AKC Field Trial Regulations for Pointing Breeds

This information is condensed from the official AKC Field Trial Regulations for Pointing Breeds and is intended to be used for informational purposes only for those who may be interested in knowing more about Hunt Tests. You should always consult the official AKC publications in regards to all current rules and regulations.

Regular Stakes 

FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

AMATEUR FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship points from first placements in Amateur Stakes that are credited towards a Field Championship, will also be credited towards an Amateur Field Championship.

AKC Gun Dog / Retrieving Gun Dog Champion

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

DERBY STAKES. Derbies must show a keen desire to hunt, be bold and independent, have a fast, yet attractive, style of running, and demonstrate not only intelligence in seeking objectives but also the ability to find game. Derbies must establish point but no additional credit shall be given for steadiness to wing and shot. If the handler is within reasonable gun range of a bird which has been flushed after a point, a shot must be fired. A lack of opportunity for firing over a Derby dog on point shall not constitute reason for non-placement when it has had game contact in acceptable Derby manner. Derbies must show reasonable obedience to their handlers' commands. Each dog is to be judged on its actual performance as indicating its future promise as a high class bird dog for Gun Dog or All-Age stakes. Preference should not be given to one potential over another. Application is more important than range in a Derby. At least 20 minutes and not more than 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

All placed dogs must have established a point.

GUN DOG AND LIMITED GUN DOG STAKES. A Gun Dog must give a finished performance and must be under its handler's control at all times. It must handle kindly, with a minimum of noise and hacking by the handler. A Gun Dog must show a keen desire to hunt, must have a bold and attractive style of running, and must demonstrate not only intelligence in quartering and in seeking objectives but also the ability to find game. The dog must hunt for its handler at all times at a range suitable for a handler on foot, and should show or check in front of its handler frequently. It must cover adequate ground but never range out of sight for a length of time that would detract from its usefulness as a practical hunting dog. The dog must locate game, must point staunchly, and must be steady to wing and shot. Intelligent use of the wind and terrain in locating game, accurate nose, and style and intensity on point, are essential.

A dog that does not point cannot be placed. A dog should not be called back to point after the running of its brace except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances.

At least 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

ALL-AGE AND LIMITED ALL-AGE STAKES. An All-Age Dog must give a finished performance and must be under reasonable control of its handler. It must show a keen desire to hunt, must have a bold and attractive style of running, and must show independence in hunting. It must range well out in a forward moving pattern, seeking the most promising objectives, so as to locate any game on the course. Excessive line-casting and avoiding cover must be penalized. The dog must respond to handling but must demonstrate its independent judgment in hunting the course, and should not look to its handler for directions as to where to go. The dog must find game, must point staunchly, and must be steady to wing and shot. Intelligent use of the wind and terrain in locating game, accurate nose, and style and intensity on point, are essential.

A dog that does not point cannot be placed. A dog should not be called back to point after the running of its brace except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances.

At least 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

HONORING IN GUN DOG, ALL-AGE, LIMITED GUN DOG, AND LIMITED ALL-AGE STAKES. A dog encountering its bracemate on point must honor. Failure of a dog to honor when it sees its bracemate on point must be severely penalized, and the intentional avoidance by a dog or a handler of an honoring situation must also be severely penalized. A dog that steals its bracemate's point must be ordered up by the Judges.

No Gun Dog, All-Age, Limited Gun Dog, or Limited All-Age Stake shall be run in heats of more than 30 minutes at a licensed or member trial unless the running time is given in the premium list.

Guns

Break or Delayed Chase

Witholding Placements

The Judges may place the dogs 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in each stake.

Judges should withhold 2nd place in an Open Stake if the performance of that dog would not merit championship points should the dog placed 1st be found to be ineligible.

Based on the number of starters in an Amateur Stake, Judges should withhold either 2nd, 3rd, or 4th placements if the performance of a dog would not merit championship points should one of the dog's placing either 1st, 2nd or 3rd be found to be ineligible.

COURSES AND BIRDS

Stakes at licensed or member field trials may be run on any of the following types of course, all of which must include sufficient acreage, adequate cover for birds, and suitable objectives:

(1) Single Course With Bird Field consisting of a back course and a bird field which has sufficient cover to hold birds and which is of adequate size to permit a dog to hunt naturally without excessive hacking. A bird field must not be less than 5 acres, and 10 acres is recommended. At a licensed or member trial no less than two birds must be liberated in the bird field for each brace in first series in all stakes except the Puppy Stake. Additional birds must be liberated either in the bird field or on the back course for each brace. Prior to starting a stake, the back course must have sufficient birds liberated to provide good opportunity for dogs to demonstrate their pointing ability while on course. It is recommended that no less than five (5) birds be liberated. Birds should be replaced for each brace as required to present equal opportunity for each brace.

(2) Single Course Without Bird Field consisting entirely of a course without any specific bird field, on which birds are liberated in suitable places around the course. At a licensed or member trial no less than two birds must be liberated for each brace at a suitable place on the course in all stakes except the Puppy Stake.

It is recommended that no less than ten (10) birds be liberated. Birds should be replaced for each brace as required to present equal opportunity for each brace.

(3) Multiple Courses With Bird Field(s) consisting of more than one back course, each with a designated breakaway and each with either its own or a common bird field, with the back courses being used in systematic rotation. At a licensed or member trial, no less than two birds must be liberated in the utilized bird field for each brace in first series except the Puppy Stake. Additional birds may be liberated either in the bird field or on the back course.

(4) Multiple Courses Without Bird Field(s) consisting of more than one back course, each with a designated breakaway, which are used in systematic rotation. At a licensed or member trial, no less than two birds must be liberated for each brace at suitable places on the utilized course in all stakes except the Puppy Stake.

(5) Continuous Courses consisting of a series of courses on which each brace starts where the last brace was picked up. On such a course it is assumed that there is adequate natural or liberated game.

A stake may be run without a bird field for the first series with additional series consisting of nothing but bird field work for the dogs, provided this is specified in the premium list. Birds for additional series shall be liberated as directed by the Judges.

The same requirements for liberated birds that apply to other stakes at a licensed or member trial shall also apply to the Puppy Stake unless the premium list specifies that no birds will be liberated in the Puppy Stake.

No liberated bird shall be removed from the course or from the bird field unless dead or crippled in which case it should be picked up.

Regular stakes at a licensed or member trial shall be run only on recognized game birds, and the birds should be strong, healthy, full-feathered and clean; except that in Puppy Stakes non-game birds may be used if specified in the premium list.

Birds should, if possible, be liberated in natural cover rather than in artificially created cover. They should not be placed in holes nor in such cover as will impede their ability to fly or run. Birds may be rocked or dizzied but not to such an extent as to affect their ability to fly. Game Stewards should wear gloves and should not hold birds against their bodies. Successive birds should not be liberated in or near the same spot.

The premium list for a licensed or member trial shall specify the type of course and species of game to be liberated in each stake.

Horses

RETRIEVING STAKES

It is mandatory that the Judges, gunners, handlers of the working dogs and Marshals wear a blaze orange garment (vest or jacket) in any Retrieving Stake. These articles must be provided by the field trial-giving club.

All shooting in any licensed, member or sanctioned field trial shall be done by Official Guns only, and the Judges shall have complete authority over all such shooting. They may require a change of Official Guns at any time, and may bar from further shooting in that trial any Official Gun who does not abide strictly by safe gunning rules.

Two Official Guns are required for each brace, one to accompany each handler. Provision must also be made for alternate or stand-by Guns in case they should be required.

One Official Gun must join each handler as he enters the bird field, or if a bird field is not used, at a designated place on the course. The Official Gun must always keep himself in the correct position for safety of dogs and persons.

Game should be shot cleanly, in a sportsmanlike manner, in full flight, at a distance that will give the dog a reasonable retrieve. An Official Gun represents the handler up to the time that game is shot, but must not interfere or assist in any manner with his work nor direct the work of the dog.

Game flushed by a free running dog or birds that flush wild shall not be shot except on instructions from a Judge. If a bird does not fly after an attempt to flush by a handler, it shall not be shot on the ground except on instructions from a Judge.

Retrieving is required in all Retrieving Stakes and counts as an important part of a dog's performance. After the shot, the handler shall not command or signal the dog to retrieve until the dog's steadiness to wing and shot has been positively demonstrated. The dog must retrieve promptly and tenderly to hand.

A dog that demonstrates a less than satisfactory retrieve shall not be placed. A reasonable retrieve satisfies the purpose of conserving game.