Hunting and Field Trials date back to medieval times, when royalty from all over the known world would bring their royal hounds and hunt together, competing for who could get the best catch. There was a wide range of game for the hounds to catch -- from small game such as water fowl, rabbit, or fox, to larger game such as bear, deer, and elk.

Modern ethics and morals, however, have determined that allowing teams of dogs to go after any game animal is not allowed. However, humans have found a way to preserve the mighty heritage of the hounds in our modern Hunting and Field Trials. Now, we use a variety of decoys and fake animals that are thrown into water for dogs to retrieve, or we coat decoys in some scent and drag them around wooded, grassy areas and through streams in an attempt to confuse the hounds.

In these trials, a dog's wit is tested in a game similar to Tracking, but not quite the same. In Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to know how to keep quiet and still when commanded, and know when to spring upon an unsuspecting target. It also has to know how to obey the slightest gesture from its handler and to read the handler's entire body language. On top of this, in Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to be able to withstand the sound of gunfire, a sound which can make any species flee without a second thought. All of this has to become second nature to the hunting dog.

A proper hunting dog will have the perfect gait; easy, quiet, and fleet like a deer. They'll also be very enduring, so they can keep going in harsh weather and through rough terrain. In addition, a proper hunting dog will be strong, as sometimes a hunting dog will be expected to take down game two to three times its own size.


Written By: Larthan (#36671)
Edited by: Kahlem (#1)

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