Thread: Pointer and Setter Trials

Worthy of a thread I thought given there are some mad keen dog people here .I am just starting up Trialing again after many years of being absent for various lame excuses .
I am like many I am sure with pointing dogs in that they offer me a great form of relaxation watching them work naturally
after several months of teaching that animal what you desire him to do for you .
It is however quite funny to see what happens on the big day though once a brace or a single dog is released and the handler is suppressed from asserting his full will over an animal as it runs brilliantly or self hunts in a world of gleeful selfishness .
Anyone have thoughts on what they have seen over the last few years with our trial dogs and the politics of the trial scene -always good to discuss !

Originally Posted by el borracho

Worthy of a thread I thought given there are some mad keen dog people here .I am just starting up Trialing again after many years of being absent for various lame excuses .
I am like many I am sure with pointing dogs in that they offer me a great form of relaxation watching them work naturally
after several months of teaching that animal what you desire him to do for you .
It is however quite funny to see what happens on the big day though once a brace or a single dog is released and the handler is suppressed from asserting his full will over an animal as it runs brilliantly or self hunts in a world of gleeful selfishness .
Anyone have thoughts on what they have seen over the last few years with our trial dogs and the politics of the trial scene -always good to discuss !

Haha, I can picture just that ElB! Worded very well. I know nothing - planning on spying on some trials and seeing if a bird dog can win me over and change my mind about a BSD being the next puppy.

Very important Dougie to get the right dog as some are far harder than others to train and some are naturally harder headed .
Get an English Setter or Pointer as these are specialist dogs breed for birds .Whilst the continentals are extremely good I believe the other two breeds will take you further in the sport of Gentleman and Woman -Im such a dog snob

Tweed it up man, tweed it up.

As I have said somewhere on here before, I'd be keen to step out of the croud and train up a Malinois for general awesomeness (that won't be hard) but also tracking deer. I have never gone after birds before other than sniping the stupid ducks eating all my chicken feed...those duckies were yummy! so I don't know if I want to commit to a bird dog as such yet. It's a little sad that my boy isn't switched on enough to do any nose work. Silly thing doesn't realise that he could potentially find animals way easier than me!

Whats a Malinois

My favorite dog of all time.... type of Belgian Shepherd Dog.

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Smaller than a GSD, only have a short coated variety. Used for the same stuff - military, police, SAR and security work.

Originally Posted by el borracho

Anyone have thoughts on what they have seen over the last few years with our trial dogs and the politics of the trial scene -always good to discuss !

Haha be careful! Lot of people read these forums without joining...

I'll never pass comment on another mans dog (or womans dog as it may be, since women are right at the top in all of our gundog trials) but I will say I have found the regulars nothing but friendly and supportive of newcomers. A better scene than the Aussie trials where a the few I attended a certain bunch that were in the gallery of every trial passed negative comments on everything. A much better vibe here

Pointer's sentiments echo my own. It is also what I've found at Spaniel Live Game Trials. It is certainly comforting to be taken aside by one of the senior members (fellow trialist or judge) and have the layout of the day explained, what their expectations are etc, to try and make you more at ease.

Originally Posted by gqhoon

Pointer's sentiments echo my own. It is also what I've found at Spaniel Live Game Trials. It is certainly comforting to be taken aside by one of the senior members (fellow trialist or judge) and have the layout of the day explained, what their expectations are etc, to try and make you more at ease.

thats what they done for me also at the spaniel trails,,,,, introductions and hand shakes all round , very inviting bunch of people

Originally Posted by Kaimaicockher

thats what they done for me also at the spaniel trails,,,,, introductions and hand shakes all round , very inviting bunch of people

Been hanging round a few retriever trials lately, same there too. Friendly bunch, and as most dog men are, they are all dying to tell you about their old champ they owned years ago (they all get better by the year) or some promising young pup they are bringing on.
I usually get the response from most of the old timers that it's great to see younger faces, most of the triallists these days are getting on

Originally Posted by Pointer

Been hanging round a few retriever trials lately, same there too. Friendly bunch, and as most dog men are, they are all dying to tell you about their old champ they owned years ago (they all get better by the year) or some promising young pup they are bringing on.
I usually get the response from most of the old timers that it's great to see younger faces, most of the triallists these days are getting on

yeh bro my dogs going to be mean as !! in 20 odd years from now

I have found kiwi trialers to be 1st class even though some mumble about the most competitive of them - my tweed hats off to them!

Dougie you cant use that in a dog trial!lol

Originally Posted by el borracho

Dougie you cant use that in a dog trial!lol

No El B but you have to admit it could do well in a pampered mutt competition.

Originally Posted by Rushy

No El B but you have to admit it could do well in a pampered mutt competition.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaa? Mutt?? Hell no man, I am already saving up to buy one in two years... gotta be some good working blood. And plus, I could ask her to bite your face off for saying that!

Originally Posted by el borracho

I have found kiwi trialers to be 1st class even though some mumble about the most competitive of them - my tweed hats off to them!

End of the day, in any sport, if you are winning, there will always be the detractors. One of the prices of success.

Dougie, don't to El B or Rushy. I'm sure your dog would round up Belgians just fine