Trials Dogs v 'Real' gundogs

[Clodagh]

Fascinating today, we were shooting here on the farm and our picker up couldn't make it so asked friends of ours who trial their labs to come. Lovely dogs but truly non thinking automans.
Our two labs (one only a pup) watch and mark shot birds and will go and fetch them when asked, can remember where several have fallen (older bitch) and get them for you. The trials dogs didn't even watch for falling birds and had to be sent for each one, with lovely whistling and hand signals. It was impressive to watch their level of training. I have decided they are two completely different sports, one tests the competence of the handler and one the dog.
Is this always the case or are there real picking up dogs who have successfully trialled?

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I suppose it depends on if the handler is part of a shoot as well as trials.my gramps gun goods were amazing, one of them would.find the ones the others couldn't.

I have a friend who's gun dog does agility in the summer. Seems to cope well doing both

 

[Clodagh]

Like you say, perhaps these ones hadn't done enough real picking up.