2025 National Championship

[Twoatlow8]

Field trialing is more about the men than the dogs.
It is a look what I got sort of thing.
It takes a lot of training and patience to make a field trialing dog into a hunting dog, and most of the time it is not possible.
I consider a field trialing dog more livestock than hunting dog.

[Reggie B]

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.

[Craig Larter]

Before I leave the planet I want to visit the Bird Dog Hall of Fame in TN. The Retriever Wing would be my focus. My best lab was a Candlewood dog, Vanderbilt's Hy Test MH, and that line of dogs has many HOF dogs. I'm sure my eyes would not be dry after a tour. My Tess was a granddaughter of Candlewoods Tank's a Lot the winner of the 1990, 1991 and 1993 NFC, call name Lottie. Gosh I miss her Tess. She would hunt with anyone, one hell of a duck dog.

[mobirdhunter]

I went to the bird dog museum some years ago. I got the grand tour and was treated like royalty. The culture of bird dogs is strong.

[Stan Hillis]

This is still a big event near me, at Waynesboro, which still makes the claim as The Birddog Capital of the World. It's been going on at Di-Lane Plantation for a looong time.

https://americanfield.com/docs/ads/2...ic-1224126.pdf

[Steiner]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

This is still a big event near me, at Waynesboro, which still makes the claim as The Birddog Capital of the World. It's been going on at Di-Lane Plantation for a looong time.

https://americanfield.com/docs/ads/2...ic-1224126.pdf

Stan, I was in the area a few years back picking up a couple dogs from winter training, so I stopped by Di-Lane. What a cool place. The cemetary is like going back in time.

IMG_7258.jpg

IMG_7259.jpg

IMG_7264.jpg

IMG_7263.jpg

IMG_7260.jpg

IMG_7257.jpg

[Reggie B]

Short video clips and photos can be viewed here. Note on day 2 a woodcock was pointed!

https://amesplantation.zenfolio.com/f990713088

[mobirdhunter]

I forgot to mention that our tour of the Museum was privately conducted by Wilson Dunn, its founder. We just stopped in unannounced, but he was so welcoming. What a gentleman and very respectful of the fact that we ran “black dogs” (although it was very clear that top notch trial winners must be white and have tails…that stood at twelve o’clock on point. That really hasn’t changed, and I’m at peace with that.)

Anyone remember Dunn’s sporting goods? I still have things purchased from them.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

I forgot to mention that our tour of the Museum was privately conducted by Wilson Dunn, its founder. We just stopped in unannounced, but he was so welcoming. What a gentleman and very respectful of the fact that we ran “black dogs” (although it was very clear that top notch trial winners must be white and have tails…that stood at twelve o’clock on point. That really hasn’t changed, and I’m at peace with that.)

Anyone remember Dunn’s sporting goods? I still have things purchased from them.

I’ve seen some that had tails that darn near curled like a question mark ! I prefer a Osthaus tail preferably on a setter !

[John Davis]

When judging a field trial the white dog has the advantage. The darker colored dogs are harder to see.