JUNIOR LEVEL HUNTING TEST TIPS
GENERAL TIPS
1. Read the AKC rule book on Hunt Tests. Printed copies of the rules are available at the AKC website.
Under “Products” click on “Rules-References”
Click on “Hunting Tests”
Choose “AKC Pointing Breed Hunting Test Rule Book”
2. Go to training sessions.
3. Go out in the field on your own or with one other person and dog to practice.
Work on commands to control your dog in the field.
Field commands are different than obedience commands.
Whoa = stop
Here = come
Easy = slow down
Up or Front = dog needs to get up ahead of you
4. Practice commands in backyard.
5. Use pigeons to train if quail aren’t available. Professional trainers use pigeons.
6. If you pass your last leg of Junior at a HT on Saturday, carefully consider whether you and dog are ready to move up to Senior on Sunday. Only move up if you are confident your dog is ready and that it won’t interfere with bracemate.
Here are some tips in the 4 categories that will be judged in the Junior Level Hunting Test:
HUNTING ABILITY
Dogs should show a keen desire to hunt, boldness, independence, fast yet useful running pattern.
BACK COURSE
1. At the line keep a good space between you and your bracemate.
2. Be assertive w/your dog if it’s trailing, bumping, or interfering with bracemate. Call dog to you if needed.
Judges should watch for this and give direction to handlers if this occurs.
3. Dogs should be looking for game – sniffing intently at bushes, grass clumps – areas where wild birds would covey.
4. Encourage dog along the way with praise. Don’t let them mess around. Keep dog ahead of you. Have a command to get your dog ahead of you. Excessive talking to your dog is called “Hacking.” Avoid this.
5. Walk at brisk pace. Keep conversation other handler to a minimum.
Judges – Remember – these are inexperienced dogs and possibly inexperienced handlers. It’s your job to guide them and watch out for unacceptable behavior in the dogs.
BIRD FINDING ABILITY
Dog must find and point birds. Dogs must show intelligent use of wind in seeking objectives to find birds. Quality of find is more important than number of finds. No call back if dog goes birdless. Junior Level dog must establish point on at lease 50% of the birds it encounters.
BIRD FIELD
1. Try to enter bird field into the wind. Guide dog in zig-zag pattern to cover bird field.
2. Learn to read your dog. Dog’s behavior should get more intense due to scent of game.
Key signs the your dog has found scent cone:
Pace slows and may cover same area several times.
Body tenses up.
May creep along into scent cone as gets closer to game.
3. Try to keep away from bracemate to avoid divided find or undue pressure on dogs.
4. Dog may be scored low if it “stumbles” upon bird rather than “finding” it by scent.
Judges may want dog to find another bird to show dog’s true bird finding ability. Judges should clearly indicate to handler if this is the case.
5. If you are confident that your dog found game by hunting, pointed, bird was flushed, and you fired your pistol – guide dog to fringes of bird field. This reduces chances of failing if dog finds another bird and also allows bracemate to find birds. Don’t make this obvious as some judges don’t like this technique.
Judge may tell you to pick up (leash) your dog if it is interfering with bracemate finding a bird or if you have failed. This allows bracemate a chance to find a bird.
6. Do not collar or leash your dog without consulting judge first.
POINTING
BIRD FIELD
1. Use a check cord when training to steady dog on point and keep dog from busting in on bird.
2. Dog’s demeanor will change to reflect that it’s found a bird. It should be obvious to anyone looking at your dog in the field that it has found a bird and is on point.
Key signs that your dog is going or on point:
Muscles tense
Dog is immobile w/still head
Judge can score a dog based upon style of point – a reduction for lack of intensity and lack of staunchness (flagging) may be made.
A lifted foot and 12 o’clock tail position are not necessary. Dog with low stance should not be scored low.
Judge may want dog to find another bird to see if point improves.
Judge should clearly communicate to handler if this is the case.
Judge should keep in mind these are Junior level dogs and not score as severely for lack of staunchness.
3. Handler should raise hand and yell “Point” to get judges’ attention when dog is on point.
4. Handler should get to dog quickly, approaching from the side if possible so dog isn’t startled.
5. Get pistol out and ready.
6. Talk softly to dog – “Whoa, easy”
7. Keep dog on the opposite side as your pistol is held.
8. Flush bird quickly w/o blocking dog’s view.
9. Shoot pistol in air when bird is flushed.
10. Junior Level dogs must hold point until the handler gets within normal gunshot range (approx. 30 yards.)
Judges should focus on dog/handler on point. If both dogs go on point, Judge can tell one handler to collar dog so other dog can work their bird.
Judges should split up if dogs separate to different areas of bird field.
11. If dog chases bird handler needs to call dog back into bird field. This can be hard to do with Junior Level dogs. This is where training comes into play.
12. If your dog is on point, but it is not staunch (flagging), handler should check to see if there is a bird there or if it is old scent. If old scent, handler should heel dog off (“Leave it” is a common command) and give them the command to keep hunting. A yell to the judge of “No bird” is OK.
13. A “Flash” point is not counted as a point. This is when a dog stops momentarily at a bird and then keeps going or stops momentarily and then busts in on the bird and chases it. Handler should check out bush to see if contains a bird. Handler should alert Judge if it was a “hot spot” and no bird there.
Judges should check out bush to confirm no bird and that dog was flashing/flagging old scent. No score reduction should be given if no bird present.
Judge may want dog to find and point another bird if true flagging or flash point is involved. Judge should clearly communicate this to the handler.
TRAINABILITY
Trainability is a big issue at the Junior Level. Many inexperienced dogs don’t listen when they are out in the field with birds. The dogs are judged on their willingness to be handled, reasonable response to commands, and gun response. This can be the most time consuming part of field training.
BACK COURSE AND BIRD FIELD
OBEDIENCE
1. With Judge’s approval, dog may be collared to prevent interference with bracemate.
2. Dog should be independent but listen to handler’s commands.
3. It’s a problem if your dog leaves the field and doesn’t come back when called.
4. In training sessions use commands that you and dog are comfortable with. Use same commands for same action each time.
GUN RESPONSE
1. Gun-shyness is not tolerated in any level.
Judges can fail a dog that is afraid of the sound of gunshot.
2. To avoid gun-shyness, during training, start by letting your dog chase flushed birds and firing the pistol some distance away from the dog.
Depending on the dog's reaction, get closer each time you fire, working up to right next to the dog when the bird is flushed. This exercise can be performed with birds or a toy your dog likes to go after when thrown.
3.It is important your dog is focused on the flushed bird or thrown toy when the shot is discharged. If your dog hesitates or stops the pursuit of the flushed bird or thrown toy; increase the distance until your dog is not distracted with the shot discharge. Work on getting closer to your dog when the shot is fired, eventually you should be able to fire your pistol next to your dog when the bird is flushed or the toy is thrown.