Awhile back, our Hunting Retriever Club magazine ran a special feature on 4 or 5 UKC Hunt Test dogs who were invited to Britain to run in a field trial there. These were top UKC dogs and they did very well - although some of the dogs were puzzled at first by the different conditions, they thought it through and noodled it out.
The AKC field trials in the U.S. have gotten so rarified that the UKC started doing "hunt tests" as being more of a realistic test of hunting conditions that a real hunting dog might actually encounter. And the hunt tests got so popular so fast that the AKC had to start offering them too!
I don't do field trials - I'm not good enough - I do hunt tests. My dogs really enjoy it.
She said they come over here once or twice a year and that’s how they were invited. They didn’t win; but she said it was a great experience.
LOL I don’t show myself because I can’t keep up with the dogs. Keeley is well conformed as is Rosey; however; she doesn’t like the ring. Their ears are a little big, though. Bores her. Rosey on the other hand is a real ham. She is like an angel floating around that ring. I have to stay out of her sight though because she keys off me.
We were in a show training class one time and where was Keeley. Admiring herself in the big wall mirror while everyone else including her sister were already at the other end. LOL Don’t get me wrong; Keeley will win as she has; but she doesn’t relish it. Rosey wins too; but loves it.
Can’t wait to show my boy and see what he does. He is conformationally correct and ears are perfect and a long reach in his gate to die for. Since he has a harum here; he has become big daddy. We will see if he behaves himself; but I have got a wonderful trainer/handler.
Don’t mean to brag; but you know how it is with one’s own dogs be they show dogs or not. I have two others that are not show; but I love them to pieces.