The televised competitions are not trials or tests. They are specifically designed for television. Entry is usually by invitation.
In American trials and tests some live birds are actually shot during competitions. They call it a live flyer, usually with 2 shooters to make sure the game is killed.
There is only one hunt test organisation that has even mentioned using dummies and that is when disease makes it impossible to use game.
They have lost some very experienced members by heading this way.
As far as looking toward the obedience group for any direction it is my understanding that obedience trail participation has been steadily falling for the last few years.
Perhaps we need to look toward hunting organisations such as Field and Game to try and swell our numbers. We run Field and Game tests and that's a start but I am sure we could work more closly with this organisation to promote the working gundog.
Waynep.