SPANIEL RETRIEVER TRIALS

A field trial (or Spaniel Retriever Trial) should be run as closely as possible to an ordinary day's shooting. The purpose of a Field Trial is to assess each dog on that day, previous performancees should be disregarded. Two judges will officiate, and two dogs should run simultaneously, one dog under each judge. Dogs should hunt separately, but ideally not too far apart, and only hunt the same ground (or right next to each other) during a run off. The handlers are expected to shoot over their own dogs, and must conduct themselves in a safe manner. The judges' decision regarding safety is final, and handlers may be disqualified from a trial if, in the opinion of the judges, they are not conducting themselves in a safe manner. A spaniel should at all times hunt within range of handler (approx. 20 metres) with good ground treatment. A spaniel's first job is to find and flush game within range of the handler. With a head-on wind, the dog should quarter the ground systematically left to right and vice versa, making good all likely game-holding cover, but keeping within gunshot of the handler. With a following wind the dog will usually wish to punch well out then work back into the wind towards the handler. A spaniel should have drive and thrust and face cover well, and, at the same time, should be a pleasure to watch. A spaniel should stop to game and shot, but if a dog moves a little in order to mark the fall, if this is obscured, the dog should not necessarily be penalised. The dog should remain steady to flush until the judge instructs the handler to send the dog. A field trial is a meeting for the purpose of holding competitions to assess the work of spaniels in the field, working on live game that may be shot. Trials shall comply with the shooting and game laws of the relevant State or Territory of Australia. Trials shall be open to any variety of sporting spaniel, of either sex, other than the Irish water spaniel. A dog competing in its first two seasons shall be known as a novice dog. If a novice dog wins a trial it shall cease to be a novice dog for future trials. Current Firearms Licences and Hunting Permits must be shown to the trial manager by all those handling firearms. How to train for and prepare your dog as either a competitor or hunting partner: Prepare your dog to accept the sound of a shotgun discharge without qualm. Use this training process to steady your dog to shot(a secondary aim). This is an early and most important step in preparing your dog for the field and care must be taken in introducing the young dog to sound of shot. Introduce the pup to hunting and retrieving to hand through play and to come and sit in front when called at meal-time. The pup should be exposed to the opportunity to enter water (shallow and gently sloping clean entry point) in play and without coercion. It is also advisable to introduce the whistle, commands and signals as soon as practicable, remembering that consistency is the key (the commands you introduce must be the ones you will use during the working life of your dog). When the pup is old enough for formal training it should already be capable of most of the requirements of the field: Enjoys hunting, Will sit (or stop) to shot, Will retrieve to sit in front, Will enter water willingly, Will respond to a couple of commands by whistle, signal or voice. Initial training will be to consolidate the training to a high level of reliability. Introduce the dog to the game you will be seeking during its working life and encourage it to hunt up and flush, then be steady to the flush and shot. As soon as practicable start on quartering training using a long lead (20 m) to acquaint the dog with the ideal working distance. Note the differences in the quartering pattern depending on direction of the wind. A longer lead will be necessary when teaching working a following wind. Retrieving may need to be reinforced in which case start with short simple retrieves on the flat and gradually build up the level of difficulty introducing different terrain and distances. The above is a very broadbrush overview, details can be obtained from various field spaniel books or contacting the branch, refer contacts page.

POINTER AND SETTER TRIALS

The purpose of a pointer and setter field trial is to find the best hunting dog in terms of the criteria that epitomise the bird dog - class, working style, finding ability, biddability, endurance and application to its task. Such a dog should find, quarter, range, back - if given a clear opportunity to do so, retrieve/seek dead, perform consistently in each round and not be gun-shy. Pointers and setters use air scent to locate game, and accordingly the use of wind in selecting beats is of paramount importance in allowing dogs to demonstrate their ability. Judges should arrange their beats to allow competing dogs to take advantage of the wind by running either directly upwind or, as a second best option, into a right or left cheek wind. Such a format will help ensure equality for all dogs, make best use of time, terrain and game conditions, and most importantly, encourage correct pointer and setter ground coverage. The judge shall ensure that every competitor is aware of the desired manner and direction of working. At the end of each round the judge will give a summation the trial to that point, commenting on the performance of each dog and informing competitors of the reasons why dogs have been eliminated or retained. After the first round the judge may work the dogs in any order, and shall ensure that a dominant game finder is given adequate opportunity to back. Any dog may be called back for this purpose. A dog shall receive credit for correct ranging and quartering and use of the wind, working with head high, with good action, pointing or setting game in a stylish manner, marking the fall of game and quickly acknowledging a brace mate's point if given a clear opportunity to do so. No dog can receive an award unless it has filled its card to the judge's satisfaction. Factors which detract from a dog's performance are lack `of working ability, unsteadiness, stickiness on point, pottering, foot scenting working in creeping or crawling manner, repeatedly lying down on point, missing game flushing upwind. incorrect ranging and quartering, failure to obey any command or to complete any aspect of its work. Eliminating faults are blinking. breaking to shot or flush (unless brought under control within two metres), chasing fur or feather, deliberate stealing, lack of working ability, mouthing game (seeking dead)/severe hard mouth (retrieving), out of control, refusal to back if given a dear opportunity to do so and repeated false pointing. Trials shall be open to all Pointers and Setters registered with the Working Gundog Association of Australia (SSAA) (WGAA). A trial must have five or more dogs competing before official WGAA placings can be awarded. Trials shall comply with the shooting and game laws of the relevant State or Territory of Australia