Field Trial Glossary of Terms

When I accidentally entered the world of pointer field trials two years ago I was confused by the terms, so perhaps this glossary will help you understand if you are new to the game.

Field Trial – term that describes a competition between dogs. AKC has field trials broken out by breed talent. Beagles, Labs, and Pointers have field trials but all very different. For the Pointer field trials there is additional variance determined by breed. For example Brittany’s do not have a retrieve in their field trial while German Shorthaired Pointers do. But usually all pointing breeds can run in a pointing field trial. Additionally 2 dogs run on course at a time, but all dogs in a class are judged for which individual dog performs the best. Pointing field trials are normally run from horse back. Horseback is not a requirement but the most efficient way through the course and offers the best vantage to see. Other organization like NSTRA have walking field trials. For AKC birds are not typically shot on course, but for NSTRA the handler must shoot the birds as they are found. AKC field trials are breeder oriented. So dogs are judged on rare characteristics that would possibly pass on to offspring. This includes but is not limited to their run, their independence, and bird finding ability. Obedience is a minor issue and I would describe field champions as right on the edge of being uncontrollable, or at least appearing that way. And certainly any field champion is capable of being excessively “independent” on any given day. The idea being you can always reduce a trait, but can never add it.

Hunt Test – Hunt test are very similar to field trials except they are pass/fail and not a competition. Additionally they are a walking event, so only horses for the judges and/or spectators. Dogs are judged in different areas and receive a numerical score. If the pass they get 1 or the 3 points needed for the title. Pass 3 times and the get the title added after their name on the pedigree. There are 3 hunt test titles for pointing breeds. Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter. I recommend AKC Hunt Test for anyone with a pointing breed.

Stake – a stake is the event individual event the dog and handler are competing in. A single field trial normally included multiple stakes, and single dogs and handler can potentially compete in multiple stakes. A stake is described first as the handler i.e. open and then the dog i.e. gun dog. So one stake in a field trial may be Open Gun Dog.

Open Stake – open to amateur and pro handlers alike.

Amateur Stake – handlers and scouts must be amateurs. See further definitions below.

Limited Stake – usually limited to previous field champions, but having never run one not completely sure at this point.

Puppy Stake – is a dog between 6 and 15 months of age. There is no requirement to find birds, point, or retrieve. I would describe it as taking a puppy on a long walk and if he finds a bird good for him, but they are judged primarily on their run and independence and desire to hunt. There is a limit to the number of points a puppy can earn and use for his total in becoming a field champion. Handlers walk in this stake.

Derby Stake – is a dog between 6 months and 2 years old. The dog should find birds but are not required to be steady to wing or shot in this stake. If they do not find a bird they will not win the stake. Handlers walk this stake.

Gun Dog Stake – is for any age dog, but the dog must find game, must be steady to wing and shot, must stop to flush, and must honor another dog on point. The difference between this stake and the all age stake is range of dog. The gun dog ranges shorter in its hunting. The average may be 100 yards versus an All Age Dog that might range 500 yards. (Yardage just an example not a standard) Typically the handler is on horseback though no rule requires it.

All Age Stake - is for any age dog, but the dog must find game, must be steady to wing and shot, must stop to flush, and must honor another dog on point. The difference between this stake and the Gun Dog stake is range of dog. The All Age dog ranges further in its hunting, often out of sight. When the dog is out of sight they need to be much steadier as the handler is not there immediate to command. Typically the handler is on horseback though no rule requires it.

Junior Hunt Test – any age dog judged on hunting, bird finding ability, pointing, and trainability. Hunting being how well they run, bird finding being going on point to game. Pointing for the Junior Hunt Test is point but can break on the shot. And trainability being obedience to the handler.

Senior Hunt Test – any age dog judged on hunting, bird finding, pointing, trainability, retrieving, honoring. Same as Junior Hunt Test accept for pointing the dog must be steady to wing and shot. Birds are shot on course by designated gunners, and the dog must honor another dog on point, either on course or a call back. Dog must retrieve on course of call back.

Master Hunt Test – Same as Senior Hunter but dog must do it without a lot of verbal command. All activities must appear fully ingrained and natural.

Brace – is the heat if you will for a stake. It is comprised of 2 dogs, 2 handler, and 2 judges. Scouts and spectators are optional. Each Field Trial stake or Hunt Test stake is run in a brace and the braces are drawn at random a couple days before the event.

Steady to Wing – dog stays on point until the game is flushed. Can break when a shot is fired.

Steady to Wing & Shot – dog stays on point until handler gives him a command to move. The dog will be steady through the flush, and shot, and/or killing of the game.

Broke Dog– is a dog that is steady to wing and shot.

Force Broke– also called force fetching. Is a technique where dogs learn to fetch under pain and/or duress. Best done by professionals, but highly effective. The pain/duress is given my either ear or toe pinch.

Honor – also called Backing, is when a dog points a dog on point. This honor should also be steady to wing and shot.

Stop to flush – when a dog stops and points flushed game. Game that is not otherwise pointed but that appears to flush on its own. The dog is relocated on Handler command. Failure to stop to flush is automatic disqualification.

Delayed chase – when the dog chased game that have been flushed and not killed. This included game the dog and pointed and that the handler has fired a blank shot at. A delayed chase is automatic disqualification.
Amateur – Handler that does not, and has not trained or handled dogs for a fee.

Pro Handler – Handler that has trained or handled for a fee in the past or present.

Scout – horseback person that stays behind the judges and handler that can “scout” for a dog left or right that might be on point and out of view. Usually recruited from the other participants. This person is not supposed to double handle the dog, but reality is far different from the rules as Scouts often “unintentionally” push dogs out of brush back in front of the handler.

Premium – this is the brochure put out by the club in addition to the entry form that will have directions, local accommodations, services available on the grounds, and running order. They are not available on the AKC website and you usually have to ask for them from the field trial secretary, but are a critical document to have.

Handler – the person commanding the dog on course.

Double handling – Someone other than the Handler commanding the dog or herding it with their horse. Not allowed in field trials or hunt test.

Pinning – when a dog self-relocates on a walking or running bird. Great for hunting, but an automatic disqualification for a field trial, and a judge’s discretion for a hunt test.

PHP - short for Piss Poor Handler, the number one reason a dog does not complete a brace, and when the handler makes an error causing his dog to react and become eliminated.

Dope On A Rope - This is the term for the walk of shame when a dog is picked up mid brace and has to come back to camp on a lead. Normally this situation is PHP, but occasionally the dog just does something stupid and completely contrary to any form of training.

Collar Wise - When a dog knows that the e-collar has come off, and that he no longer has to listen perfectly because he understands he will not be nicked. 

The Passion

When I was 14 years old my Dad got on a lease in Three Rivers, Texas. This was classic South Texas hunting... big bucks, rattlesnakes, and quail everywhere. It was not uncommon to shoot 10 limits of quail a day all over a pair of unbroke Brittany's.

For me at 14 I blamed the dogs busting coveys on poor breeding. I thought they just didn't have what it took, and that for a quality dog steadiness should come naturally. And so without internet in the 1970's my limited amount of research led me to believe that a good upland game bird dog needed to come from a "field champion," even though at that point I had no idea what a field champion was. And it was at that point that I wanted to have myself a field champion.

Time passed, my dad bought me a dog that turned out to not hunt very well. Not because of breeding, but because I had no idea what I was doing as a trainer. Then in my 20's a friend of mine gave me a German Shorthaired Pointer. I had never heard of the bread, but he assured me the dog was professionally trained and "broke." I pretended to know that I knew what broke was, and promptly took the dog hunting.

There in South Texas the dog's liver and rhone coloring seemed to disappear in the mesquite brush. And it was on our first hunting trip that I learned what "broke" meant. It meant that dog would not leave point until you told him to. And it meant flawless snappy retrieves when the birds fell. I found out having lost my dog for over an hour to find him steady on point for the first covey of quail of the season. I was hooked... I had me a hunting dog.

We killed hundreds of quail together before Greta died tragically. And with her passing I decided to try my luck with a yellow lab changing game altogether. It was 3 years ago with the passing of my yellow lab Coco that I decided to go back to a German Shorthaired Pointer. My full intent was to reenact those quail hunting moments with my dad, and to live them with my sons for the first time.

This time with the help of the internet I picked the first puppy I could find, my only criteria being the dog needed to be predominately white. No more loosing my dog in the mesquite brush of south Texas. In finding the puppy, I also found the trainer, and it was at his suggestion I began the field trial game. He said, "You should try a field trial, besides it's a good way to extend the hunting season." And though I had always wanted a field champion, my beginnings in the game of field trials was truly with the intent to warm my dog up before hunting season, and make it last into the spring after.

I knew absolutely nothing about field trials. I did not know the difference between a hunt test and a field trial. I did not know the differences of puppy, derby, gun dog, or all age stakes. I had not clue about what it took to run open versus amateur. But I did have a dog, so I started with a hunt test.

One weekend into it, one score card with all 10's and I was hooked. But there is a lot to learn. There are terms veteran field trailers and pro handlers take for granted.  I hope to use this blog to answer questions, explain the game, and encourage others to get their pointing dogs out doing what they were bred to do.