AKC Retriever Field Trials

Retriever field trials offer practical demonstrations of a dog's ability to perform, in the field, the functions for which it was bred. Dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward their championships.

In a retriever field trial, the dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward their championships. Successful dogs earn an FC (Field Champion) title in front of their names on AKC records. Dogs can also earn an AFC (Amateur Field Championship) in Amateur Stakes.

Retrievers are tested on their ability to remember ("mark") the location of downed birds and to return those birds to their handlers. Both hunting tests and field trials have different levels of difficulty, requiring dogs to mark multiple birds and find unmarked birds ("blind retrieves") at higher levels.

The eligible breeds are Chesapeake Bay, Curly- Coated, Flat-Coated, Golden and Labrador Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels.

For more information on the rules and regulations of field trials, visit the AKC website.

Local Trials

The Fairbanks Retriever Club hosts two field trials each year, held on back-to-back weekend. Information on current and past trials is available through Entry Express.