History Of AKC Field Trials

    Field Trials in recorded history began in Britain in 1866. America's first recorded field trial was held in 1874 near Memphis, Tenn. It was an event that started a trend that grows ever stronger. The winner of that first U.S. Field Trial was a solid black native Setter by the name of Knight, who was owned by H.C. Pritchard.

    In those early days, field trials were run under the auspices of "The American Field." Dr. Nicholas Rowe, then owner of the American Field, made a major contribution to the foundation of The American Kennel Club with the donation of three volumes of The National Kennel Club Stud Book. Dr. Rowe had acquired ownership of The Chicago Field in 1876. In 1881, the Chicago Field’s name was changed to the American Field. The original field trials were for pointing dogs or "bird dogs," as they were called. Dogs competing in the early trials included English Pointers, Droppers and English, Gordon, Irish and Native Setters.

    Written record shows that the first AKC Field Trial was held in 1924 by the English Setter Club of America on their grounds in Medford, N.J. It is interesting to note that the Club still owns and conducts events on this venue. It was not until 1931 that the next AKC Field Trial occurred. That trial was a joint effort of the Gordon Setter Club of America and the Irish Setter Club of America. It was held at the Owen Winston Estate at Gladstone, N.J.

    From the depression years of the 1930s through the war time 1940s AKC trials were minimal with two to 10 events held in any given year of that period. The end of the war saw a major increase in the number and frequency of AKC Field Trials. It also brought increased popularity to the "continental" breeds. German Shorthaired and German Wirehaired pointers, Brittanys, Vizslas, Weimaraners and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons emerged in greater numbers on the AKC Field Trial scene.

    Breed clubs began forming to put on field events. The American Brittany Club conducted its initial event in Ravenna, Ohio in 1943. The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America followed suit in 1944 with a field trial in Anoka, Minn. Nine years later (1953), the American Pointer Club held its first field trial at Fairfield, Conn. The Weimaraner Club of America came on the scene in 1955 with its field trial at Fort Lewis, Wash.

    By the 1950s Professional bird dog trainers had increased in number and popularity for training hunting dogs and competing in trials. This toughened the competition and raised the bar considerably. The pointing breeds and the events they competed in were evolving in a positive manner.

    1953 saw the first AKC National Championship for any breed. It was held by the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America at Volo, Ill. The first National Champion was Dandy Jim V Feldstrom (m) owned by Clark Lemley, M.D.

    Four years later, The American Brittany Club conducted its first National Championship at Carbondale, Ill. The winner was FC Towsey (m) owned by Thomas Black. In 1962, The Vizsla Club of America began holding field events with a field trial in New Sharon, Iowa. The first licensed trial of The German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America was held in 1963 at Ingleside, Ill.

    In 1965 the first Pointing Breed Advisory committee meeting was held. This group was formed to recommend rule and procedure amendments to the AKC Board. The group consisted of a representative from each of the nine pointing breed parent clubs. AKC still depends on an Advisory committee to create new regulations and to amend old ones for pointing breed field trials.

    The original AKC trials were for foot handlers. In 1966 the AKC regulations were amended to allow horseback handling. This was such a popular decision that participation in AKC Pointing Breed Field Trials soon doubled to 450 trials per year with over 38,000 entries.

     The American Brittany Club held their original National Amateur Championship in November 1966 at Carbondale, Ill. The first Brittany National Amateur Champion was "Bub" (m) owned by M.D. Nelson.

    The AKC Field and Amateur Field Championship program has seen thousands of dogs gaining titles since its inception. The numbers of Champions titled are listed below by breed.

Record of Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion Status Attained Since 1980 (updated through August 2006):

What are Field Trials?

Field trials for Brittany's and other pointing breeds are competitive quail hunts where the handler of the dog either walks or handles the dog off horseback. The competing dog is judged based on its style, intellect, enthusiasm, obediance, and bird handling. The adult dogs that are entered in field trials are highly and intensly trained. A lot of time and preparation and continuing practice goes into making a field trial ready dog and a true champion. A field trial is a method of determining superior dogs by comparing the performances of a number of dogs in the field, under working conditions, and having objective third parties name the best performances as winners. Field trials are also public events, and so allow a number of people to view the dogs under fair circumstances. The trials are also reported and the wins recorded onto pedigrees so that accurate breeding decisions can be made.

The object of field trials is the promotion and development of the high-class bird dog. It is a means of enjoying the great out-of-door sport of bird hunting in the most aesthetic fashion. It aims to provide competition of the highest kind among bird dogs, to stimulate enthusiasm among owners, and to act as a practical guide for breeders by setting a high standard of performance.

In order to compete in field trials the dog must be AKC and/or Field Dog Stud Book Registered.

What Type of Performance Makes a Great Field Trial Dog?

The dog under consideration must have and display great bird sense.

He must show perfect work on both coveys and singles.

He must quickly determine between foot and body scent.

He must use his brain eyes and nose to the fullest advantage and hunt the likely places on the course.

He must posses speed, range, style, character, courage and stamina, and good manners, always.

He must hunt the birds and not the handler hunt the dog. No line or path runner is acceptable.

He must be well broken, and the better his manners the more clearly he proves his sound training.

Should he loose a little in class, as expressed in extreme speed and range he can make up for this, under fair judgment, in a single piece of superior bird work, or in sustained demonstration of general behavior.

He must be bold, snappy and spirited. His range must be to the front or to either side, but never behind.

He must be regularly and habitually pleasingly governable (tractable) and must keep uppermost in his mind the finding and pointing of birds for his handler.

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