Confused about field lingo? This glossary ought to help clear the water

 

Titles- We will focus first on American titles:

Once earned, these AKC titles become a permanent part of the dog’s registered name:

• AFC - Amateur Field Champion. To earn this title, a dog must be handled by an amateur and accumulate 15 points, including a win of 5 points or better.

• NAFC - National Amateur Field Champion. Dogs must qualify for the National Amateur competition by winning an Open trial competition and gaining 2 additional points each year.

• FC - Field Champion. To earn this title a dog must accumulate 15 points, including a win. He may be handled by either an amateur or a professional.

• NFC - National Field Champion. Open to handlers who may be either professional or amateur. The dog must qualify by winning an Open and gaining 2 additional points each year.

• JH - Junior Hunter. For a title, dog must receive qualifying scores at 4 licensed or member tests.

• SH - Senior Hunter. For a title, a dog must receive qualifying scores at 5 licensed or member tests. If the dog has already received a JH, the dog need only qualify 4 times.

• MH - Master Hunter. For this title, a dog must receive qualifying scores at 6 licensed or member tests. If the dog has already received a SH, the dog need only qualify 5 times.

Other Field Titles:

• WC - Working Certificate. A one-time performance test designed to validate the natural instincts of a retriever. A WC requires the dog to do several retrieves on land and water, with real birds, and is scored on a pass/fail basis.

• WCX - Working Dog, Excellent. The upper level of a Working Certificate requiring the dog to work under a higher level of control and with each series requiring multiple retrieves.

NAHRA (North American Hunting Retriever Association) Titles:

• GMHR - Grand Master Hunting Retriever. Certificate is awarded to a dog that earns 300 points (15 qualifications @ 20 points each) in the Senior testing category.

• MHR - Master Hunting Retriever. Certificate is awarded to a dog that either earns either:

• 100 points (5 qualifications @ 20 points each) in the Senior testing category, OR

• 80 points (4 qualifications @ 20 points each) in the Senior testing category and already has a Working Retriever title.

• WR - Working Retriever. Certificate is awarded to a dog that earns 20 points (4 qualifications @ 5 points each) in the “Intermediate” testing category.

• SR - Started Retriever. Certificate awarded to a dog that earns 10 points (4 qualifications @ 2.5 points each) in the “Started” testing category.

 

Other terms:

Amateur - A person who has not earned any part of his or her livelihood from the training, trialing or handling of a dog in field competition at any level.

Blind - Two meanings:

1. The bird or object (such as a dummy) to be retrieved that is placed at a distance and which is not seen by the dog. (As opposed to a “marked” fall, which is one the dog sees fall to the ground.)

2. A structure, usually camouflaged, from which birds or other objects to be retrieved are thrown and where gunners and throwers may conceal themselves.

Campaign - Two meanings:

1. As a noun: A series of events such as field trials or hunt tests.

2. As a verb: the act of running a dog in competitive events.

Cast/Casting - Giving a dog direction to a marked fall or a blind.

Cover - Indicates the various ground covers in-between the starting line and the objects to be retrieved.

Creeping - When the dog moves forward on the line but does not break out of control.

Dead - A bird that has been previously shot. Can also mean a command given to the dog on the line by the handler preparing the dog for a blind retrieve.

Derby - A field event or “stake” for dogs over 6 months of age but not over 2 years, as of the first day of the event. A Derby is made up of marked falls only. A Derby dog is judged on style and marking ability and is not expected to “handle” to a bird.

Flier - A live bird released into flight during a field event and shot for the dog on the line.

Flier Station - A point in the field from which a bird is flighted and shot to be retrieved.

Gunner - A responsible and capable shot gunner who must shoot each live bird (or, with a dead bird, shoot blanks) from various designated points in the test.

Handler - The person directing the actions of the dog.

Handling - Whistle and arm signals that enable the handler to get the dog to a specific location on marked and blind retrieves. The ability to direct the dog to a bird preserves game and contributes to wildlife conservation.

Honoring - Where a dog has to watch another dog run while waiting calmly and quietly (without additional commands) at their handler's side while the other dog takes their turn.

Land - Where the birds or “marks” are on land thru diverse cover and at varying distances. (Versus water.)

Line - Two meanings:

1. The line the dog must stay behind, while under judgement, before being sent for the bird.

2. The line of direction the dog is sent on for a blind retrieve.

Mark - The dog’s ability to see and remember where a bird fell (to “mark” the bird). Also a command given to the dog on line or in the hunting field, which means “get ready.”

Memory Bird - In a multiple mark series, the memory bird(s) is not the last bird down. Usually, the last bird down is picked up first by the dog. He must then remember where the others are on his own. In a hard triple, this is quite challenging when cover and distance are added in.

Non-slip Retriever - A retriever that won’t leave your side until commanded to do so. Not just an issue of obedience but also practical in the sense that a dog who breaks, bolts or runs out prematurely upon hearing the shot will not be able to mark the fall. It is also a safety issue. Accidentally shooting a dog that has broken into the hunting field has taken place. He should sit quietly on line or in the blind, walk at heel, or assume any station designated by his handler until sent to retrieve. When ordered, a dog should retrieve quickly and briskly without unduly disturbing too much ground, and should deliver tenderly to hand. He should then await further orders. Commonly referred to as “steady”.

Pops - When a dog stops and looks back to the handler for directions or help on a tough retrieve. This is a serious fault in a field trial.

Pick Up - Two meanings:

1. When the handler calls the dog back to the line before he has completed his series, usually because the dog is failing the test. The judges ask the handler to “pick up” his dog based on the dog’s performance.

2. The style or manner in which a dog retrieves a bird and returns with it. An example of a poor “pick up” is when a dog dawdles along the way or stops to relieve himself. A dog that moves swiftly and purposefully to the bird, gently picks it up and immediately heads back to the handler shows a stylish “pick up”.

Retired - (As in a “retired gun” or a “retired mark.”) Gunners/throwers hide so they don’t give the dog any clue as to where the marks landed. Usually done on a memory bird.

Scoring - Judges score each bird/retrieve individually, on such scales as 1 to 10 or ABCD, to record an overall impression of the relative merit of the dog’s work compared with others being tested.

Series - A group of retrieves, marks or blinds. Generally, you must pass each series to be called back for the next group.

Single - A single retrieve or mark.

Double - Two consecutive retrieves or marks.

Triple - Three, thrown consecutively, that must then be remembered by the dog and handler.

Quad - Four consecutive, that must then be remembered by the dog and handler.

Slips A Whistle - The dog does not stop on a whistle to be given a cast by his handler. Sometimes the dog cannot hear the whistle due to great distance or running water, and other times the dog doesn’t want to hear the whistle!

Stake - Each field event has several levels or stakes of competition. For example, the Amateur Stake is for non-professional handlers and the Derby Stake is for young dogs.

Switching - When a dog hunts in the area of a fall, leaves without finding it and goes to hunt another bird.

Test Dog - A non-competing dog that is run first to demonstrate the mechanics of the tests imposed by that days’ series- to show what the terrain is like and what challenges to expect. The test dog also shows strengths and weaknesses of the test to the judges before actual scoring begins.

Thrower -The person at a station who throws a bird or other object to be retrieved.

Unsteady - A dog that breaks from the line before he is sent or moves while honoring another dog’s work.

Water - Where the birds or “marks” require the dog to swim. (Versus a retrieve made completely by land.)

Wind Direction - Extremely important factor in successful handling and the ability to design field event tests. Birds, either long dead or newly shot, give off scent that the dog can then detect. Depending on the direction and strength of the wind, a dog may pick up the scent from a great distance.

 

Is there a term you think we should add to our Field Glossary?  E-mail us!

Return to the top of this page.