I was wondering how do I go about getting into field trials with my dogs? Is it very expensive? I have two that I know would do very well. Do you have to have someone else be the handler?

FT's can get costly, depending on how "into" it you get. Birds for training, quad for conditioning, horse for conditioning/handling off (although many trials you can rent a horse). E-collars, launchers, and tracking collars.......you can train w/o most of the above, as I said it depends on how into it you get, these things are a big help. Then you have travel expenses and entry fees, about $35-$45 per stake.

Many people do use pro's, rates vary, figure around $400-$450 a month plus birds, entry fees, handling fees and travel expenses (usually split up between all the clients).

I do not own a quad or a horse, nor property, I train mostly on SGLS & some private ground & have done fairly well in FT's, I train/handle my own guys. My best recommendation is to try a few (or at least go watch one)and see how you like them & if you wish to pursue running them yourself or send the dog out to run. See if you can hook up with someone close to you who trials & will help you. Most of all have fun, I personally love FT's and have a blast running the dogs in them!

Go watch a few (check the akc webpage for dates in your area) you will meet people, most times you can join the club, some have 'training days' and some don't. You should also check out the hunt tests, a little less intimidating for a newcomer (no compitition, your dog just has to meet the standard).

Ok, Thanks guys. I am in the tip of Michigan so there haven't been much up this way. I'll look on the AKC site and check. I train my own as well. I have pidgeons I start them on and then it's mostly wild ones. I do have a friend that had a pheasant farm and I go there a few times a year and run them on them and his chukars. I was just wondering about the handlers because I am not sure how my dogs would be with someone else giving the orders. They will point every bird (except usually the first on hunting season) but will only bring a downed bird to me. I'll keep looking for some more info. Also being that I would like to do it for some fun and to meet others. Will they allow you to put a fixed dog into one?

Thankyou, I'll check it out. I am just south of the bridge between northern Michigan and the Upper Penninsula

I am actually about 15 miles south of Mackinaw city. I will look on the akc site. They had one in Alba MI but I couldn't make it. Last year. That is the closest I have seen so far. That's what I get for living out in the sticks. Can you handle your own dogs in the trials? Mine are good but not sure if they would like any one else ordering them around.

Is there some where that has more info? The AKC site or something? I know that Hunter would do fine, especially in retrieving fallen birds. So if he would be against 13 dogs in amatuer, do they judge by how many birds he finds/ points/ retrieves? I'm not sure how it works.