Thread: Dog Trials results and thoughts

Originally Posted by Smallfry

Ask the NZGTA. The original concepts back in the 1930's were based upon UK trials.
The P&S class has remained the same until NG trials in the North were introduced.
A thorough review of how we do our trials in NZ is badly needed.

Some of the P&S NG trials are based upon "wild" pheasants pre released in reserves.
How often are no results posted thru lack of game?

Some areas down South have miniscule pheasant seasons that make holding NG trials impractical.

Meantime, those forced to do pigeon trials cos of no other option bear the brunt of criticism.

I have no idea who the heck you are Smallfry, but from where i sit, you are a breath of fresh air.

At the end of the day we have to use the only tools available to us and if its planted game then it is going to be that .What we need to appreciate also is the dogs we train for trialing we are training for work in the field providing your a hunter of course -there are no negatives here for me -a good bunch of people who enjoy dogs and a bit of friendly rivalry .
Has anyone explored large blocks for quail -if there are rabbits one can rabbit proof a dog with a bit of work ......I think lol

Just remember -

Trials are like masturbation - It's fun, but it's not the real thing

practice makes perfect

Originally Posted by Pointer

Just remember -

Trials are like masturbation - It's fun, but it's not the real thing

But, trials don't always end well...

This is why I don't get trials, down here we have lots of rabbits so why would you not trial on them? Perfect! Heaps of them so no excuse not to be training hard.

And trials were you actually shoot stuff, seems to easy to me.....

with continental dogs you most certainly could Wirehunt but that's not my thing as I am a upland game purist and my Dog is not allowed to react around fur .I used to run my GSP on rabbits and it was a lot of fun when he held a solid point for me to dispatch the hole digger

A good dog should be right on both......

should and reality are often different .A rabbit is so much fun for a dog to chase --sometimes they just cant help themselves and in a trial field your history real quick if that happens -best for me to teach my dog to ignore

If it has been trained to point etc then there should be NO chasing going on.

Wirehunt,
The problem is the P&S class in NZ lumps together all the HPR breeds plus the Pointer, and setters (Irish, English, Gordon etc).
When our NZ trials were invented the HPR breeds were not around and were not popular.
When the HPRs gained momentum, they got lumped in with the P&S breeds because the way they indicate the game was by "pointing".
Trouble is, no one thought to adapt the field trial rules to suit.

The P&S trials penalise chasing, so yes, a dog properly taught manners and able to adhere to the rules as well is a winner. The NG trials while not pefect, allow our dogs more freedom to show how they work BUT as I have said, are not held in the South.
Add to that, anyone wanting to compete at national level for titles (ie NZ, NI and SI Championships) MUST still do the standard pigeon trials as there are no such titles for NG - in both P&S and Spaniel.

How many of you that scoff at the trials actually compete in them - or have done it in the past?
If you have, you know damn well that the majority of successful triallists are infact seasoned hunters who work their dogs all year around.
Gundog trials actually teach you to train manners into your dog, which in turn leads to a well trained hunting mate who works with you on any terrain and for any game.
Why put up with a lousy pointer/setter/HPR who continually bumps game up out of shotgun range, stuffs up retrieves and wont go thru water to get back what you shot.

Our trials are by no means perfect and I would like to see the P&S revamped to include an option for a water test of some kind, but it is very frustrating to cop criticism for our trials when the national body will not and has not for a long time, remotely considered updating the concept of P&S v's HPR gundog breed competitions.

We who do trials make the most of what we are given.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

If it has been trained to point etc then there should be NO chasing going on.

just test that theory out hahahah

I have, and with several different dogs. Some of them get used on everything I hunt and as a rule there is no cross over, although they have been out rabbiting then ended up on pig
I don't know how they work it out, like some places I used to rabbit on we also shot ducks. When we are duck shooting they know it.

get along to the trial down your way and let us know your thoughts !!! Im sure youll see it as another potentual past time and Ill sell you a English Setter next year to beat everyone with

I can't keep up with the pastimes now el b.