Hunt Test Handling
There are three different test levels that make up an AKC Hunt Test. Dogs entered in these test do not compete one against the other, but must achieve a passing score by providing a performance acceptable to the rules for that level. A dogs performance will be judged by two accredited AKC Hunt Test judges. The following are the levels for Hunt Test:
1. Junior
2. Senior
3. Master
The following performances will be judged during the test:
1. Hunting
2. Pointing
3. Bird finding ability
4. Honoring
5. Retrieving
6. Trainability
Honoring and Retrieving are not required for Junior Test. A junior dog may do these things but will not gain points for either of these demonstrations.
Helpful hints.
- No dog training is allowed anywhere on the grounds while the Hunt Test is in progress. This is an AKC Rule. However you may pick your dog up an any time during its brace to insure that no bad habits are reinforce while being tested.
- Be considerate of the host clubs workers and its judges. A lot of work and planning goes into putting on a Hunt Test for you. Pay attention to what is going on and be at the starting line when it is your turn. Being five minutes late for your brace could eliminate you from that days test. Also by being late you just moved your brace mate to the bottom of the list. This is not a good way to make friends.
- Even if things don't go as you planned during your brace, always thank the judges for looking at your dog. It is a hard job sitting in a saddle all day, especially when the weather is bad. Being a judge does have its rewards as you will be able to watch a lot of good hunting dogs work. If you enjoy the Hunt Test scene you mighty even consider working toward becoming a judge. Helping out at a Hunt Test is a good way to learn more and pay back what is extended to you. There is usually always something you can do. All you have to do is ask. If all participants are just takers then Hunt Test will soon fade away. Find out about your local breed club and become involved. It takes people just like you to make things happen.
- So that you don’t waste your time and money, it is important that you read and understand the AKC Hunt Test Rules. It is not uncommon for dogs not to pass because of handler mistakes. Shame on you if you are one of these people. Ask questions if you are not sure on any part of the rules.
- Be considerate of other Hunt Test participants. They have invested time, money, training and traveled to be at the test. You shouldn't enter a dog at a test level that you know will interfere with its brace mate. Senior and Master dogs must never interfere with their brace mate. Junior dogs are given a little more leeway. Dogs that start a fight at any test level will be on their way to being barred from entered all future Hunt Test.
- You must carry a starter pistol while running a dog at all test levels. You will use your starter pistol immediately after a bird flush in Junior Hunt Test. At the Senior and Master level you may or may not have the opportunity to use it. A starter pistol uses a blank cartridge to make a loud report but is incapable of producing a projectile. Starter pistols eject hot powder and are loud. Do not discharge them in the direction of animals or near other people. Indiscriminate use of a starter pistol is not allowed during Hunt Test. You will not be allowed to use bank cartridges in a real gun, so don't even try.
- Master Test level require that you to carry a shot gun or imitation of a long gun. Some people carry BB guns and some carry wooden facsimiles for this purpose. It should look like a gun but doesn't have to shoot. If you carry a gun it should be of the break open type and must not be loaded at any time. You will not be shooting at flushed birds but you are required to shoulder whatever devise you carry as if you were shooting. Designated gunners will be walking the brace with you. You may direct their pal cement before you flush the bird but they will do the actual shooting.
- During the brace you and your dog are a team. Whenever you feel it necessary, you should provide guidance by directing your partner into "birdy" areas and out of difficult situations. You are not running a foot race with the other handler unless you happen to be on a course that has a bird field. (read the premium.) In that case it would to both your best interest that your dogs reach the bird field about the same time. You may not cut the course to reach a bird field.
- Walking fast during your brace may seem like a good idea as you push your dog to get to the birds first. Two things can go wrong with this plan. The first being that you might push you dog so much that it does not adequately hunt the area enough to find any of the minimal number of birds placed there. It is a sad feeling at the end of your brace when you realize you pushed your dog passed the birds. What a waste of time and money. Secondly is you have out paced the other handler and proudly approach you dog on point. Suddenly you realize that you did not outpace the another dog. Now you have an extra dog in the area with no handler present and you are not allowed to handle it. This is never a good situation because dogs without handlers in view sometimes do things they wouldn't otherwise do. What if the other dog runs past your dog to steal point or worse, takes the bird out. Unless you have an extremely well trained dog, yours will probably break. In your haste to be first you just wasted your time and money for the day. Worst of all you have no one to blame but yourself. Believe me, there are enough things which can and do go wrong during a brace without adding to them. Pay attention to what is going on. Keep in mind where the other handler and dog are and what they are doing.
- Try not to let your dog tailgate its brace mate. Your dog must find and work its own birds. The judges will split up if handlers move apart. You go where you want. The judge or marshall will see that you don't stray off of the course. Pay attention to the wind direction. Try to navigate the course where your dog is quartering or running into the wind. Running down wind is of little use to your dog.
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If you encounter roads or trails while on course, try to stay off them as much as possible. If you walk the roads your dog may spend time there also. Most likely there will be few birds found along the road. If your dog locates a bird on a road the bird will usually be walking out of the area. A walking bird when disturbed will do one of two things. It will start to run or fly. Neither option is a good situation for you dog. Don’t waste your time on the road.
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According to the rules, when a bird has moved from its hiding place it is considered flushed. (Read and understand the rules about this.) Don't do extended chases on running birds or run round and round a bush trying to get them to fly. Doing this is very stressful on you and your dog. A lot of dogs break under this pressure. You don't realize how much time is spent not watching your dog while trying to get a bird to fly away. If you feel a situation is unworkable, ask the judge if you may move on. If allowed, you may heal your dog out of the area and move on. (understand the rule about delayed chase.) Warning, if the judge is unable to see the pointed bird, this point will be considered a non productive point. One non productive point may lower your dogs score but that in itself is no reason to not pass your dog.
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Within the rules, help your dog whenever you feel it necessary. Just remember to trust your dog. The quantity of birds on course and the time to find them is limited. Your dog can not pass a hunt test if it doesn't find a bird. Your dog may not pass if the judge feels you directed your dog directly to a bird you have located. You may however, direct your dog some distance upwind of an area where you hear or have seen a bird and let the dog locate and point it. When the scenting conditions are not good, I have witnessed dogs work past viewable birds that were only a few feet away from them. In defense of the dogs, what is visible to a handler or judge may not be visible at dog level.
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On occasion a judge may ask you to direct your dog into an honoring situation. Because these situation can use up many minutes, if your dog is bird less at this request you may refuse and continue hunting. It is advisable to view any honoring request at dog level to satisfy yourself that it is workable for your dog. Sometimes judges forget that what they view on horseback is not necessarily visible at dog level. Bring it to their attention if you feel they are asking you to direct your dog into an adverse situation. In your dogs quest to find a bird, should it encounter its brace mate on point it must execute an honor whether it has found a bird or not. For this reason a lot of Master and Senior dog handlers try to keep their dogs separated until after they have found a bird. It is always good to get pointing, retrieving and honoring done while on course thus avoiding a call back situation.
- "Call Back" situations are only offered to Senior and Master level dogs. A call back situation may be concluded at the end of your brace, or at a later time. Call backs will include dogs that were run in your test or another level. If you are directed to a call back it means your dog has pointed a bird and has a passing score up to this point. Each dog invited for a call back will be given the opportunity to demonstrate an Honor, Retrieve or both if necessary. Your dog may fail or pass the test at this point. There is a tremendous amount of pressure put on a dog during call back situations. You should train for these situations as they are short tight test. Your dog will not have the opportunity to run off any excess excitement before it is put to work.
- Most important, if you are in doubt of anything during your test, ask the judge. Judges are there to judge your dog and see that the rules are followed. It is up to you to handle your dog correctly. Judges will answer any question you may have.
The Advice given here does not overwrite any AKC Hunt Test Rules. It is only handling techniques gained through years of participating in and judging Hunt Test. It is offered as information to help relieve some of the stress for new Hunt Test participants. I have noticed some information may be of value to persons participating at higher Hunt Test levels also. As you participate in Hunt Test you will gain experience and acquire your on handling techniques.
Written by Gerald Richey 03/04/2011
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