that I described above, and is the only organization to offer retriever field trials. The HRC (part of UKC) and NAHRA also offer hunt test.
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Mark Littlejohn said:
Do you know how to use the Googly thing? I found these pretty quick.
http://www.akc.org/events/field-trials/retrievers/info/
http://www.crosscreekkennel.com/htexp.htm
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I've used the "Googly thing" before, yes. Sorry if my question has inconvenienced you. Thanks for the links, the second one is fairly informative but for a person who doesn't understand the terminology it's not exactly clear.

I'll never understand why people post on forums and say, "use the search function" or, try a Google search. If everybody just used the search function or searched Google there would be no conversation on these forums at all.
 
#7 ·
MNHunter said:
I've used the "Googly thing" before, yes. Sorry if my question has inconvenienced you. Thanks for the links, the second one is fairly informative but for a person who doesn't understand the terminology it's not exactly clear.

I'll never understand why people post on forums and say, "use the search function" or, try a Google search. If everybody just used the search function or searched Google there would be no conversation on these forums at all.
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You'll find that most folks on this forum are more than willing to help those that put in a little effort of their own. For those that don't put in some effort, why bother.
 
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#9 ·
captainjack said:
The AKC is the organization that I described above, and is the only organization to offer retriever field trials. The HRC (part of UKC) and NAHRA also offer hunt test.
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Captainjack ... You should see enough Canadian Snowbirds in your area training from November to April to know that the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) also offers both field trials and hunt tests too! ;-)
 
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#10 · (Edited)
On the very first page of this forum, there is a Glossary of Terms. It may help some.

There is a book you should be able to pick up pretty cheap, Game Dog by Richard Walters. It is outdated but for a newby it give a fairly good overview. In the book it summarizes the rules for one retriever organization and the different events.
This book is what most of us old guys started with. The book is outdated and there is much better training materials available today.

I think this book is now available on DVD but probably doesn't include the appendix with the outline of the different tests and rules. These rules are outdated but the fundamentals are there.

Hope this helps. From here you should be able to leap forward in your understanding of the game.

There are some field trial and hunt tests videos of actual tests but they are by amateurs from the gallery and without any explanation.
 
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#11 ·
captainjack said:
You'll find that most folks on this forum are more than willing to help those that put in a little effort of their own. For those that don't put in some effort, why bother.
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Same goes for most training groups as well. It's like somebody told me about going to Paris several years ago. Learn a few French phrases and use them. You'll be so bad they will switch to English to help you out because they can, but the effort will be appreciated.
 
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#12 ·
I assume from your allias that you are located in MN. We are in the midst of FT and HT season now. If you look on www.entryexpress.net there are hunt tests and FTs within 3-4 hour ring of MPLS pretty much every week end. There is probably one close to you. I would suggest you attend one and ask some of the people sitting in lawn chairs about the various tests that are going on and the terminology. Most of us will be happy to provide an explanation. It is free to attend any of these events. Keep in mind that for the most part these events are run by volunteers so we do what we can when we can to answer questions, but we don't get paid extra for providing great customer service. If you attend here are a couple guide lines.

Don't where white or other light colors - It may distract the dogs. In an FT handlers where white so there dogs can see them better. Multiple people wearing white can confuse and/or distract the running dog (running = dog being tested).

Don't walk up to someone that is in line to run their dog. Sorry I won't explain what this looks like, but if you watch for a few minutes you will easliy understand what this is. Some people don't care if you talk to them when they are in line. Others do. Each entrant paid somewhere between $60 and $100 to run that dog on that day so please give them some respect and room to prepare to run in their own way.

If you are talking with someone in the lawn chairs make sure you are not talking or moving around when a person is on the line running their dog. The line is the place where the dog and its handler go when they are under judgment. The idea behind these don't's is to not distract the dog or handler when they are running (being tested).

I think you will find that if you introduce yourself and explain what you would like to know that that the vast percentage of people will be willing to take time to help you. We were all in your position when we started.

Hope to see you at an upcoming trial or test.

John Buesgens
 
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Discussion starter · #13 ·
I appreciate the replies, understanding the terminology will definitely help. A production quality video would be really interesting, I'm surprised that there isn't anything like out there. I figured that a network like animal planet might have something out there.
 
#15 ·
MNHunter,

You're in luck! The National Amateur Trial is coming up. This is an annual trial for Amateurs and their dogs who must qualify for the event each year.

This site is a sponsor of the BLOG that is run during the event. There will be a sticky on this forum soon and it will direct you to the Blog. You will be able to read along with the event as it unfolds, seeing test descriptions and diagrams series after series.

There are even some contests, one of which is typically put out by Entry Express where people can pick their dogs. It's fun to make your picks and follow along to see how your dog choices progress through the event, and how many points you accrue.

http://www.theretrievernews.com/2015-narc.html

There is an "advanced search" sticky on RTF that you may want to try. That will give even more hits than the VBulletin advanced search which is part of this platform. (the one in the sticky sicks the Google dawg on this site's database.)

Have fun and good luck! Chris
 
#16 · (Edited)
There are lots of dog training videos on YouTube. You can subscribe to John Nutt and see 3 or 4 dogs in training. Or you can search here for Hank (by Pirate) or Rowdy (by Pirate) under my name. These are training videos not actual tests.

These are amateur videos. There are production quality videos but they are part of training programs which have to be bought.
 
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#17 ·
Wayne Nutt said:
There are lots of dog training videos on YouTube. You can subscribe to John Nutt and see 3 or 4 dogs in training. Or you can search here for Hank (by Pirate) or Rowdy (by Pirate) under my name. These are training videos not actual tests.

These are amateur videos. There are production quality videos but they are part of training programs which have to be bought.
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Thank you, and others who do post their videos on YouTube. New guys, like myself can gain insight from these.
 
#18 ·
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?53591-hunt-test-vs-field-trial
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?68653-Hunt-Test-vs-Field-Trial-AKC-UKC
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?20352-Hunt-test-vs-Field-trial
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?18986-Training-Hunt-vs-Trial-Test
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?14821-Hunt-test-Field-Trial-HRC
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?84674-akc-and-ukc-hunt-tests-differences
 
#20 ·
Rnd said:
The last thing we need is protesters at our trials and hunt tests...

Look what happened to our pigeon shoots.....

Randy.
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When I was Chairman of the National Championship stake we had discussions about what to do if animal activists came to protest. I am a bit surprised that our parent organization has not prepared a presentation for clubs as to what to do it that happens.
 
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