Hi all this is my first post.  I currently have 2 dogs, a staffie and a rescue terrier but at some point would like to add a flatcoat to our family.  It will be at least 12 months if not 2 years I have a lot of work to do with our rescue before thinking about introducing another dog, but having been burnt by a BYB with our staffie and now having issues with allergies and such like which will be life long, I am doing my homework, I am researching the breed, breeders everything really. 
I want to know that if things improve with our rescue I know enough to confidently find a good quality breeder.
I'm also interested in looking to do working trials and or showing (if I'm honest I think I sway towards working trials) with our new addition.
So if anyone has any info regarding flat coats and working trials that an enthusiast in the making can use to fill her time please let me know.
Thanks

Hi Lexilou

I have a Hungarian Vizsla & I do Working Trials.  So far I don't remember seeing any reference to flatties doing WT.  I very carefully read the Working Trials Monthly to see if there are any Vizslas competing - there rarely are - sometimes a Wire or two.  But I see no reason at all why a flatties shouldn't be great at WT.  Great noses - biddable to train - athletic enough for the jumps.  Obviously a high prey drive is a double-edged sword - can be used to motivate dog.  BUT - dog might be distracted by game.  I think the main reason that there aren't many gundogs in WT is that people who have gundogs & want to work them do gundog work.

There are some great Flatties doing Obedience.

Flatcoats are great all rounders, Field/gundog work/ obedience/agility/flyball clicker.....show, it is all about the handler, for working  ob better to get from woking lilneage, but all flatcoats just want to please and will try anything.

There are several flatcoats working in agility and obedience I believe there are one or two involved in working trials too. Flatcoats are very versatile and love doing something. There are several ways of contacting breeders and finding out more. I send all prospective owners a document which lists health, what various things on a pedigree mean, how to contact the Breed Society and what the breed is like to live with.
PM me your email address, if you would like to receive a copy. Several flatcoat folk send out a similar thing and my document was based on the original which used to be issued by the Society. I sent it to Jemima Harrison before her 2008 programme and to Sue Jones of the web group Flatcoatdata.
I am glad you are doing the research before getting a puppy as they are not always the easiest dogs to live with. They are very clever and a high energy dog.