they can to help. As part of pointer tests
we walk our dogs for five minutes before the bird field. With
springers you start IN the bird field, so you should air out
your springer before you get to the line. This helps them focus
on the task at hand. Many handlers like to freshen up the dogs
nose with water before running, it helps!
After all your questions have been answered the judges will tell
you "you can let your dog go!" At which time you will
unsnap your dog and let it hunt. Your dog is expected to cover
the field and find two birds. When flushed the gunners will shoot
the bird and your dog is expected to retrieve the bird to hand,
within a step, and not mangle the bird or run when he hears a
gun shot. The entire process could take less than five minutes.
Ron & Scooby normally do it in two.
After all the dogs have gone through the field portion of the
test, you will go to "run water." In the water portion
of the test your dog is expected to sit on the bank while a gun
is shot and a duck is thrown in 20 yards out for a retrieve.
You can hold on to its' collar, but your dog better be under
control.
The judge will tap you on the shoulder to release your dog and
it is expected to retrieve the bird to hand... within a step.
In both land and water, the judges will give you about ten minutes
to complete the test. That's it! If your dog preforms as expected
it will pass... one leg.
How many legs?
If you pass the land and water events for the day you will get
ONE LEG of your Junior hunter. Also a very nice ribbon. It takes
four passes, four separate days, to get the JH designation for
your dog. Typically Hunt Tests are run over a weekend. So you
can get two legs on each weekend. So you will need two weekends,
to get your JH, expect three, trust me we all have bad days. |
Things go wrong?
Before I let my 11 year old son Ron and Scooby run in their first
hunt test. I wanted Tony and Beth Ann Roettgers to walk us through
the test. It was a great help in the test. I asked Tony: How
do most people screw-up? Tony said, follow your dog. The gunners
on each side of the course will stay even with you. If your dog
is running 100 yards in front, the gunners may not be able to
hit any bird that is flushed. And it's a long retrieve. So advance
up the field with your dog.
The birds are planted close in a spaniel hunt test. Ellen was
at an event and watched Beth Ann take almost baby steps up the
field to get the dog to cover the entire area. And yes they passed.
Don't expect to do four tests and walk away with a JH. Ron and
I watched some show dogs prance all over the fields and not be
able to find a bird. The owner was upset with the heat and said
NO ONE could find a bird on that field. Ten minutes later Scooby
found and retrieved two in about two minutes, same field. Yet
an hour later, Scooby working water, picked up the duck, dropped
it on the far bank and failed. Sometimes things go bad.
All in all the hunt test program is a great way to get owner
and dog involved in our sport and keep both active all year.
With a retriever or pointer through the spring and fall you probably
could run in your state every weekend, spaniel test are a bit
rarer, but you will still probably find one a month from May
til September. And next year when you go afield, both you AND
your dog will be in condition and ready for WILD birds.
Dennis Guldan hails from New Brighton, MN
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Ron and his judges with his ribbon for his first leg of Junior
Hunter
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