I figured by now I would have life mostly figured out and would have nearly as much free time playing outdoors as I wanted. Not!

I am not complaining, and I know I am not the only one living this rushed existence we call life. I am just stating the facts.

Today's busy life makes me wonder, why not buy a spaniel field trial washout to be your gun dog rather than training a puppy from scratch?

Strangely, it often seems that it is easier to come by money than time. That is especially true when the time has to be in consistent, regular increments spread over a year-and-a-half, as is required for training a gun dog.

First, let us consider what is expected from a spaniel during a field trial.

Trial Expectations
A spaniel should be mannerly and under control at all times, and should not show excitement by barking or making loud yipping noises. He should respond promptly to whistle and/or voice commands; these should not be loud.

Loud noises disturb game; regulations direct all dogs and participants to remain relatively quiet, as if they were enjoying a day of hunting.

Spaniels should cover their entire beat, or ground, with good speed, covering adequately to both sides and front so they can scent and find all game on their beat. Spaniels should use the wind to their advantage when coursing the field. They should not range too far to the sides, nor should they range too far down field--they must always remain within shotgun range.

The dog should show courage in facing cover, as birds will take refuge in the harshest cover.

Once a spaniel scents a bird he should track it, find it and flush it for the "gun" (in range). In a perfect world, or to win a ribbon for 1st, 2nd or 3rd, the dog would sit at the flush and/or shot and retrieve only when commanded to do so. When sent, the spaniel should retrieve the bird to the handler in a direct manner. Spaniels should mark fallen game well.

A field trial should be like a normal day's hunt, only more nearly perfect.

Okay, you are wondering, what is the big deal? That does not sound like too much for a gun dog to do.

You are correct.

Fact is, though, to have pup perform that way he needs to be trained four to five times a week doing yard work/training (obedience), quartering and control for a year to a year and a half. For three months, 15--20 minutes (especially if you could do it twice a day) would work. The next four months, 20--35 minutes would work (especially if you could do another five to 10 minutes separately).

The next five months, 30--40 minutes would work (especially with 10 minutes separately), with birds a couple of times a week. The last six months would work with 25--40 minutes, including field/bird work three, maybe four times a week.

That is realistically doable...if you are dedicated. But it is very easy to say, "Oh, I'll do a bit more tomorrow instead of doing it today." Gun dog training schedules quickly fall apart for all but the highly motivated.

Here is something else to consider--every spaniel entered in a field trial can properly do all that is laid out above.

The only question remaining is, how well can he do it?

What It Takes To Win
Speed is one of the biggest factors in winning and placing in field trials today.

All the competing spaniels can quarter, cover their ground, find and flush birds, remain steady and retrieve them. How fast they can do those things is critically important.

If a dog is too fast for his nose he'll be in trouble because he will miss or bump birds before he knows it--but the judge will know it.

Judges also want to place stylish dogs, dogs that, in addition to being fast, snap their foreshortened tail rapidly, turn on a dime, run confidently, snap their head around at the least scent of a bird and leap skywards after flushing birds.