FHRP

Toy: Italian Greyhound Small: American Cocker Spaniel Medium: Working English Springer Spaniel Large: Bracco Giant: Deerhound

*cough* BRACCO!!! *cough* ;) That's on the must have list and if there were any pups around now I'd be there!

I have owned 5 different breeds and I used to think the same as the OP, so many breeds, so little time!! However over the years the list of breeds I'm intersted in has narrowed considerably. I still admire a lot of different breeds, but have no desire to own many of them. I am now in a position to get a new pup and even though a couple of different breeds were considered I'll be getting another pup of a breed I currently own. I do have a couple of breeds on the 'must have one day' list and I'll never say never to other breeds, but for now what I have suits me :)

Great stuff TSD & Em!

Your dogs are eligible to compete in Spaniel and Retriever trials, I do not know if they are offered in WA currently or not but they are an ANKC sport. They are quite different to Utility Field trials. Sounds like a lot of field trials, but I also don't think you have appeciated the finer points of the sport, just as someone who watches a retrieving trial may not appreciate the finer points and the hard work gone into training the dog. Yes, they are usually run in flat paddocks, which suits me fine with all the walking ;) However I have trained in very hill terrain and trials could certainly be held there. Did you see the retrieves at the end of the trial? There is always a water retrieve at the end of a Utility field trial and you are correct that quail can no longer be taken in trials in WA so there is also a land retrieve, RV would have better details about that than me. The water retrieve can be in any body of water with any sort of land to negotiate that you could find in a retrieving trial. The higher the stake, the harder the retrieve/s. The Novice Field Trials I have done the water retrieve has been at beginner to Novice RT standard and the open trial we have done was on the harder side of Novice (still a single mark but with angle entry across a river with the bird landing in logs). However Championship stakes and maybe All Age?? also have a blind and multiple retrieves. Is it common to negotiate cliffs? No, I don't think so, but it isn't ruled out. And no, it's not going to be All Age level, but this is just a small part of what a Utility Gundog does. Agree absolutely! My own dogs are titled in various disciplines - retrieving, obedience, agility, utility ability tests, and field (Polo only) as well as show (Rogan only), although I agree that doesn't count ;) However if choosing between Retrieving and Field Trials with a Utility Gundog the Field Trials will demonstrate the versaility as a hunting dog more than Retrieving trials, IMO :)

That's your opinion :) I disagree. All of the above is required of a Utility Gundog in field trials, and more! The retrieve is only a small part of what a HPR was bred to do and what is required in field trials. To truly prove the versatility of our utility gundogs is to demonstrate and test every aspect of it's purpose - to hunt, point and retrieve game. If you had to choose one sport to test the utility gundog breeds, IMO it would have to be field trials. If I had a dedicated Retriever breed I probably wouldn't look beyond retrieving trials. I get such a thrill out of watching a good pointing breed in the field, covering it's ground efficiently, locating game, drawing in on the game or roading when necessary, staunch and stylish on point until the handler arrives, flushing cleanly and steady to both flush and shot. Completeting a clean retrieve on a bird a quarter the size of a pigeon which may have moved from it's area of fall and presenting it softly the the handler, taking a direct line there and back. Seeing it work with a bracemate with the same style that backs immediately. That's magic to me.

Fantastic results Lablover!! Looks like I'll be in town to steward at the Canberra trials, so see you there!!

So do I. I just don't think it's where the emphasis has been on the dogs training... Interstingly I'm told the quality of work on the dedicated retrieve tests in the Utility Field trials has improved over here a lot in recent years when dogs that also compete in retrieving trials started raising the bar.

Polo has pointed fur, but it's the steady to flush we struggle with :laugh: It doesn't help that the boys chase and catch rabbits (which are then presented to me) at the local dog club

:laugh: Getting Polo to not chase birds when flushed wasn't too hard, but we're still struggling with 'fur'! Apparently our training paddocks are full of Hares agian this year I have only seen one S&R trial, but if you get Em to retrieve to hand you're doing better than most I saw ;) Can't wait to get back out in the paddocks... not long now!

Hope RV doesn't mind me jumping in :) MG, there are 3 different types of Field Trials in Australia, each for the different types of Gundogs. RV and myself train for the Utility Field trials which are for the Utility Gundog breeds - Hunt, Point Retrievers (HPR)and the field trials require them to do all three. Only the HPR breeds can compete in these and depsite Brittany's being referred to as Brittany Spaniels, they aren't actually Spaniels but they are a HPR breed. There are also Spaniel and Retriever Field Trials which as the name implies is open to all Spaniels (not Britts) and Retriever breeds and would be the field trial that a Clumber could compete in. These trials are mainly run on rabbits, but can be on feather and requires the dogs to work close the handler (within gun range) and to flush game (without pointing), be steady to the flush and shot, and to retrieve the game. These trials seem to be dominated by working English Springers but all dogs with Retriever or Spaniel in their name can compete. The third is the Pointer & Setter field trials, open to all Setter breeds and the english variety of Pointer. They are very similar to the Utility Field trials with the dog hunting and pointing game. They have the option on shot game to either retrieve or "seek dead" where the dog is sent to relocate the fallen game, however does not pick it up but points it again. They do not have a water retrieve and if run in a shooting state, they do not have a seperate retrieve the end of the trial either.

:laugh: Thanks Vickie. I hope you take your camera too and have some time to use it ;)

Not necessarily, but it might mean giving up your life :laugh:

Sounds great Vickie and glad it's all set out. I'll have my camera there but certainly won't be selling pics :)

Polo may have been videoed at some point on Saturday, I'll review whether it's suitable for DOL eyes if I get it!! :laugh:

A little brag for my Rogan who managed 1st places in JDM & SPDM and 2nd places in ADM, GDM & JDO (each class all heights) at the Canberra Royal agility trials this past weekend In true Canberra Royal tradition it was HOT with the only Summer we've really had this year arriving on the weekend!! Rogan coped better than I did ;) The entries weren't large, but I'm particularly pleased as this is the first test of a big weekend of trials since Rogan was very unwell late last year when he could barely walk let alone run and jump. Oh yes, and Polo was an idiot as usual

Great stuff TSD!

Thanks Le, will do.

amypie, I did the opposite and not sure what to do now! I opted for paying by PayPal but then decided to do cheque so hit the back arrow and the entries were 'gone'. However I received two emails, one with the full entries and one with empty entries. My entries still appear online for changing etc. so I think I'll send a cheque plus paper entries plus the print out with explanation to cover all possibilities!??

I decided to finally commit to the Nationals (I was waiting to see how my older boy coped with a large trial after being unwell) and I think I've managed to stuff up my online entries Not a good way to start :laugh:

I doubt you will find any pet insurance company that will cover a 'pre existing' condition. It's unforutunate that the first ear infection occured out of insuance cover and some companies may have shorter waiting periods, but it will still be classed as a pre-existing condition by any subsequent insurer. In fact if you change, you will probably be covered for less than the dog currently is as the OCD will probably rule out covering any joint issues and the macadamia incident could exclude all stomach issues with another company.

The Canberra Royal Obedience is actually held in May in conjunction with the State Titles, but do come for the agility

Congrats kathq & Coco! And Pip!

Love it!!

I will refer to myself as my dogs 'mum' but I don't call them my kids or furkids.