Welcome back! Now that you’ve got the lay of the land from Part 1, it’s time to dig into the nitty-gritty of how to enter your dog in a UKC field trial. Spoiler alert: it’s not as complicated as it sounds! Whether you’ve got a young dog just starting out or a seasoned hunter ready to compete with the best, there’s a class for you.
Entering the Trial
First things first—you’ll need to make sure your dog has a UKC registration number, either permanent or temporary. Once that’s squared away, it’s just a matter of finding the right class that matches your dog’s experience level and steadiness. Need a blank entry form? Click here.
To officially enter the trial, you’ll need to fill out an entry form, which is usually submitted to the field trial secretary. UKC has introduced an online form, but many trials still rely on the traditional paper method. This form will ask for your contact information and your dog’s UKC registration details, and it’s where you’ll select the class your dog will compete in. Your dog's UKC number can be found on it's UKC Registration paperwork. Note: A sample is included below; however, the format may be slightly different depending on why you registered your dog. You can submit it via mail or by scanning and emailing it—just be sure to keep an eye on those entry deadlines! Now that the paperwork is out of the way, let’s dive into the classes.
Why Classes Matter
Field trials are all about fair competition, so dogs are separated into different classes based on their experience and skill level. These tiers help ensure your dog is competing against others at the same stage in their training. From the entry-level TAN to the elite Open class, UKC offers something for everyone.
TAN – The Natural Ability Test
If you're brand new to field trials (or your dog is), the TAN is where you’ll start. Think of it as the “first day of school” for both dog and handler. TAN is scored on a pass/fail basis and is open to dogs at least six months old but under three years. To pass, your dog needs to:
Hunt the field independently,
Find a bird and point for three seconds,
Not be gun-shy.
The good news? Once your dog points, it can do all the wild stuff that puppies love—crashing the bird, chasing it in flight, you name it. This class is about natural ability, not polished performance. You’ll meet the judge in the field, release your dog, and simply guide them as they explore. If your dog doesn’t pass, don’t fret. You can enter future TAN tests as long as they haven’t aged out!
WRT – The Water Retrieve Test
Next up is the Water Retrieve Test (WRT), which—like TAN—is a pass/fail test. This one’s designed to see if your dog can retrieve a bird from the water. Dogs must be at least six months old, and there’s no upper age limit. The test starts by meeting the judge near a body of water, where a dead bird is tossed in while a shot is fired. The dog is then released to swim out, retrieve the bird, and bring it back to shore. Watch a sample run of a dog performing a WRT.
Now, the dog doesn’t need to deliver the bird to your hand like a polished retriever—just get all four paws on dry land with the bird in their mouth, and you’re golden. If your dog doesn’t pass, you can enter them in future WRT tests.
GUN – The Casual Competitor's Class
The Gun Class is for handlers and dogs who are serious about hunting but may not be ready for the heightened expectations of higher classes. Gun dogs must find and point birds in the field, but they’re allowed to break when the bird is flushed. No extra steadiness is required (though a judge might appreciate it).
In a liberated trial, a gunner (not the handler) will shoot the flushed bird, and the dog is expected to retrieve it to within 15 feet of the handler. The Gun Class is where many working hunters and casual trialers feel most at home. Handlers meet the judge in the field, and from there, it’s all about the dog doing what it does best—hunting!
OPEN – The Elite Dog Class
Ready to take things up a notch? Welcome to the Open Class. This is the top-tier UKC trial where dogs are expected to showcase a combination of drive, field coverage, and impeccable bird work. Dogs in the Open Class must be steady to the flush, shot, and fall of the bird, and they can’t be released until the judge gives permission. Retrieval must be clean and delivered to hand.
In this class, handlers are allowed to communicate with their dogs as they cover the field, but once the dog is on point, it’s hands-off—no verbal or physical cues allowed. Open Class is where the best of the best compete, and it’s a true test of both dog and handler’s teamwork.
Running in Solo vs. Braces
Both the Gun and Open Classes can be run either solo or in braces (pre-determined on the Premium). Running solo means your dog takes on the field alone, while in braces, two dogs run together in a heat. When running in braces, there’s an additional layer of judgment: backing or honoring—where one dog acknowledges the other’s point and stops to avoid interfering with the bird work.
The UKC Scoring System: Not a Bird Count Contest
One unique aspect of UKC trials is that it’s not a numbers game. Your dog doesn’t automatically get extra points for finding more birds. While the number of birds found might be considered in deciding a winner, what really matters is how well the dog covers the field, how responsive they are to the handler, and the quality of their bird work.
In fact, a judge might choose a dog that finds fewer birds but works the field beautifully and demonstrates flawless bird manners, over a dog that’s all over the place but stumbles on more birds. It’s all about quality, not quantity!
The Logistics: Batteries and Barrages
If you’ve been around UKC trials long enough, you’ve probably heard the terms battery and barrage. Here's the lowdown:
Battery: When more than 12 dogs are entered in a class, the trial chairman can split them into smaller groups called batteries. This helps speed up the day since multiple batteries can run at the same time, often in different fields with different judges.
Barrage: After the batteries are complete, the winners from each group may face off in a final run-off known as a barrage. This is where the best dog from each battery competes to see who will be crowned the overall winner for the day.
And remember, while we’ve given you a crash course in the basics, the UKC rulebook is over 60 pages long. We’ve just hit the highlights here, so if you’ve got questions, don’t hesitate to ask the field trial chairman or your judge. They’re there to help, and everyone was a rookie once.
Now that you’ve chosen your class, you’re ready to tackle the trial day itself. What happens next? Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll walk you through the day-of experience and share tips to help make your trial debut as smooth as possible.
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