Field Trials Dog Training

Field Trials Dog Training

" Holding the Baby "' at a Field Trial,

" Where Spaniels sit as still as stock

By Guns in rides or roots or clover; Or, flying ears and sterns a'cock, They work a hedge like one o'clock, Hie in, good bitch! Hie up! Hie over!

Patrick Chalmers.

To the average shooting man who is really interested in gun-dog work, a victory at a field trial is the height of his ambition, and 1 therefore write on the subject at some length.

In these days of rapidly changing interests we have ceased to marvel at the speed with which a particular sport may become popular; but when we remember that although the first field trial for retrievers and spaniels to be held in England took place in the year 1899, it was not until after the war that they became really popular, and that in 1930 more than sixty meetings were held, it is astonishing to realize how rapidly field trials have increased in number and interest.

ADVERSE CRITICISM

In the early stages of every new movement adverse criticism must be expected, and there was, at one period, considerable discussion with regard to the utility of field trials, the manner in which they were conducted, and the competence of the judges—and we will consider these doubts in due course—but it is now generally recognized that field trials offer (i) an ideal method to test the capabilities of a particular gun-dog in comparison with others of the same breed, (2) an attractive spectacle to all those interested in the work of gun-dogs in the field, and (3) an opportunity to discover a dog of good working pedigree when the ordinary shooting man desires to select a sire for his gun-dog bitch.

With reference to some of the earlier field trial meetings, most of us who saw or took part in them must admit that criticism was sometimes justified; though, on the other hand, I personally think that the actual standard of work of most of the dogs competing at trials (say) ten years ago was higher than that shown by the competitors at many of the field trials of the present period. When the field trial was a novelty, there was often considerable difficulty in obtaining a suitable ground, and it was not easy to find competent judges; sometimes a judge was selected because he was the host; and occasionally a president or secretary (whose business it was to select the judges), apparently thought that if a man had done a lot of shooting he must know all about field trials, whereas, in fact a man may not only be a first-class shot but may also own a first-class dog, and yet know absolutely nothing about the finer points of gun-dog work. I have not space to explain these points in full, but to give an instance of the expert knowledge which is essential for a perfect judge at a field trial, he should be able to recognize the scent-holding possibilities of different soils and cultivation, and the Influence of the particular kind of wound or the potency of the scent which a bird may emit. To the ordinary shooting man a " runner" is merely a "runner"; whereas to the field trial judge a winged bird may be a very simple runner, a difficult runner or a very difficult runner —thus a puppy may gallop on the line of a badly wounded pheasant (which is bleeding), running up wind over a grass field on heavy land, whereas a field trial champion may find great difficulty in following the line down wind through a field of roots on light chalk soil Furthermore, the interval which elapses between the bird being shot and the time when the dog is put on the line, will naturally affect the possibilities; the scent may vary according to the period of the day—thus, on a fine September morning, the scent may be quite good until the sun has dried off the dew, but subsequently on the same ground which has up to then held a strong scent, a retriever or a spaniel may not be able to own a line at all.

Perhaps the high peak of prowess in retriever work at field trials was demonstrated about the years 1923 to 1927. About this time the late Mr. Charles Allington was running some wonderful performers; and to mention one, of several, excellent Labradors, Lady Howe's "Balmuto Jock " was at his best—and, in my opinion, few retrievers have ever equalled the latter in all-round work.

The late Mr. Charles Allington, and certain well-known owners, trained their dogs to such extraordinary perfection that a rather curious consequence was the result; less experienced handlers, seeing the speed at which these perfectly trained retrievers worked, and the long distance out to which they would go, and yet be under absolute control, attempted in subsequent years to emulate the example; but lacking the capability (or possibly the ideal opportunities to train their dogs) many of them only succeeded in making their retrievers demonstrate a spurious u showiness " and wasted activity. Perhaps a judge was occasionally deceived by such a false imitator, or probably the spectators only thought the judges were convinced by this fast, showy (but often wasted) work; at any rate, the consequence was that the genuine field trial perfectly finished fast working retriever (such as Mr. Allington, Lady Howe, and the owners of many other well-known kennels produced) was confounded by the spectators with the spurious imitators—and the impression was widely held by shooting men that a field trial retriever could only gallop about and pick up birds which could be seen!

But this craze for superficial showiness of retrievers has now died a natural death, as it is realized that very few judges are impressed by such performances—of course, when two retrievers demonstrate equal perfection in nose, brain, and general utility work, speed and style may decide the issue in favour of a retriever which shows such ideal finish.

Similarly at spaniel trials, the control of a dog by its handler was, at one period, often overdone; and an impression was widely held that a field trial spaniel could only work in co-operation with its handler's feet! But nowadays, more initiative is encouraged.

Whilst on the subject of false impressions, it may be interesting to consider other details.

Perhaps the most extraordinary statement which is often made (and, strangely enough, sometimes believed by otherwise sensible shooting men) is the suggestion that only unsteady dogs can be really good retrievers, and that therefore the competitors at field trials should not be required to be under good control! In the first place we must realize one very interesting point in the arguments advanced by the supporters of the wild dog, viz., they always assume, as a matter of course, that all the other competing dogs should be steady I When it is suggested that if one clog is allowed to ran in, all the competitors must have equal licence, the supporters of the wild dog begin to visualize the absurd exhibition which would ensue at a retriever field trial if all six dogs ran In simultaneously to the same bird!

Another argument advanced by mistaken tc gunners ", In favour of the unsteady dog on an ordinary shooting clay, is that by going to fetch shot game without delay, the retriever is more likely to find a fallen bird; but those who support such a theory ignore the fact that if there Is any advantage to be gained by an immediate retrieve, the steady dog can always be told to go Immediately.

At a recent Shoot a fellow Gun made the remark, " I don't think much of field trial dogs; a friend of mine has a brace of retrievers, both winners at trials, and he can't bring either of them out at partridge drives as both of them whine ". He was unable to supply Information as to the particular field trial meeting where the dogs had won, but said that only " walking-tip " tests had been given, and that consequently the vociferous tendency of these retrievers at a drive had not been discovered. 1 then quoted to him the rale of the Kennel Club: " that retrievers a1 ield trials should be tried on game walked up 2nd driven/' and he was forced to admit thai ;he fault lay with the judges and not in field trials

Perfection is rare, and the keenest trial supporter could not claim that field trials are perfect. I can personally detect details in which they fail, viz.: (i) lack of opportunity to test a dog for stamina; and (2) difficulty, with the limited opportunities available, to give equal tests to all the competitors. But I have no hesitation in saying that only a really good retriever can win a first-class trial, and the best gun-dogs (not only field trial performers) in a stake are usually the winners.

I am often asked the question " Do you think that field trial winners are better than the really good ' ordinaiy' shooting dogs which you see at good Shoots where the owner and keepers are keen on good gun-dog work ? "

In answer to this question my reply is: "I sometimes see retrievers and spaniels which are better than the average field trial winner; but I hardly ever see a dog on an ordinary day's shooting which can compare with certain exceptionally good field trial champions.

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