I am looking for information on field trials or hunt test. I am interested in ones held for English pointers and English cocker spaniels. I know a field trial and a hunt test are not the same thing but I would like to go watch a a couple of each and get a feel for them. Does anybody have any dates and locations for any coming up? I am aware of a cocker field trial in Waller next month that I will be attending. Anything else out there anyone may know about? Thanks

You can find the NSTRA schedule online. Go to regions to get the LST and GCT regions. You can take your pointing dogs there and hunt for the leftover birds after the Saturday afternoon trial and before the Sunday morning trial.

Alamo Retriever Club is having a retriever hunt test next month as well go to the web site or te Face Book page

look for a Cocker Spaniel Club, sounds like Waller will be a great start. Find some club members and find out about their next meeting and try to go. Dog People are GREAT People, they will welcome you with open arms.

I went through this starting in 1987 with my first lab and retriever Hunt Tests. I did like you and went to a test and felt so out of place. Find the clubs and go to meetings, During the test is not a good time to talk to competitors. They will be very stressed over the test.

Some of my greatest memories are from those weekend trips and hanging out with the other handlers/owners. Getting in a club is great cuz you will have training buddies ....SUPER important.

You may also find, if your pup loves it, ask about a professional trainer. Training is fun but VERY time consuming and hard to do correctly. Once you get passed the obedience work, its time for field work. IMO, books and videos are good but not better than getting help from a pro. They can read dogs so good and see what they really need help with. Club members at training days will be great too.

TRY not to get involved with the "in-fighting" between UKC, AKC, NSTRA sanctioned groups. as with everything else these days "mine is better than yours". You will get a feel for this soon. I ran AKC and UKC tests, the politics of it all, I ignored. ALL ARE GREAT.

Thanks for the info. Looks like most are a pretty good drive from the RGV but I definitely will go check some out and see if this is something I'm really interested in.

you wont regret it, if just for the obedience and junior tests. it will bring you and your pup even closer