Dog Field Trials

Field Trials offer practical demonstrations of a dog's ability to perform, in the field, the functions for which it was bred. Field Events are open to pointing breeds, retrievers, spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds. Each type of event varies according to the breed's function, but in each case the dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward their championships.

Getting Started:

In Field Trials, the dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward their championships. Successful dogs earn an F.C. (Field Champion) title in front of their names on AKC records. Dogs can also earn Amateur Field Championships in Amateur Stakes.

These Field Events are divided by subgroups of dogs (i.e.: Spaniels, Retrievers, etc.) and sometimes limited to specific breeds. Each type of event varies according to the breed's function.

Beagling: The AKC has licensed Beagle Field Trials for more than 105 years! Currently, there are three types of Trials: Brace, the oldest, is run in braces of two or three dogs who are judged primarily on their accuracy in trailing a rabbit; Small Pack Option (SPO) divides the dogs into packs of seven to pursue rabbits; and, finally, Large Pack trials turn all the dogs in the class loose to find and track hares.

Basset Hounds and Dachshunds: While the events for Bassets and Dachshunds are held separately, the trials are run in a similar fashion to the Beagle Brace Trials. The Hound events described offer Field Trials only; there are no Hunting Tests for these breeds.

Pointing Breeds: For over 72 years, the AKC has offered Pointing Breed Field Trials and in 1986 added Hunting Tests for these dogs. The dogs are run in pairs (braces) around a course on which birds are released so that they can demonstrate their ability to find birds, point staunchly and retrieve the downed birds.

The eligible Pointing Breeds are: Brittanys, English Setters, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Pointers, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Vizslas, Weimaraners, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons.

Retrievers: Dogs are tested on their ability to remember ("mark") the location of downed birds and to return those birds to their handlers. Both Hunting Tests and Field Trials have different levels of difficulty, requiring dogs to mark multiple birds and find unmarked birds ("blind retrieves") at higher levels.

The eligible breeds are Chesapeake, Curly- Coated, Flat-Coated, Golden and Labrador Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels.

Spaniels: Spaniels are judged on their natural and trained ability to hunt, flush and retrieve their game on both land and water. Breeds eligible for Hunting Tests are Clumber, Cocker, English Cocker, English Springer, Field, Sussex and Welsh Springer Spaniels; presently, Field Trials are available only for Cocker, English Cocker and English Springer Spaniels. Note that the Irish Water Spaniel competes in the Retriever events.

Field Trial Rules and Regulations

Source: American Kennel Club