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WHAT
ACTIVITIES CAN I DO WITH MY DOG?
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The
following pages highlight some of the activities which
members of the ACT Canine Association
(and other
States and Territories) participate in each weekend.
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GUNDOG
TRIALS.
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The ability and
intelligence of well-bred and well-trained Gundogs is remarkable. The ACTCA and
the ACT Gundog Society conduct competitive trials in the field for registered
Gundogs. These events are designed to test the various breeds in the type of
work for which they were developed over hundreds of and even thousands of
years. They provide breeders with the opportunity to test the natural working
instincts of their dogs and therefore the chance to select breeding stock on
the basis of appropriate temperament and for preservation of their invaluable
working instincts. These trials provide the opportunity or owners to experience
the pleasure of working closely with their dogs in a fascinating range of
competitive field sports.
Championship titles and minor titles are available based on performance. Gundog
trials are run under ANKC rules. The types of trials are classified as follows:
Retrieving Trials:
The dogs are required to retrieve articles of fallen game, with the retrieves
of varying degrees of difficulty according to the level attained, from
Beginners through to national Championship. These events are conducted in the
field under natural conditions but with simulated game, and while a shotgun is
fired there is no shooting of game. Retrieving trials are open to all
registered Gundogs.
Spaniel and Retriever Field Trials:
These trials are conducted in the field. Dogs are required to hunt, flush and
retrieve. Breeds eligible to compete are all Spaniels and Retrievers.
Pointer and Setter Field Trials:
These events are conducted in the field. The dogs are assessed on their ability
to find and point in particular. These events are open to the Pointer and
Setter breeds only.
Utility Gundog Field Trials:
These events are for breeds which are designed to hunt, point and retrieve,
which include the German Shorthaired Pointer, Brittany, Weimaraner and Large
Munsterlander. They are conducted in the field.
Gundog Working Tests:
These events are rather basic tests of obedience and retrieving. They are conducted
in the field with dummies of simulated game.
Field Trialling with Pointers and Setters:
Field trialing with the traditional British pointing dogs, commenced in the
late 19th century, and is as British as the Union Jack.
The dogs used are the pointer, sometimes called the "English
Pointer", the English, Gordon and Irish Setters.
These dogs are the specialists. Fast, game finding dogs with a unique history
and evolution for the single purpose of finding game birds. They were bred to
perform this function with such perfection as to bring dog-work to such an art
as any field sport can get.
The traditional British bird dogs are the stylists created by generations for
which style was everything.
Field trialing in Australia with Pointers and Setters is still a popular
pastime with its enthusiasts, though its popularity has waned somewhat in
recent times due to strict state gun laws, game regulations and access to
properties to conduct trials.
The present popular breeds of dogs used for field trials in Australia are the
Pointer and Irish Setter, where prior to World War 2 and up to the 1950’s the
English and Gordon Setters were very much in vogue, and they still have a small
band of enthusiastic followers to this day.
To become active in the sport you first of all need a dog.
When purchasing a dog it is wise to contact the ACT Canine Association who will
put you in touch with a recognised breeder. The dog you choose may be a
Pointer, English, Gordon or Irish Setter. The aim of the dog, is to find game
by quartering at high speed whilst scenting the air, and to find game over the
largest area in the shortest time. Once located the should hold the game by
going into a point and holding the point till the handler arrives. On the
command of the handler the dog should move forward which will cause the game to
rise. It is imperative that the dog is under control at all times. The handler
may choose to have the game retrieved, or "seek dead", this is when
the dog goes into a point on finding the fallen game.
n a field trial a brace of two dogs compete against each other, and are judged
on the following:- ranging and quartering, drawing and roading, staunchness,
obedience, action and style, backing, finding, seeking dead or retrieving and
acknowledgment of flushed game.
When you finally decide on the breed you want, ask the breeder if you may view
the pedigree of the dog, this will tell you not only its sire and dam but also
its breeding lines to see if there is any working stock in the line. Training
of your dog is important and this commences when you first collect your puppy.
Ask the breeder if they can recommend people within the breed club who assist
you with your new puppies training. For obedience training you may decide to
join an obedience club. For field training there are triallers who will be
happy to assist you with training. When you are ready to trial your dog,
contact the ACT Canine Association or your dog’s breed club to obtain dates of
the next field trial, and then attend a field trial to see the dogs competing
against each other. |
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