Trials?

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 2:40 am

I am new to the idea of trials. I have hunted with beagle many times but I do not have a clue what goes on at a trial. Would some one give a detailed description of a normal day at a trial?

I know there are differant kinds of trials. But if I were to take my dog to one, what can I expect?

Thanks for any info, Happy holidays

ant · Post by **ant** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 10:51 am

good question ...i am in the same boat as you..
anthony

Alabama John · Post by **Alabama John** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 1:19 pm

Newbie and Ant, I'll tell you what happens when I go.
(1) Arrive about an hour before posted end of signing up. Go in and eat breakfast and visit and BS with friends about who is going to beat me today.
(2) Get an application to enter your dog and fill it out and if dog is not registered in that trial registery, fill out that app. also and get the dog inspected and turn in both apps and pay the fees. Ask anyone where and how to do this and anyone will help you. You'll be assigned a number for your dog that will be good for the whole trial.
(3) All the dogs numbers will be will be drawn out one at a time to make up the first cast and then again for the second cast. When your dogs number comes up, write it down as that will be the cast you will run in.
(4) When all dogs have their cast, you will go get your dog and bring it to the gathering place for your cast and a judge will be there as well as the other dogs that are to run in your cast. The numbers will be checked to make sure the proper dogs are present and a colored collar will be given you to put on your dog. For that cast your dog will be known as that color collar.
(5) You will follow the judge to a running place and again bring your dog on a leash to the judge and the cast will turn the dogs loose at the command of the judge. Now, just stay out of the way and let your dog do its thing. If the judge says handle your dog, do so, catch your dog, and bring your dog to the judge again on a leash for his instructions. At the end of the cast, one dog will win, others will be given points plus or minus based on its performance and you'll go back to the club house.
(6) Winners only numbers will be put in a hat and redrawn for new casts made up of those that won their cast and be taken out just like before. This will be repeated until there is the winners.
Somewhere between cast, you will eat lunch. Hopefully you will be there all day. Those that leave early did not make it past the first cast. I've done both, but still stay and enjoy the running of those that beat me. Anyone can go out and watch and listen to any cast you want to go on.
(7) Have fun!!! Don't get too serious.

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Tue Dec 24, 2002 4:04 am

Thank you, that was very helpful. When the dogs run what make a winner? That was a little to open ended. I mean what goes on when the dogs are cast? How are they judged?

Thanks, merry x-mass

Missouri hillbilly · Post by **Missouri hillbilly** » Tue Dec 24, 2002 5:09 am

I just registered.... this is newbie......... Another question.... what are the points for? You said they get + and - 's.

Thanks, Happy holidays.

tnbeagleman · Post by **tnbeagleman** » Tue Dec 24, 2002 8:31 am

The hounds are placed in thta cast and at that hunt by order of points . I would siggest you go to a registery webpage and look at some rules they explain them well . Go to AHRA and look under progressive pack or little pack and they will show you the rules and scoring someone else may help you with ukc and akc I don't trial in those reg. because there is not any near me.

kjohns · Post by **kjohns** » Tue Dec 24, 2002 11:42 am

http://www.ukcdogs.com/rules/hb-index.html

That is the link to the UKC beagle rules. I haven't made it to one yet and the rules did leave me with a few unanswered questions but they gave me the jist of it and helped a lot.

The ARHA rules are very specific and give a good idea of how things should work.