Junior Hunt test????
- Thread starter blueweim
- Start date
tmrichardson
Banned
Good for you!
A few thoughts that come to mind....
Feel free to tell folks including the judges that you are brand new to the game. In my experience people will often be willing to help you out as a newbie.
You'll be braced with one other dog and handler. No shock collars are allowed. You'll need a blank gun. The judges often are on horses. Courses vary but often you'll start out in a field with no birds planted to give the dogs a chance to stretch out and handle a bit before entering the field with planted birds.
If your dog (a weim?) has some basic handling knowledge and responds to your commands to turn or come to you, feel free to use them. A dog that works with you will hunt with and for you--one of the things the judges are looking for. However (and this goes for most of the test) if you are unsure your dog will comply with commands, unless it's running right off the course or getting in the way of the other dog and handler, it's better to keep your mouth shut than demonstrate to the judges that your dog won't comply with a command.
Scope out your course as you move along. In the bird field, bird planters usually will plant birds near identifiable cover--a tree or group of shrubs in the field, a patch of better grass, along an edge where short grass runs into dense/tall grass--etc. If you can "steer" your dog while it's running and it hasn't found a bird after a bit, feel free to direct it to likely looking spots.
The pointing requirements are pretty low for JH, but your dog will need to demonstrate it recognizes bird scent and pauses briefly--doesn't have to be for long or a classic point...but it will need to find and briefly point a bird or two to do well under most judges. If it points a bird well, move around and approach it from the front rather than come from behind it or to the side to flush the bird. After the flush and while the dog is very interested in the bird (might even be chasing it) fire the blank gun. They'll need to demonstrate no problems with the gun as well. Even though it's a blank gun, watch where you are in relation to judges and horse when shooting the gun.
Sometimes with the young dogs that run JH this can be a problem.If you observe your dog chasing or playing with the other dog in the brace--or vice versa--try to pull it to a different area of the field to avoid contact. Also try not to allow your dog to mess up a bird being worked by the other dog if possible, especially if that dog hasn't worked a bird well yet.
And try to relax and approach it as a learning experience and simple fun!
Good luck!
A few thoughts that come to mind....
Feel free to tell folks including the judges that you are brand new to the game. In my experience people will often be willing to help you out as a newbie.
You'll be braced with one other dog and handler. No shock collars are allowed. You'll need a blank gun. The judges often are on horses. Courses vary but often you'll start out in a field with no birds planted to give the dogs a chance to stretch out and handle a bit before entering the field with planted birds.
If your dog (a weim?) has some basic handling knowledge and responds to your commands to turn or come to you, feel free to use them. A dog that works with you will hunt with and for you--one of the things the judges are looking for. However (and this goes for most of the test) if you are unsure your dog will comply with commands, unless it's running right off the course or getting in the way of the other dog and handler, it's better to keep your mouth shut than demonstrate to the judges that your dog won't comply with a command.
Scope out your course as you move along. In the bird field, bird planters usually will plant birds near identifiable cover--a tree or group of shrubs in the field, a patch of better grass, along an edge where short grass runs into dense/tall grass--etc. If you can "steer" your dog while it's running and it hasn't found a bird after a bit, feel free to direct it to likely looking spots.
The pointing requirements are pretty low for JH, but your dog will need to demonstrate it recognizes bird scent and pauses briefly--doesn't have to be for long or a classic point...but it will need to find and briefly point a bird or two to do well under most judges. If it points a bird well, move around and approach it from the front rather than come from behind it or to the side to flush the bird. After the flush and while the dog is very interested in the bird (might even be chasing it) fire the blank gun. They'll need to demonstrate no problems with the gun as well. Even though it's a blank gun, watch where you are in relation to judges and horse when shooting the gun.
Sometimes with the young dogs that run JH this can be a problem.If you observe your dog chasing or playing with the other dog in the brace--or vice versa--try to pull it to a different area of the field to avoid contact. Also try not to allow your dog to mess up a bird being worked by the other dog if possible, especially if that dog hasn't worked a bird well yet.
And try to relax and approach it as a learning experience and simple fun!
Good luck!
blueweim
New member
Thanks tm that is really helpful.
Do I need to bring a blank gun usually or do they have one to loan? I have hunted my dog quite a few times and done a lot of training with him so I feel comfortable on the point and the gun is not a problem, he is usually steady until the shot by nature. My only concern is when there are a lot of people around he does not know he tends to hunt pretty close to me so I hope that is not a deal breaker.
Great advice on the not shouting out a bunch of comands he doesnt respond to well.
I of course would like to pass but I am really looking at this as a learning experience.
Do I need to bring a blank gun usually or do they have one to loan? I have hunted my dog quite a few times and done a lot of training with him so I feel comfortable on the point and the gun is not a problem, he is usually steady until the shot by nature. My only concern is when there are a lot of people around he does not know he tends to hunt pretty close to me so I hope that is not a deal breaker.
Great advice on the not shouting out a bunch of comands he doesnt respond to well.
I of course would like to pass but I am really looking at this as a learning experience.
tmrichardson
Banned
Blueweim I know if I were at a test and someone asked for a blank gun I'd happily loan mine out, but I might suggest getting in contact with the folks putting on the hunt test and ask them if there might be a blank gun available for you to use. Tell them you've hunted the dog already and it handles guns fine, or they'll probably suggest you get one and do some training with your dog first.
You can get them reasonably cheap if needed from a number of folks (Lion Country Supply, GunDog Supply, maybe Dresslers). I've found mine handy for training off and on outside of tests.
You can get them reasonably cheap if needed from a number of folks (Lion Country Supply, GunDog Supply, maybe Dresslers). I've found mine handy for training off and on outside of tests.
tmrichardson
Banned
Oh and from what you described, I'm betting your dog will do just fine...
blueweim
New member
So we went to the hunt test and had a great time. We even passed. All of the people were very helpfull and friendly. We had several offers to loan us a gun. I was able to walk with a couple of the early braces and see how things worked. The judges were very willing to help and answer questions. All in all it was fun and I will be doing more to get the Junior Hunt title.
The dog did great. It was warm in the afternoon and I think the scent was a little hard to pick up. Plus we have only worked with Quail once about 6 months ago. He found one and pointed it he held it until I flushed it and even brought it back after it went down (not part of the test but I was not penalized for it). The amazing part for me was his bracemate went on point and my dog backed it. I have never trained him for that at all. Instinct is amazing. Again not part of the junior test but maybe the senior test is in our future after all.:cheers:
The dog did great. It was warm in the afternoon and I think the scent was a little hard to pick up. Plus we have only worked with Quail once about 6 months ago. He found one and pointed it he held it until I flushed it and even brought it back after it went down (not part of the test but I was not penalized for it). The amazing part for me was his bracemate went on point and my dog backed it. I have never trained him for that at all. Instinct is amazing. Again not part of the junior test but maybe the senior test is in our future after all.:cheers:
