Gun Dog Forum

Anyone going to be doing any hunt testing in the Ohio / Michigan area this spring? I see the AKC site already has some listed for Highland, MI.

I will be at the 3/31 and 4/21 events for sure.

The Ohio Brittany Club will have a field trial at Killdeer March 17 & 18. We will have an amateur walking puppy and amateur walking derby open to all AKC registered breeds . These stakes will run on the 17th.

We will also have a hunt test May 20th at Smoke Rise Kennels ( formerly Basham's) in Nova Ohio.

I have been To Basham's before there in Nova.

Not too bad of a site. I will probably be there.

Brittguy, any other stakes open to all breeds?

Not at our spring trial. I am considering adding a open limited gun dog open to all breeds. This would be at our fall trial.

In 40 words or less can you explain this hunt test to me. I am new to all of this and would like to learn. I have run a couple of field test around ne ohio but would like to get more involved.

Thanks,

In a hunt test, dogs are judged against a standard or performace and not against the field of dogs.

JH, Junior Hunter is the first level. SH, Senior Hunter is a Middle level. MH or Master Hunter is the top level. Each level gets progressively more difficult and requires a dog to be more polished.

Thanks for the reply. Are the tests breed specific, it seems from your post that they are, and are they on foot, I don't much care for horses too darn much work. And lastly are there any in Ohio, I see you are from the Columbus area, I am closer to Akron. I have been to Bascham's a long time ago. Thanks again.

Hunt test are not breed spefic but the most field trials are. They only have tests at bashams. It is not big enough for FT's. It is barely big enough for testing. Testing is on foot and most FT's for older dogs are on horseback. There is walking trials and puppy/derby classes that are foot. Most places you can rent horses to run your dog. There is events at Kildeer plains that is in Upper Sandusky, OH and there is alot more down south. The AKC site has listing for events.

Dawitner, the basics of testing is-

Junior hunter-has to point birds.

Senior hunter-has to point birds and hold until the shot, retrieve to hand, and back the other dog. You can command the dog verbally in SH tests.

Master hunter-has to do everything senior does but no commands also has to hold through the other dogs retrieve on a back. Has to be fully broke. Has to make a better retrieve than SH without dropping the bird or fumbling it around.

There is alot of rules but this is the generals.

I'll be around. Running the V trying to get the rest of his MH legs.

When I started out, I read every book, I looked for every angle, etc. I like to have drove myself and the V-dog crazy.

I eventually learned to just train my dog and go to hunt tests along the way to have fun. I hunt his butt off at the HTs, have a good time, let the chips fall where they may and let his results point out things that need work.

HTs are fun, family-oriented events. Everyone is friendly and everyone wants you to pass.

My only aggravation with them is that the due to the way the judging works out, they are mostly obedience tests. If a dog doesn't screw up but isn't really hunting, the handler still expects a passing score. I've seen it happen in FTs some, too, though. Dog has a screaming run and a couple of horse-path finds and gets a placement....

Best regards,

I don't know about you all...

But I am starting to get pumped for Spring Hunt Tests and other events sith my dogs...

Hope the weather breaks soon.

Greg:

"the handler still expects a passing score" when the dog doesn't really hunt.

Expec that to change in the AKC rule book. I have it on good word.

Now, how the judge interprets this will differ, but if I am in the saddle and the dog is a afraid to leave the handler's side or is obviously not hunting..... You know.

I have seen this several times in the past year, which is depressing.

On a lighter note, the Miami Valley Vizsla Club will host one 6/2-3 in Cardinton, OH. Come on out and have some fun!