Field trials are a competitive sport involving a team - a handler and a dog. A trial gives a handler and his or her dog the opportunity to compete in the field with their peers. The purpose of a spaniel field trial is to demonstrate the performance of a properly trained spaniel in the field and who works as a partner with the handler. The performance should be nearly perfect in the field and not differ from any ordinary day in the field. Field trials have an Open All Age Stake, Amateur All Age Stake, and a Puppy Stake (for dogs under 2 years of age).
Huts Tests by contrast evaluate a dogs' performance against a set of AKC standard. Under the classification of Junior, Senior, or Master Hunter, dogs participate in hunt test based on five categories (hunting ability, bird finding ability, flushing, trained ability, and retrieving) and is rated on a scale of one to ten.