Retriever Field Trials-AKC
The Retriever Field Trial sport of today can trace its origin to the late 1920's to early 1930's when a small group of avid hunters devised a sport in which they could evaluate the performance of their hunting retrievers in a competitive environment and obtain Championships along with bragging rights. Today's modern Retriever Field Trial is a much evolved event with some of the best trained, highly skilled, and well conditioned competitors in the Sporting Group. (AKC:2007)


There are field trials for many different breeds of dogs. The Field Trials are divided into four different parts based on the distinguishing characteristics of hunting breeds: (1) Scenting or Trailing hounds, (2) Pointing breeds, (3) Flushing Breeds, (4) Retrieving Breeds. Retrieving breeds will fetch or retrieve from both land and water that quarry shot by the hunter. Poodles are considered retrievers. Although, Poodles can not compete within the retrieving breed format, AKC Filed Trials which lead to a Field Trial Championship, they can run and earn titles (Junior, Senior, Master) in AKC Hunt tests. These Hunt Test Certificates (Certificate/Working Certificate Excellent titles) are PCA titles only.

For more Field Trial Info:
The Poodle Club of America, Inc. allows any registered Poodle over six months of age which meets the performance requirements to receive the Working Certificate and the Working Certificate Excellent.
The purposes of these Certificates are to test the natural working ability of the Poodle and to demonstrate his interest in birds, his ability to take direction from the handler, his marking ability, his willingness to enter the water, and his trainability.

These tests are designed to enable most Poodles with a natural working instinct to pass the Working Certificate Test and with modest training to pass the Working Certificate Excellent Test. These programs provide an avenue for Poodle owners to enjoy and develop an appreciation and understanding of the natural working abilities of their dogs and to engage in early training as a working retriever. (PCA:2007)

Poodle Papers Spring2007
see page 32
From Regulations & Guidelines for AKC® Hunting
Tests For Retrievers
Junior Hunting Tests
Dogs shall be tested on four single marks, two on land and two on water. Dogs shall be steady but may be brought to the line on leash with a flat buckle collar. Dogs may be restrained gently with a slipcord, or held gently by the flat buckle collar until sent to retrieve. English slip leads, prong, choke and pinch-type collars are prohibited. Leashes, including short tabs, shall be removed before dogs are run.
Senior Hunting Tests Dogs shall be tested in minimum of four hunting situations that shall include one land blind, one water blind (that may be run as a double bind on land and water), one double land mark, and one double water mark. There shall be at least one diversion shot and at least one of the hunting situations should include a walk-up.
Master Hunting Tests
Dogs shall be tested in a minimum of five hunting situations as follows: multiple land marks, multiple water
marks, multiple marks on water and land, a land blind and a water blind (at least one that shall be a double blind in any combination). There shall be at least three series. At least one of the series shall include a walk-up, diversion birds and/or diversion shots.
(Mia DiBenedetto:2007)

click> See "Tango" in the field
Finnish/Swedish/American Champion