This is the second in a series of articles
on getting your dog and yourself involved in dog events. Last
issue we covered the spaniel Junior Hunter program, in this issue
I will talk to you about the pointer Junior Hunter program or
JH.
As with the Junior Hunter with the flushers the pointer JH is
designed so the average hunting pointing dog should be able to
leave the field and walk on to the bird field on any given day
and pass. That said if your dog is finding and pointing birds,
AND is not gun shy your dog is ready to run. Now I'm not saying
your going to pass every time, but I would bet you would pass
at least half.
As with last issues spaniel Junior Hunt test article I will start
from square one. I ran my first Junior Hunter event last fall
with the Vizsla Guru Jim Busch at Wilmington field trial area
about an hour south west of Chicago. Let me tell you when you
run with the master you will learn a ton in a short time. Both
Jim's dog and Jenny my Vizsla passed for the day, but we got
our bird, and Jim's dog got his covey.
What is a Hunt Test?
To start off let's define what is a hunt test? A hunt test is
just that; a test to see if your dog has the ability to hunt
, find and point birds. And just like in school EVERYONE can
pass the test. The fact that everyone can pass is what differentiates
a hunt test from a field trial or other dog events. In a hunt
test there is |
no first, second or third. You either pass
or you fail.
The Junior Hunt test is the first level of field events. And
trust me once you get involved, you're going to be addicted like
me to go further. The Junior Hunt test is the first of three
levels of noncompetitive field tests. There are three types of
dog programs and three levels in each type. Flushing dog, pointing
dogs and retrievers all have unique hunt tests, and I will write
about all three. Within each type of dog there is a Junior Hunter
program, a Senior Hunter program and a Master Hunter program.
In this issue I will visit the Junior Hunter of the pointing
dogs. So what kind of dogs are we talking about? Basically the
"recognized" pointing breeds for the AKC are the: Vizsla,
the Weimaraner, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, the Pointer,
the Brittany, the English Setter, the Gordon Setter, the Irish/Red
Setter, the German Shorthair Pointer, the German Wirehair Pointer,
Spinone. What makes the pointing JH program so great is that
any pointing dog can run in any other pointing breeds event.
This is significant because most clubs will run one or two hunt
tests a year. But with so many pointing breeds at least within
two hours of Minneapolis I can nearly every weekend run an event.
Don't have papers?
If you have a dog without AKC papers the AKC has a program called
Indefinite Listing Program (ILP), |
which will allow you to run in the type
of hunt test your dog looks like. You simply apply and send a
picture to the AKC and they will determine if the dog is a flusher,
pointer or retriever. So if you have a pointing dog breed not
recognized by the AKC or simply a dog that will point, you can
enter. With the possible exception of a pointing Lab and I have
not gotten a good answer on that.
Where do I start?
So you have a dog with the correct paper work, that can find
birds and you wanna compete. The next step would be to find a
club in your area. Don't worry it may not be the same breed as
your dog. I am far more active in the German Shorthair Club in
our area then in the Vizsla club, though I'm a member of both.
The GSP club happens to be more hunting based and the Vizsla
club happens to be more show based, though I run both show and
field events with Jenny. I take shit for being the Red Dog guy,
and give it back just as much when the GSPs are whining.
Being taken under wing
The reason I say find a club has more to do with getting involved
then running the event. All clubs I am involved in have fun or
training days. Most these days are free or a few bucks. At all
of these training days there will be training birds to purchase
for a few bucks. Also at these training days will be the judges
you will face for your event. And guess what? They are there
to help you train your dog to run the events they judge.
The first time I ran a hunt test I did not have a clue. That
won't be the case if you go out to the fun day and bend a few
ears. Many times at fun days they will have mock test. I ran
a kind of a mock test with Jenny last spring at a training day
and the judge scored me and said your ready to run a hunt test,
which was a relief. |
