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Jeff Boston, a British Field Trial judge wrote:

This is a very brief description what happens at a UK field trials:

Here in the UK our dogs are never expected to retrieve from 400 yards, multi entry, multi-point water blind etc. etc.

This is not what UK gundog work is all about. Our dogs are trained to work in an entirely natural environment although 250 yard retrieves are not uncommon. In a UK walked-up Field Trial the birds are retrieved as they are shot. You could be asked to do a blind retrieve of snipe from a swamp for which you would be given a approximate guide as to the area, or a lightly pricked pheasant runner out of sight in dense woods, perhaps a wounded 3-4 pound screaming hare deep in a valley thick with bramble, maybe a small grouse from acres of gorse/heather covered moorland, geese or duck from lakes or rivers..........you get the idea.

Nothing is set up, staged or artificial. As a handler in a FT you never know in advance what you will be asked to retrieve or from where. Many times the dog can be sent for a retrieve, flushing unshot game on the way out and back which the dog is expected to ignore. The dog is also expected to walk in a line of maybe six dogs, 3-4 judges, 6-8 guns, stewards and game carriers, at heel, off lead, while birds are flushed and shot also to sit quietly while another dog is working, all without commands. At a drive (as opposed to a walk-up) the dogs will sit quietly in the line while scores of birds are flushed by the beaters over the dogs and the guns in the line, many birds will fall some dead some wounded and flapping and some will get up and run, all of which can happen within a few yards of the sitting dogs. The two most crucial elements for a UK gundog are steadiness and obedience.

The dogs are judged on their natural gamefinding abilities, plus their response to their handler, on actual work in the shooting field.

This also may be of interest - they are answers to some questions I have been asked:

How steady is steady? A dog is expected to sit quietly at heel throughout the time it is in the line unless called upon to retrieve. If walking-up the dog should be by the side of the handler, should stop when the handler stops and walk when the handler walks. If the dog is forging ahead of the handler and there is a gap between the dog and the handler it is too far and may result in disqualification, in any event it would be noted in the judges book and could count against it in the final stages of a trial. As far as noise, whining or giving tongue is an eliminating fault, I have been trialing for many years and cannot ever remember a dog barking or yelping whilst under the judge. The reasons behind these requirement is that if I am out shooting I want my dog to walk quietly at heel and off lead, stopping when I stop etc. and retrieving when commanded. I don't want a dog that is over excited and noisy, disturbing game and needing my attention to control him. I am shooting, the dog has his job.

Handling on marks: If at all possible it is avoided, but constantly working on ground containing loads of game the dog could get sidetracked or the terrain may be difficult and need handling onto the mark. Also, during a drive several birds may be shot in view of the dog, but the handler is usually directed by the judge to send the dog for a specific bird. The bottom line is that it is vital the bird is retrieved as failure could mean being put out. The judge will assess how much of the handling was acceptable and how well the dog responded and judge accordingly.

Blinds: These are situations where the dog hasn't seen the bird actually shot, the judge may seek confirmation from the gun as the location which may be fairly precise or at times approximate, again the judge will assess the quality of the dogs work, hunting and the ability of the handler to hold the dog in an area. If the dog fails another dog will be called upon and given the exact same information. Subsequent dog who were in the line at the time the bird was shot may be called on and usually sent from the same place. In the event of all dogs failing the judges will go forward and search the area, if they find the bird all dogs are disqualified.

Trials: You have to be a member of the club staging a FT in order to enter, there are probably 170 such clubs in the UK, retrievers, spaniels, HPR's plus breed specific clubs. Regarding retrievers there are mainly three kinds of FT. Novice, All Aged and Open. If the dog wins a novice it can only enter AA or Open, winning open stakes is the only way to achieve FTCh status and the only way of getting into the annual retriever championship. There are 1 day stakes [normally 12 - 16 dogs] and 2 day stakes [20 -24 dogs]. All FT's are grossly over subscribed therefore the runners are decided by a draw [this is the first bit of luck you need], it is also why most people are member of many clubs [28 in my case], so you also have to be prepared to travel.

Judging: Judges are appointed by the UK Kennel Club. To become a judge takes a few years, an obvious deep knowledge of FT's and the shooting scene, you must have handled a dog to at least one win. You start as a non-panel judge then move up to a 'B' panel and then an 'A' panel. In order to achieve B then A status you are judged by existing 'A' panel judges at a minimum number of trials over a minimum number of years, their evaluations are discussed by a meeting of the Field Trial committee at the Kennel Club and will determine the success or otherwise of an applicant.

There are two main judging systems for retrievers, 3 judge and 4 judge. Under a 3 judge system there will be six dogs in line, two for each judge and under a 4 judge system there will be four dogs in line, two for each pair of judges. Dogs are scored an a,b or c, + or -, in reality if a dog picks up a 'b' it is likely to be out as normally only 'a' retrieve dogs are taken forward to later rounds. If dogs are of a high standard even 'a-' will be dropped.

Training: UK training is mostly positive reinforcement, we do not use FF, ear pinch, nerve hitch, heeling stick, training table or e-collar. That is not to say some trainers are not heavy handed but it is not common, most training is reward based.

Hope this is of interest.

Jeff
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Following Jeff's posting on the Forum, there was a question about how the award honour FTCh was earned. A contributor using the name MattA99 advised:

FTCh (Retrievers) - achieved by winning at least 3 days worth of Open stakes (i.e 2 x 2 day stakes, 3 x 1 day stakes or a 2 day and a 1 day stake)

To qualify for opens you effectively have to have won a novice or all-aged stake. (You often can technically enter an Open without, but you will get less priority in the draw than qualified dogs and Opens are greatly over-subscribed so its not worth trying!)

To qualify for the Retriever Championships you need one 'A' qualification (1st place in a 2-day Open) or 3 'B' qualification (1st in a 1-day Open or 2nd in a 2-day)

The Retriever Championship is run along the same lines as a normal Open, but since 1996 (I think) has been run over 3 days rather than 2. There is no limit on the number of dogs running other than the number of qualifying events, it currently end ups being around 40 + runners.

The location for the Championships are organised more than a year in advance, and are greatly restricted by the number of shooting estates that could logistically hold such a large competition and provide sufficient game. Not many estates would want a few hundred spectators descending on their ground!

FTW is not a title granted by the Kennel Club - a pedigree issued by the KC will only show FTChs. However it is commonly used to describe any dog that has won a field trial on breeders pedigrees. Consequently a FTW could have just won one trial or could have won a number of all-aged stakes and two 1-day Opens! (Some people only count a FTW if it is Open level)

I have never known of anyone in the UK describing a FTW as 'titled', but have seen a few US importers of UK-bred labs describing them in that way on their web-sites.

FTAW - a dog that has won an award - certificate of merit or higher in a trial. This is another 'unofficial' term. Any trial award winner gets a 'stud book numer' in the annual Kennel Club Stud Book. (They can also get this by winning certain show awards - the stud book contains all KC recogniosed breeds)

In UK trials, as well as being 'in-line' for long periods of time. The dog will be kept on the lead with the handler during the course of the day rather than in the truck. Therefore a dog could be on the lead for a couple of hours waiting to go in line while all around it game is being shot and seen to fall. The dog has to have the right temperament and training to be able to cope with this and then go 'in-line' and remain quiet and steady. When on the lead the dogs are not being technically judged, but they are still expected to remain quiet and not receive harsh corrections from their handler. (Although it does sometimes happen discretely ;) ) Believe me, there can be lots of standing around waiting at UK trials, as you have to wait for sufficient game to be shot and retrieved by other competitors before your dog gets its chance.

Realistically to run in retriever trials you need to be in about 20+ clubs due to the over-suscription of trials. Due to the relatively small size of the UK most trialling venues would be within a few hours drive of most people.

Springer Spaniel Trials
Opens are only run over one day with the Championship being over two.

One win in an Open qualifies for the championships. Two Open wins makes a Field Trial Champion. (Cockers are the same but the Championship is only over one day)

In spaniel trials the dogs are expected to hunt up in search of game between two 'guns' and retrieve any game shot for them. (Usually two or three head of game in each run, but may only be one if game is scarce) They will usually be run twice in a trial (unless eliminated) plus possibly running again if a run-off is required (the judges have been unable to seperate the dogs for an award)

Spaniel trials are usually judged by two judges, each judging one dog at a time under them. The Championships are now judged by four judges (from Jan 2004) i.e two pairs.

Spaniel Trials are usually Any Variety (Except Cocker) or Cocker stakes. The former usually end up being English Springer only. Some Novice and All-Aged stakes include both Springers and Cockers but Opens are always segregated.

A very small number of novice and all-aged trials are run restricted to minor breed spaniels (Welsh springers, Clumbers, Sussex etc)

Spaniels are expected to be equally as steady and quiet as retrievers and not to damage retrieved game.

HPR Trials are run in a format similar to that for spaniels I believe. There hasnt been a Championship for a few years as the HPR handlers fell out with the Kennel Club and boycotted the event. The standard of judging of HPR events had been criticised as being too lenient. The KC sent observers along, consequently many, many awards in HPR events are now with-held due to the dogs being judged to have insufficient merit to warrant the awards. (This can and does happen in ANY UK field trial)

I doubt that there would be enough Open stake winners to justify a HPR Championships now. (I'm fully prepared to stand corrected by HPR fans, as the above is purely based on what I have read rather than personal experience!)

I have heard a HPR devotee complain that it unfair for HPR trials to be monitored by Retriever and Spaniel experts and I have some sympathy with that argument.

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To which Jeff added:

I think you have covered almost everything extremely well, the only points I would add are:

I. All-aged stakes. These are open to dogs of any age although there is often restrictions placed on the entry qualification by the particular society staging the event. Often it requires the dog to have won an award in at least a novice trial, also, winning an all-aged does qualify the dog to enter for open competition alongside those with a novice win.

2. Gundog Working Tests. These are also governed by the Kennel Club but success in these competition does not count as 'titles' as they are stage managed, artificial and do not use live game. Neither does any Working Test award have any standing or significance in qualifying for Field Trials.

3. Copies of the Field Trial Regulations ( j-regs) can be obtained from the Kennel Club, about £1.50

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Thanks to both Jeff and Matt for painting such a clear and authoritative picture.