Field Trials

[Haymaker]

Gentlemen,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me where I could find some information on the location/dates for some field trials in the Greenville, MS or Memphis, TN area? I heard that there is going to be a field trial in Oxford towards the end of this month, which I will not be able to attend [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]. I would appreciate any help that you all maybe able to provide.

I would also like to say that I have enjoyed reading this formum for the past couple of years.

Thanks in advanced.

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: Haymaker ]

[goosebruce]

Are you looking for field trials, or hunt tests? For hunt test, ck out hrc site for listing of hrc clubs in the area. Or wrc (working retriver central) for an akc list.
The thing in Oxford is a mock english field trial, that doesnt represent anything done in american hunt tests or field trials. It's also going to consist of SELECTED individuals, only. Not excatly a wide open come one come all deal. If you do go, I wouldn't bet against the golden dog from LA. travis

[goosebruce]

Heres the link to hrc website... http://www.ukcdogs.com/evcal/h-index.html

Notice up coming tests in hernando (our club, april 6th & 7th, just south of memphis), west tenn in millington (just north of memphis). Several clubs further down in ms, just look to see whats close to you. travis

[Big Lou]

You can find all the information you are looking for on AKC Hunt Test of Field Trails at www.akc.org

[Chap]

If your interested in the field trial in Oxford, call Mike Stewart.. Last year at this trial he has about 50/50 British and American breeds represented.. This trial will be a British style field trial, unlike the American field trial.. It will challange the dogs in both upland game and waterfowl retreiving.. If you hunt with your dog, you will love it..

[Haymaker]

Thanks for the information!!! I really appreciate all the info.

Darrell

[sharpshooter]

Try these sites for the Memphis area http://www.mshrc.com/ http://www.wtnhrc.com/ http://www.working-retriever.com/home.html

[mack]

don't waste your time with anything that has english in it. There is not one english dog anywhere that could run in an american field trial no matter how much training it has. A true field trial dog could blow away any hunt test or any english field trial with extremely limited training. There is a field trial in hernando on april 19-21. When you see those dogs you will laugh when somebody wants to tell you how great all that english crap is. In my opinion anything english sucks.

[Stano]

Know you now darn well them pups from the mum are the sheeeit cause DU said so!!!! [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

[sharpshooter]

I've had limited experience with British Labs, but I went to see a British-Style trainer in Saucier, MS by the name of Tom Hamilton. He pulled his dog out and what I saw was amazing. He sent that dog until you could barely see him anymore, stopped him and sent him in any direction he wanted. That dog restponded better than I've seen in a long time. The dog was also gentle and calm but gave his all when going for a retreive. That's what I like in a hunting dog although I am not the expert. From what I gathered, the British-style does not believe in any type of collar (electric or regular). So, you get a dog that knows how to work without being shocked to death, which is how dogs did it for hundreds of years before shock collars came along. Also, there is no hard decipline, so you don't get a cowering dog either. He said that his philosophy is that the dog is a reteiver(hence the name Labrador Retreiver). The dog was born to retrieve and to make you happy. It's your job to help him accomplish that goal. That doesn't necessitate a shock collar. The goal is to bring out the dogs natural ability but of course, every lab is not going to be good. What I didn't like was the dog's shape and stature. The British seem to be short-legged and more stocky. I've never seen Brits in a field trial, though, so maybe overall they're not that good.

[goosebruce]

Jesus guys, could you try ANY harder to confuse an issue?

Dude wants to ck out sum doggie games. Thats a pretty good reason to assume he aint ready to step up to a ft & hit a home run. FT's aint no places for beginers, nor are they places dude likely to walk up and get any help wif his hunting dog. Yeah, theyd be the place go see whut a dog can do. But then again, ifn you aint into doggie games, you couldnt truely appricate what they can do.

The oxford gig is a marketing ploy. When the folks putting it SELECT a group to particpate, you aint exactly getting a good cross refrenece on the dog games. Since dat bunch wont take a crack at anyone else's game, and they try to transplant a game here and limit involvement in it, probably aint the best place for someone to walk up and learn about his hunting dog either. Wanna get a pup and a buncha hype get slammed down your throat, it'd be a fine place. Odds are if you gotta convince everyone that everyone else is wrong, you aint getting the scoop.

English dogs are english dogs. And a good dog is a good dog. You take any dog with decent genetics, and spend time with a worthwhile training regiemen, you'll have a good dog. Everyones goals and ends arent the same, and to put someone elses goals down without taking that into consideration isn't endearing anyone to your point of view.

If you think ecollars about shocking hell outta dogs, you don't even know enough about them to talk. Want to learn something, ask. Want to shoot your mouth off about what you know nothing about, add that to your post so people don't take what you say as fact. Dog training is about communication, and anything that facilitates that communication is good. Maybe you aint got what it takes to not take your frustrations out on a dog, cause you cant communicate with one, and therefore YOU shouldnt have a collar. Myabe your only experience is with someone who didnt know anymore than you, and he DID have a collar. But the ecollar is the most FAIR way to communicate with your dog at a distance. It aint magic, and your dog wont learn how to communicate with you sitting on the couch, or while your gone fishing all summer and hes in a kennel, but you get out what you put in. An ecollar maximses that effect.

No matter whut game you check out and get involved in, you and your dog will both be better off for it. The notion that FT & HT dogs can't hunt, is rediculous. If you havent ever hunted with a top level ht dog, or a ft dog (or for that matter, a washed out ft dog) you have no ideal what it adds to a hunt. To think people that spend time most every day with their dogs dont see them doing what they where bred for is silly.

Oh, and another thing, you wont find a better bunch of folks that dog folks. Hard to find a better tailgate party either. My duck season never ends. travis

[sharpshooter]

I was merely stating that you can train a dog without a collar. Some people (and trainers) don't believe that nowdays. I know from experience. Trust me. You're obviously a collar man. If you had control of your dog before you sent him on long distances, you wouldn't need to "communicate" with him. It's called a whistle. Read "Water Dog" by Richard Wolters. Has some good methods. I have trained my last 2 dogs myself and have never used a collar. My 11 month old is up to 5 consecutive blind retrieves. As you might not like to think, I do know something about it.

[mack]

Yes you can train a dog without a collar, but I will gaurantee you cannot train a dog for field trials or hunt tests without a collar. It takes a very very below average dog to be a good hunting dog which may be all you want. I mean it must be all you want since you won't use a collar and you read the water dog. Also how many hunt tests or field trials has your man in saucier, ms run I just don't remember seeing any of his dogs at the trials or hunt tests.

[Haymaker]

Fellas,

To give everyone some background info and myself and my dog, I have been chasing ducks for about 10 years now and it took me 8 years of hunting without a dog for me to go get one. She is the first lab that I have ever owned. I read Water Dog and watched the video to try to get a good idea on how to train her. I must say that so far I have been satisfied with her progress. Currently I don't have much interest in going to FT and seeing what she can do, but I do think that it would be fun to go and see what all the bread is capable of.

As far as training and retrievers in general, I think that labs are a GREAT breed and that they are eager to please. I think that the main thing that I have seen from workin with my dog is that when you are trying to train them, you have to be consistant in what you do and work with them on a regular basis. I also feel that you have to use the training method that works best for you and your dog. What works well with one dog maynot work with the next. I believe that animals are like people, there are smart ones and there are dumb ones. Some people may argue this point with me, I once had a horse trainer that told me everything that a horse does wrong is because of the rider. Well what if you are just riding a stupied horse? I also want to make sure that everyone realizes that I am by NO means an expert when it comes to animals (or much else for that matter) but like most folks I do have an opinion. Like one wise fellow I know said: "Opinions are like a--holes, everyones got one."

Thanks again for all of the info on the FT.

Darrell

[chance]

I know of one extremely good hunt test dog that was trained "Amish"---without an ecollar. Larry McMurray's dog Pepper.
Terry Smith hunt this Saturday in Collierville. Dog to the line and lets see what ya got. Put up or shut up.