There are a few different types. Our's were essentially bird hunting from horseback. 2 handlers, 2 dogs, 2 judges, usually working planted quail, for 30 or 60 minutes at a time, depending on the stake. Idea is for the dogs to run, hitting suitable cover along a loosely prescribed course, and hopefully scenting the bird(s), which the dog should point & hold 'til the the handler could find them (they generally run pretty big, thus the horse), dismount, flush the bird, and fire a blank pistol or shotgun. The dog is judged on pattern (checking likely cover) and how they handle their birds. Chasing the flushed bird (breaking shot), is ground for disqualification. When those two dogs finish the course, or run out of time, they they are leashed and another brace (two more dogs) is started along the same course. At the conclusion of the stake ( or class, if you will), all of the competing dogs are judged against one another & 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place is announced. Most stakes are trophy stakes, some (professional handlers) are money stakes.
There's much more to it, but that's the gist of it. Clear as mud?
I live with the fear of that kind of loss now whereas before I was blissfully ignorant. Sorry.
