If Field Trials are all about performance, would you be open to allowing any breed/any mixed breed to enter?

NO, Doesnt matter cuz they couldnt compete with retrievers so why polute the entries with whatever? Hell, it is hard enough for minority retriever breeds to compete or 3/4 of the field for that mater!

J. Marti said:

The post title is my question. Do you think retrieving field trials should be open to any breed/mixed breed?

Click to expand...

No, for the simple reason that they are "retriever" trials.

J. Marti said:

The post title is my question. Do you think retrieving field trials should be open to any breed/mixed breed?

Click to expand...

No, championship points can only be awarded to AKC acknowledged retrieving breeds. Any other dogs are not eligible, and I'm not in favor of running dogs just because of retrieve desire.

captain2560 said:

No, championship points can only be awarded to AKC acknowledged retrieving breeds. Any other dogs are not eligible, and I'm not in favor of running dogs just because of retrieve desire.

Click to expand...

My next thought would be why are we even thinking of this?

A CH is supposed to be about identifying dogs worth of passing alone their genes within the breed, conformation or FT. So by definition a mixed breed couldn't be under consideration.

My first reaction is to say I wouldn't care.
However, putting more than a second of thought into it I think it would mean a watering down and devaluing of the title of Field Champion.
It MEANS SOMETHING if you can beat the Farmers, the Lardys, the Rorems, the Aycocks, etc, etc and most who post here for that matter.
But beating a labradoodle or a collie in a retriever field trial?
I don't think so
I see no reward or value in Floyd Mayweather Jr beating the top tennis player in the world in a boxing match either and the title of world champion would be lessor in anyone's eyes having been witness to it.

John McAssey told the tale many years ago about the origin of the “fox red” coat color. He said in the 1930s some breeders infused some redbone hound blood into Labradors to improve their noses. Maybe it was true, I guess today DNA analysis could prove or disprove that. The sled dog people have done some crossbreeding with Pointers for speed and endurance. I can’t imagine a trait in our working Labradors that would benefit from cross breeding. That being said the entire structure and mission statement of retriever field trials would have to be rewritten and that’s not going to happen.

captain2560 said:

My next thought would be why are we even thinking of this?

Click to expand...

The question was asked in another forum I belong to which was started and is moderated by a veterinarian who is a researcher in the canine genome field. Her expertise is researching the possible DNA links to behavioral traits in dogs. This veterinarian owns several border collies. I believe there are several border collie people who believe their dogs could compete against field trial Labradors. Don't blame me--I'm just the messenger and wanted to hear opinions from "the other side" on this. I don't own either breed.

J. Marti said:

The question was asked in another forum I belong to which was started and is moderated by a veterinarian who is a researcher in the canine genome field. Her expertise is researching the possible DNA links to behavioral traits in dogs. This veterinarian owns several border collies. I believe there are several border collie people who believe their dogs could compete against field trial Labradors. Don't blame me--I'm just the messenger and wanted to hear opinions from "the other side" on this. I don't own either breed.

Click to expand...

We have a border collie and she gets insulted if you refer to her as a ”dog”.

I believe border collies are extremely smart and loyal companions. Whether they could compete in the retriever sports, I don't know or care. But they are not allowed to by rule, so the conversation is moot. That's why I said why are we even thinking about it.

Don’t most think their kid is an Olympic athlete with a genius IQ?

EdA said:

Don’t most think their kid is an Olympic athlete with a genius IQ?

Click to expand...

Most Lab people probably do. I think Golden people probably live in constant fear of their children being poisoned, electrocuted, abducted, froze to death, drowned, hit by cars or stray gun fire or worst of all someday becoming independent.

well, Open OPEN ALL breed, I take opportunity to place or ALL take bets ( small token gentlemen type of course). 1.Labador Retrievers, Golden, Chessies ( none placed on silver, curly, pointing sorts). Now i seen all kinds good hunting dogs mixed, small , large. But you cannot be serious, are you?

I've seen written here on more than one occasion something to the effect of, "I don't care what a dog looks like, as long has he can do the work". Or, "every dog is beautiful bringing back the last bird of the National". It would seem to me that those who disregard all aspects of the breed standard beyond performance would be okay with opening it to any dog who can do it. But I could be wrong.

Another problem is that points are based upon the number of dogs competing in the trial. The effect would be to cheapen the title by allowing entry of dogs who have virtually no chance of being competitive.

Matt McKenzie said:

I've seen written here on more than one occasion something to the effect of, "I don't care what a dog looks like, as long has he can do the work".

Click to expand...

I think more people say that than mean it. The vast majority of dogs I see at trials are fine looking animals.

Don Smith said:

Another problem is that points are based upon the number of dogs competing in the trial.

Click to expand...

A minimum number of qualified dog are required in an all age stake for points to be awarded but points are not based on the number of dogs entered.

There are a lot of people who think "my dog could do that", however there are few who actually can. There are training groups and endless material on retriever training so they are welcome to train their dogs and show that their dogs can do the work, and then lobby the AKC and try and have them change the wording from Retriever field trial to Retrieving field trial. Good luck to them, but I can't hold my breath that long.