GUIDELINES - JUDGING SEASONED HUNT TESTS

I. Hand Signals, voice, and whistle commands may be utilized by the Handler to encourage the Seasoned Hunting dog to perform; however, should excessive handling or noise occur which, in the opinion of the Judges, would disturb the hunt, the Judges may declare failure of the test.

The dog is being tested for its marking ability, not handling. However, a clean handle is preferable to an extended hunt.

II. Controlled breaks, poor obedience and poor manners should be noted and when excessive or repeated, should be cause for failure.

During a test when a crippled bird is escaping, the Judges can send the dog prior to the bird hitting the ground.

Steadiness should be judged according to the degree that it would interfere with a normal day’s hunting. Creeping to an excessive degree puts the dog in the blast cone of the shotgun and can deafen or inadvertently kill it.

III. The Judges should periodically inspect birds taken from the Handler, especially in the case of a dog suspected of hard-mouth.

IV. The Judges should look for the dog that walks obediently to the line, sits obediently and exhibits an attentive attitude.

V. The standards of control and performance on blinds for Seasoned dogs are less than those for Finished or Grand. Less control and more whistle and cast refusals can be accepted for the Seasoned dog as compared to more advanced categories. Sitting on the whistle is not a necessity, but Seasoned dogs should demonstrate the capability to respond to directional control.

Lining the blind is not required. It is preferable that the dog exhibits the ability to be under control.

A dry shot popper shall be fired by the Handler in the direction of the blind while the dog is at heel immediately prior to the dog’s running the blind retrieve. The intent is to encourage the dog to run the blind. Popping, (looking to the Handler for direction without a signal), shall not be penalized.

VI. The diversionary bird must be thrown as the dog returns from the retrieve. A switch is defined as the dog dropping one bird and picking up the other bird. The purpose of this test is to require the Seasoned dog to demonstrate a reasonable degree of control on the return from a retrieve. The diversionary bird should be thrown where the dog can see it, but not in its return path.

VII. In the event that a hunting retriever is unproductive after being cast by the Handler on a second attempt, the Judges must inform the Handler that the dog has failed the test.

VIII. Gunners and Bird Boys should be inconspicuous in keeping with the hunting situation. At the discretion of the judges (not more than once in each event) the Gunners may be visible in order to stimulate specific hunting situations, such as dove hunting. It is the intent of these regulations to provide the dog with adequate opportunity to focus its attention on the area of the fall.

IX. Quartering. The dog hunts in a radius ideally from 10 to 30 yards to the side and in front of the Handler. The live bird is released (or thrown) in full view of the dog. The distance from the bird to the dog should be within scenting distance when the bird is released. The dog is not required to be steady to shot. The dog should immediately return to the previous hunting range upon being called and/or whistle commanded by the Handler. The Handler shoots a popper, but the bird is not killed (for the dog’s safety). If the dog does not immediately return to the hunting area it fails the test.

The dog should be eager, hunt all available cover diligently and be under control.

The intent of the Quartering test is not to demonstrate running a pattern. The intent of this test is to demonstrate its natural tendency to hunt and be under control. In the Upland Game Test, the Quartering and Walk-up can be combined.

One or more dogs can be in a moving line with one dog out front quartering, for example. However, gun safety should be a paramount consideration.

Walk-up. A quiet unobtrusive verbal reminder to “sit” is acceptable as the bird flushes or is shot. Great care must be exercised by the Judges that this is not abused to the extent of intimidation.