In your opinion, are trials a true gauge of a dog's worth as a birddog?
For the most part trials are only as good for birddogdom as the grounds and game they are ran on as well as the pair of rears in the judges seats. I do think there is some significant value to birddogdom from dogs that seem to come out on top at multiple different venues on multiple different birds from multiple different judges.
Do you think it's okay for someone to breed specifically for dogs that will win trials without any regard for how they will be as hunting dogs?
I think folks can breed for whatever floats their boats - it's up to the consumer to do their due diligence to evaluate if a breeding will likely float their boat as well!
At the Favor house we excel at getting our butts kicked at both hunting and field trialing!! They gotta be serviceable at doing a lot of things - hunting, trialing, pets, guarddogs...they don't hafta be great at anything - and they excel at that!!
http://www.vimeo.com/48772466