The International
Brittany Club| ALL-AGE STANDARD / Sine Qua Non | |
| FREE SPIRITWIND, NOSE & PACEHUNTING ABILITYSPEED DRIVE & GAIT | HANDLING OF GAMEBACKINGSTAMINA |
| SHOOTING DOG STANDARD | |
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice"
Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America Incorporated.
The All-Age Stake
Wind, Nose and Pace
"The all-age dog should incorporate the direction of the wind and the lay of the land in his hunting effort, enabling him to range to the fringe of contact with his handler. He must possess a superior nose, allowing him to hunt from objective to objective at a very fast pace. In an ideal all-age performance there is little or no time for extended probing or rechecking of coverts."
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice""A successful all-age dog is not a straight line runner. Despite his speed, power and extended range, he must be hunting as he goes. He must take the edges and apply his superior olfactory powers to pick up vagrant scents that might lead to discovery of game.
Speed, Drive & Gait"The all-age dog should exude animation and happiness with the task at hand. He should display loftiness of head and tail in his gait, maintaining this appearance in cover and on bare ground, despite traveling with the utmost speed and drive. He must not be deterred by punishment meted out by cover an weather.
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice""No matter how far flung and well executed the casts - no matter how beautiful and powerful the stride - no matter how lofty and animated the carriage - no matter how strong and indefatigable the heart - this running machine must have foremost in mind the discovery and near perfect handling of game. He should stand proud, rigid and intense on his birds, showing confidence that he has them pegged exactly, and in front. Quite often he must maintain this posture for many minutes, and remember his training ,before handler or scout discovers him on point. He should be fearless at the approach of handler and the field trial party, and he should maintain keen interest, intensity, upright posture and good style while handler flushes and the shot is fired. If birds cannot be flushed and relocation is required, he should proceed when released with dash an determination to search out and pin running birds, exhibiting powers of nose that take him straight to the quarry."
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice""The all-age dog must voluntarily and cheerfully back on sight a brace mate on rigid point. However, the judges should attempt to see the backing situation through the eyes of the moving dog, taking into account the less acute eyesight of the dog and the possible interference of cover, terrain and background as he approaches the scene.
The approaching dog should get the benefit of any doubt about his ability to see clearly the pointing dog. In an all-age performance, a back should be accomplished if the opportunity presents itself and the brace mate is in the vicinity, but a race should not be interrupted and a dog returned from a distant cast in order to achieve a back."
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice"(Quoted from John S. O' Neall, Jr. and Collier F. Smith in "The All-Age Field Trial Dog in America").
"Guidelines to Field Trial Procedure and Judicial Practice""A Shooting Dog Stake is held for the purpose of promoting the ideal shooting dog, one that will find and handle correctly all game birds on the designated course.
"The superior shooting dog is one that excites constant admiration for the quality of his performance and does nothing to displease or annoy. Without giving his handler any unnecessary effort, he will in an artistic and polished manner give him the most quality bird finds that are to he had on the ground covered.
"The exemplary shooting dog displays an intense desire to find birds for his handler, a nose keen to detect the presence of game, and the ability to locate it quickly and accurately by body scent. He shows staunchness, intensity, positiveness and lofty style on point, and steadiness to wing and shoot.
"In hunting, a shooting dog of the first water evidences bird sense, an understanding of the habits of game, and displays the wisdom to use the wind to advantage; he adopts pace and range that is most effective on the ground being worked under the conditions which exist. He possesses speed, properly applied, is industrious and thorough in his search, handles the immediate terrain and does not run past objectives, and has adequate range, which is intelligently directed. He moves easily, pleasingly, gracefully animated and happy while running and manifests lofty head and tail on point. He works independent of continuous direction from the handler and exhibits perfect manners at all times. This includes, when opportunity is afforded, backing a brace mate on rigid point.
"Intelligent patterning of a course, hunting to the front, quickness in locating his handler and in seeing and hearing his commands, prompt obedience, courage and willingness to face unflinchingly heavy or punishing cover plus boldness on game, mark the class shooting dog. Proper handing response is paramount.
"The performer that fulfills the requirements naturally and
cheer?fully is preferable to one that works mechanically, although
errortlessly.
"Whenever practicable, the dog may be worked on single birds and should
do his work cheerfully and in a natural way.
"It is distinctly understood that a slow dog, one lacking in stamina, or one that is circumscribed in range is not in favor. All the speed and range a dog can well utilize in the hunting field is desired, but it must at all times be applied properly. The bold, snappy, dashing dog will have quick and pleasing response at all times, keeping uppermost in mind the finding and pointing of birds for his handler. A dog should not hunt in straight lines, but exhibit intelligence and true bird-finding ability by hunting the likely places on the course, working for his handler, swinging to the course when the character of the country and cover requires so doing. Instinct, natural qualifications, training and experience equip him for superior work. Exceptional style, beauty of carriage, and grace of movement are important.
"The Standard seeks to glorify the ideal hunting dog which works indefatigably in the interest of the gun, a dog with character and courage which displays all essential qualifications, plus refinements of expert training."
(Quoted from Parke C. Brinkley in "Standard for the National Open Shooting Dog Championship")