Pointing breed gundogs are predominantly used to hunt upland game birds (pheasant and quail). They are expected to hunt over large areas, distant from their handlers, and when they find game they must point it staunchly until their handler approaches and commands them to flush it for the gun. They are expected to retrieve shot game on command. The breeds recognised as Pointers & Setters (P&S) in NZ are the traditional British breeds (English, Irish and Gordon setters and the Pointer) and all the European HPR breeds (German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Hungarian Vizslas, Brittanys, Large Munsterlanders, Italian Spinone, Bracco Italiano, Cesky Fousek, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla, etc).
The NZGTA runs two Championship trial disciplines for Pointers & Setters; Natural Game trials on wild gamebirds and Simulated game trials on caged pigeons.
A P&S Game trial is a hunting trial with two dogs competing (braced) against each in the search for wild pheasant and quail. The (two) judges are looking for the dogs which please them most from a practical shooting point of view and their judging is supported by direct comparison of competing dogs. Handlers carry shotguns and their dogs usually wear a bell so that their whereabouts can be easily determined throughout the 20-minute run. Dogs are expected to hunt over fresh ground, range very wide and fast, well out of shotgun range, and use the wind to the best advantage while maintaining good contact with their handler. When they find a bird they must hold it (point) without flushing, until the handler and judge get to the dog. On the judge’s order, the dog is commanded to flush; it must actively flush the bird and then stay still when it flies and when a blank shot is fired by the handler. Dogs must also prove they will retrieve cold game before they can be awarded a place in a trial.
A down-the-line pigeon P&S trial is run over a set course containing two concealed live birds (caged pigeons), which must be individually found and pointed, and a single concealed dead bird, which must be found and retrieved. Handlers carry a shotgun and fire blanks at flushed birds. All dogs start with 100 points and the judge deducts points for perceived demerits in performance; e.g. inadequate hunting performance, being out of control, poor finds, failure to point staunchly, chasing birds, unsteadiness to shot, a poor retrieve, or lack of speed and style in their work.
A braced pigeon P&S trial is run under similar rules and performance expectations to a game trial. Dogs are run in pairs over a set course, competing against each other to find concealed live birds (caged pigeons). While the format is different to down-the-line pigeon trials, both formats test similar qualities in a P&S dog. Judging is positively assisted in braced pigeon trials by direct comparison of competing dogs. Dogs are tested with a dead bird retrieve incorporated into the course in the second round of competition.
Novice events are also run for all trials described above. Novice dogs must hunt enthusiastically, find birds and show pointing ability, but the standard of performance and level of control required in these trials is lower than in championships. Retrieving ability is usually not tested.