The first Retriever Field Trial in America was actually conducted under British rules though it was billed as an American Kennel Club competition. This event on December 21, 1931, was held by the brand new Labrador Retriever Club on Robert Goelet’s eight-thousand-acre estate, Glenmere Court, in Chester, New York. Wealthy Eastern U.S. estate owners imported Labs from the British Isles in those days, along with kennel men to train them.
American Kennel Club field trials had changed by the 1940’s, with handlers commanding their dogs using whistle, voice, and hand signals. Retriever training has become more and more sophisticated, to the extent that hunters and breeders not involved in field trials saw the need for a new program to test their dogs for more realistic hunting skills.
As a result, the highly competitive Retriever Field Trials that have continued to grow were joined in 1984 by the immediately popular Retriever Hunting Tests. Both programs are open for all the retriever breeds, plus Irish Water Spaniels. Events are held by many different clubs, some for individual breeds and some for all the eligible breeds.
Thanks to their great popularity, Retriever Field Trials are likely held close enough to your area for you to attend as a spectator. It’s a great way to consider whether you’d like to participate in such events, or perhaps consider a retriever as a hunting companion. Watching the dogs at the work they’ve been selectively bred to perform also greatly helps to understand their day-to-day behavior if you choose to live with a retriever.
What is a Field Champion?
The Field Champion title is earned by winning sufficient points in All-Age Stake competitions or by winning a National Championship Stake. Typically a Retriever Field Trial includes one All-Age Stake open to professionals and amateurs, and another open only to amateurs.
A field trial also includes a Qualifying Stake competition, not for championship points but judged to similar standards. There will also be a Derby Stake judged only on marked retrieves, awarding only Derby Championship points, and open only to dogs between 6 months and 2 years of age. Dogs can be on leash going up to the line at the handler’s option for the Derby Stake and at the judge’s option for the Qualifying Stake, but must be steady off-leash for All-Age Stakes.
Retrievers are tested for the ability to perform both on land and in water. Judges evaluate the dogs for the natural abilities of memory, intelligence, attention, nose, courage, perseverance and style. They judge especially the All-Age Stakes dogs for trained abilities as well, including steadiness, control, response to direction, and delivery. Judging is an art, but AKC rules carefully describe the qualities to be judged. Judges walk the trial grounds with members of the trial-giving club and design the tests.
The running order of the dogs is determined in advance by a drawing. Due to weather and terrain, it’s not possible to give every dog identical trial conditions, but every attempt is made to keep things fair.
Judges have wide latitude to retest dogs and otherwise take measures to make sure they are able to give each a thorough evaluation. Dogs are called back to run in additional levels of competition until the judges are satisfied they can choose the winners, placements, and the Judges’ Award of Merit.
Gunners and throwers work under direction of the judges to position shot birds for the dogs to retrieve. In all stakes except Derby, dogs and handlers perform an honor exercise in which the dog is required to hold steady at the line for another dog’s retrieve. The handler cannot touch the dog or repeatedly command the dog to stay in position.
In a marked retrieve the dog sees the bird fall and must demonstrate the ability to efficiently find and retrieve it. A blind retrieve uses features of the terrain to prevent the dog from being able to see the bird fall, and the dog must take the handler’s direction to it.
A handler who treats a dog abusively or a dog who attacks and injures another dog or person will not be allowed to compete. Female dogs in heat are not allowed on the grounds. No training on the grounds is permitted, and the premium list includes a description of the trial grounds’ boundaries. Spectators are welcome, and are directed as to where they can take up position to watch the proceedings without getting in the way.
Qualities to be Judged
Retriever Field Trials evaluate both the desirable and the undesirable qualities of the valuable hunting dog. For example, barking or whining when waiting to retrieve is penalized, and the dog may be eliminated from competition for loud and prolonged noise. Such behavior on a hunt would impair a dog’s usefulness as well as the hunter’s enjoyment.
If the dog assigned to honor the working dog breaks position and interferes with the dog under judgment, this infraction can eliminate the honoring dog from further competition that day. Honoring on an actual hunt is extremely important both to efficiency and to safety.
In a marked retrieve, one factor is whether the dog disturbs excessive cover in searching for the fallen bird. A dog who does that while hunting could cause the loss of other game.
Two faults judges are cautioned to be sure about before invoking are “poor nose” and “hard mouth.” Either of these is considered a serious fault in a hunting dog. Once a dog has been charged as “hard-mouthed,” he then carries the stigma. Judges are urged to examine every bird retrieved in order to be fair and accurate about the dog’s treatment of it. Crushed bone structure is the most reliable evidence.
What’s It All About?
While Retriever Hunting Tests evaluate a dog’s ability for a day of hunting, Retriever Field Trials look for an almost artistic variation on typical hunting. Marking ability is absolutely essential to a successful field trial dog, but beyond that, the dogs are judged on style.
According to AKC rules, a stylish Retriever Field Trial dog works with “an alert and obedient attitude,” “eagerness and speed” on land and water, aggressive search for the fallen bird, prompt pick-up and fast return. “Style is apparent in every movement of a dog and throughout his entire performance at trials...”
The ability to work under excellent control yet with great stamina is the secret of success for the Retrievers not only in their hunting work but in other jobs as well. This is trained behavior, not something to expect from a Labrador or other Retriever you keep unemployed around the house. Retrievers need jobs. Given the right work and the right training for it, they do indeed have style.