Dogs are selected for the National Championships based on their performance on the field trial "circuit" and their ability to meet standards long ago established by Hobart Ames. The dogs have to win two field trials to be eligible. They are judged on their ability to find and point birds and their stamina and handling characteristics. That is my understanding of the process.
Here is where it gets "murky" in my mind. There are also "Amesian Standards" (read Hobart Ames) that come into play. Judges use these standards to judge the field. I am not 100% certain that these "Amesian Standards" would be welcoming to a "short tailed" dog. I could be totally wrong about that as it is just conjecture on my part.
But one thing is certain the winner of the annual Championship can hunt hard and find birds while being obedient to handler commands.
There are others on this site who know more about field trialing and the National Championship than I do.
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"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
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