Eastern Slopes Spaniel Association

     Spaniel field trials are formal competitive events that are the closest approximation to an ordinary days hunting that you can get without an actual hunting season.

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     The following excerpts are from the Canadian Kennel Club, American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club (UK), Irish Kennel Club and Jakt Spaniel Klubben illustrate a common theme across all these nations that hold formal Spaniel Trials (Tests). At the simplest level: These are events held to demonstrate the dogs ability to hunt.  Field trials do this through competition and judges select the best dogs on that particular day.

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     Use the imbedded links to access the various rules and regulations for each country.

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      The purpose of a Spaniel field trial is to demonstrate the performance of a properly trained Spaniel in the field. The performance should not differ from that in any ordinary day’s shooting, except that in the trial a dog should do its work closer to perfection. 

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CKC Sporting Spaniel Field Trial Rules and Regulations.

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     The purpose of a Spaniel field trial is to demonstrate the performance of a properly trained Spaniel in the field. The performance should not differ from that in any ordinary day’s shooting, except that in the trials a dog should do his work in a more nearly perfect way.

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AKC Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedure for Spaniels

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     A field trial is a meeting for the purpose of holding competitions to assess the work of gundogs in the field, with dogs working on live unhandled game and where game may be shot. 

 

KC Field Trial Regulations (including Gun Dog Working Tests

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      Field Trials are of special value to breeders for the selection of working strains of gundogs, to shooters looking for the right type of dog with working ability, and to handlers wishing to gain experience in the handling of their dogs. The purpose of Field Trials is to test dogs for their suitability as gundogs. The judge’s task is the assessment of the dogs proficiency at work. Officials and competitors should make themselves familiar with the Field Trial rules and ensure that trials are efficiently run and are enjoyable and sporting occasions. Inexperienced handlers will need encouragement and clear instruction from Judges and each dog should be given every opportunity to show his working ability.

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The Irish Kennel Club Field Trial Rules and Regulations

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     "Ändamål

Jaktproven ska vara avelsvägledande med det övergripande ändamålet att bevara och utveckla

den höga jaktliga standarden hos jaktspanieln, till gagn för jägarna.

Ändamålet är att finna de hundar, som inte endast besitter de bästa jaktliga egenskaperna, utan

också har nerver och dresserbarhet till att fungera under jaktligt pressade situationer."

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     Purpose The hunting tests must be breeding guidelines with the overall aim of preserving and developing the high hunting standard of the hunting spaniel, to the benefit of the hunters. The aim is to find the dogs that not only possess the best hunting qualities, but also has the nerves and trainability to function under hunting pressure situations.

Hunting test rules for the Hunting Spaniel Club (JSK)

Jakt Spaniel Klubben, Sweden -  The Working Spaniel Club of Sweden

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     There are some significant differences in procedure between a North American offering and those in Europe, Ireland and the UK.

• The most significant of those differences is that we typically use "planted" birds in North America.

• CKC and AKC trials also typically use specific flagged courses.

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