AKC Hunt Test Question

Coveyrise64 · Post by **Coveyrise64** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:08 pm

Got a Hunt Test question. Dog points, steady to wing, shot, fall and sent to retrieve. On way to retrieve, another bird flushes wild. What should the dog do? Continue on sent retrieve or stop to flush. If dog stops to flush, are you allowed to walk to dog and release it again to retrieve first bird?

Thanks...

Coveyrise64

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:11 am

I don't know what the official answer would be.

I would hope that this would be counted an extreme condition and lattitude given.

I would want *my* dog to stop to the flush. Would he do it? Well, I hope the situation doesn't come up....he *really* likes to retrieve.

Best regards,

Mary · Post by **Mary** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 10:56 am

Good question with two possible answers

If your dog is sent for a retrieve and a bird flushes wild he/she should stop to flush. You should be allowed to go to your dog after the shot and send him/her on for the retrieve. This has happened a couple of times when I was judging a hunt test/field trial.

Another way of looking at this is if the dog does not stop to flush but catches the bird and brings it back then the dog has completed the retrieve. The dog should not be penalized for not stopping to flush how was the dog to know the bird that flew was not the bird he/she was sent for. This has also happened when I was judging.

As long as the dog returns with a bird after being sent for the retrieve they should get credit for the retrieve.

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:45 am

In a master Brace if your dog goes after a wild flush you will be picked up. He must stop to the flush and hold. At the shot if you think that the bird was not hit very good the judge should call no bird. If you then send your dog you are under judgement. If you send the dog the dog must make the ret. If the dog has the bird in there mouth and there is a wild flush. The dog should stop or continue to the handler. If the dog goes after the flush you will be picked up. I have had this happen while I was judging a hunt test. I do not judge field trials. Don't much care for them. In the real hunting world a dog you can see is like not having a dog at all.

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:55 pm

Kevin,

I think the original question was like this:

1. MH test. Dog stands through flush, shot and drop as required and is sent by handler on the retrieve.

2. While going to dropped bird for retrieve, say it's downwind, the dog bumps another bird without giving indication that it was scented.

3. Should the dog stop to flush or continue for the retrieve.

My personal opinion is that the stop to flush takes precedence.

Best regards,

snips · Post by **snips** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:41 pm

I don`t think it should be held against him either way. If he did stop to flush, then continue on to complete retrieve. Or just continue on the retrieve. I don`t think the handler would or should have to move.

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:51 pm

As long as the dog does not go after the wild flush and makes the Ret. to hand your still in. The handler must stay at the point of the flush. You can go backwards just not forwards.

Mary · Post by **Mary** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:09 pm

Here is a quote from the rules and regs for Hunting Test from the AKC site. This clearly states how unusual circumstances should be handled during a retrieve. One circumstance covered is encountering a second bird during a retrieve.

"Some unusual situations can occur in the retrieve. For instance, the gunner fires a shot and the bird goes down. When the dog is sent for the retrieve, the bird flies away. Some Judges say that if a command is given to retrieve, the dog must come back with the bird or the Retrieving score will be 0. In this circumstance, the attempt should not be scored and the Judges should give a dog a chance to retrieve another bird. The dog can continue on course for another find, or a callback could be used. Two Official Gunners must be used whenever a dog is called back to retrieve.

Another situation which can occur is the appearance of a second live bird which pops up in the general vicinity of a downed bird. The dog is sent to retrieve a downed bird and either grabs or chases the second bird. Judges should not score the dog lower in Retrieving for this action and should score the dog on its retrieve if it returns with the bird. If the dog catches the bird and does not make an acceptable retrieve, it should be scored lower in Retrieving.

A dog should be able to retrieve a crippled running bird. A dog which is able to complete the retrieve of a running bird should not be scored lower for killing the bird, provided the bird is not damaged to the extent of being inedible.

A subject, indirectly related to the retrieve, is the delayed chase. A delayed chase means that after a bird has been flushed and the dog has not been ordered to retrieve, it chases after the bird when sent on in another direction. A delayed chase should detract from the score in Trainability"

Post by **pear** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm

gundogguru wrote: I do not judge field trials. Don't much care for them. In the real hunting world a dog you can see is like not having a dog at all.

Please explain this statement. I'm a little confused at what your trying to say..........."pear"

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:43 pm

Pear what field trials I have seen and they have been few. The dogs cast off and there gone out of sight. Your ride for 15 minutes and you mite see a flash of dog then nothing then you mite or mite not find your dog on point. or a spotter finds your dog on point. My way of thinking is that if I can't see my dog work then why have one. I know this going to open a can of worms to all those people that like field trials. I just don't think that a dog that runs wide "bleep" open in pretty much a striaght line is a great bird dog. I don't think much of a dog that I have to have a horse just so I can keep up with them is much of a Hunting partner. << edited by grant >> I live with my dogs. What field breed dog I have been around don't seem like they would make very good house pets. This is just my opinion.

Post by **pear** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:04 pm

GDG, I think I miss read what you meant. I think you had "can" when you meant "can't". I agree if you can't see your dog most of the time, he/she isn't hunting for/with you. I field trial in a venue that requires a good foot hunting dog. Often in cover and roughness that makes it a challenge to see a good close foot hunter. I don't believe I'd enjoy riding a horse aimlessly hunting my dog, hoping to find it on point. Sorry I mistook your original post........."pear"

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:13 pm

No prblem pear. it was mistake sorry.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:48 pm

GDG I agree and disagree.

The dog were bread to point so that you dont need to see that dog all the time. It was bred so that it can be used out of gun range and not flush birds wild but point them.

I do agree I like to see my dog work. I like her just out of gun range tops. Mainly i like to work her at 100 150 feet. in light cover. Closer for heavier cover.

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:30 pm

Ryan, that is too close for a pointing dog. you want thenm in soght maybe but not gun range. 2 or 300 yqrds in lighter cover wouldnt be all bad.

Ezzy

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:31 pm

for pheasants in the cattails i like her working closer. especially around here birds can get kinda finiky and flush wild.

statelyweims · Post by **statelyweims** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 3:41 pm

If anybody is interested, I'm hosting an AKC hunt test seminar and an AKC field trial seminar on Aug. 27-28th in Columbus, Ohio. Shoot me an email to fcdreams@yahoo.com and I'll send you the registration form if you'd like to come. The facilities at the emergency vet service are very nice.......that's where the meeting rooms are.
I always hate those tough situations in hunt tests.

MB