Trials and variations

As the line between gundogs and trialling dogs grows ever wider, David Tomlinson wonders whether it’s time to split the breed standards in two

- David Tomlinson

FERRARI makes beautiful cars, combining a great appearance with a stunning performance. However, there is one notable exception: its Formula 1 car. For ultimate performance, looks have to be sacrificed. I sometimes wonder whether we are guilty of a similar approach with our gundogs. All our breeds of gundogs, without exception, are handsome dogs but the ultimate performance dogs – those that compete in trials – are often far from good looking. Whether it be snipe nosed labradors or all-white springers with just one brown ear, trialling dogs rarely conform to the breed standard or anything like it.

As long as a dog is Kennel Club registered and the correct breed it can compete in a trial. Field trial judges are there to consider the dog’s performance, not its appearance. They might look disapprovingly at, say, a silver-colored labrador or a cocker that looks more like a small springer, but they are not going to disqualify a dog because of its looks. This explains why we have such a distinct division today between work and show lines. You are no more likely to win the Retriever Championship with a show-bred labrador than you are to win the British Grand Prix with a Ferrari designed for the road, not the race track.