A's Fuchs gains NAVHDA Prize 2 in the USA
for Alison Siviter, " Last Friday I ran my 8 month old GLP pup, Arany's Fuchs, or Mulligan, in his North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) Natural Ability test....
Dogs are judged and trained very differently here in the USA so I was interested to see what both of us British imports made of it all.
The Natural Ability test is open to dogs up to the age of 18 months. It's specifically designed to test and grade the dogs natural hunting abilities - rather than obedience. (Or as one judge put it : "It's designed to show what the dog can do naturally, before the handler has had chance to screw him up!") A maximum of 10 pups are run per day, the idea being that judges get to see each dog in the field for a minimum of an hour. The judges are there to test the dog - not the handler. So they happily help & guide a novice like myself, through-out the day, offering advice and steering you, hopefully helping to maximize the dogs talent in the field. The NA test scores are seen as vital for a future breeding dog. However, they are just the first step in a series of tests a US dog is expected to run, in the first 2-3 years of it's life.
The Natural Ability Test is divided into three stages - Hunting, Water and Tracking. Plus an overall score is given to each dog for Nose, Pointing, Search, Co-operation and Desire to Work. There is a very complex points system, but essentially everyone is trying to score a maximum of 4 points for each ability and test, to get to a possible perfect score of 112 and a Prize 1. Dogs can fail, dogs can pass, and good performances are awarded a Prizes 1, 2 and 3. You can run the test as many times as you like - although all scores are published and recorded officially - so there's no hiding the bad results!
The dogs do not compete against one another. So, in theory, every dog can earn a top score . The dogs are marked on what they do right - rather than eliminated for what they do wrong. (No danger of hearing a "thank-you very much, now pick up your dog" from the Judges!) But anything undesirable - such as failing to point, bumping birds, not covering the ground well, false pointing or a reluctance to swim - will loose a dog a lot of points and could result in a failed test.
For Hunting each pup is given a minimum of 20 minutes run, and plenty of open ground to cover. Four quail are planted before each dog runs, so no excuses for a blank run! Whilst the dogs run, shots are fired to check for gun shyness. For our hunting test my dog was tested in a head wind and a backwind. When he came on point I was asked to go up in front of the dog and flush the bird myself. At the flush, dogs are expected to be steady. But once the bird is kicked up, a good long chase is encouraged, as it shows good "bird desire". Mulligan did me proud with a wonderful search, resulting in six stylish and solid points - and 6 birds flushed, plus he was nice and steady to every one. He caught one quail, but that was not thought to be an issue, and the judges were pleased that my dog happily gave the bird up to me. (One of traits of Co-operation they look for).
At the Water the judges want to see each dog swim twice. They give you a selection of dummies (you are not allowed to use your own) and you can throw as many as you like to get the dog to swim. Obviously, the quicker & more confident he is to enter water, the higher the mark. The dog doesn't have to retrieve (but most of the dogs did) as at this stage of your dog's training, you are not expected to have moved onto retrieving - in USA this comes later when dog is more mature & can take firmer handling.
Finally Tracking is tested by releasing a pheasant with clipped wings into a field. The judges watch him away, noting where he runs. A pile of feathers marks the start of the track. I was expected to bring my pup up to the feathery pile, at the start of the track, indicate to my dog to get his nose down in the grass. And give a command of "Track". Then the handler is not allowed to say a further command, or move, and the dog is expected to follow the line of scent, and ideally find the bird, which usually makes its way off into the nearby wood. The dog is marked for being able to follow the scent, and not deviate or get distracted by other game scent he might encounter.
At the end of the day Mulligan scored a total of 106 (out of a possible 112) and was awarded a Prize 2. He earned maximum scores for Pointing, Nose, Search, Water and Desire to Work. He gave a wonderful account of the breed, as the GLP is still little known here. What's more, both Mulligan & I had a thoroughly fun and enjoyable day in the field with an opportunity to learn & grow from the experience. Next Stop NAVDHA Utility in the Fall.
Dogs are judged and trained very differently here in the USA so I was interested to see what both of us British imports made of it all.
The Natural Ability test is open to dogs up to the age of 18 months. It's specifically designed to test and grade the dogs natural hunting abilities - rather than obedience. (Or as one judge put it : "It's designed to show what the dog can do naturally, before the handler has had chance to screw him up!") A maximum of 10 pups are run per day, the idea being that judges get to see each dog in the field for a minimum of an hour. The judges are there to test the dog - not the handler. So they happily help & guide a novice like myself, through-out the day, offering advice and steering you, hopefully helping to maximize the dogs talent in the field. The NA test scores are seen as vital for a future breeding dog. However, they are just the first step in a series of tests a US dog is expected to run, in the first 2-3 years of it's life.
The Natural Ability Test is divided into three stages - Hunting, Water and Tracking. Plus an overall score is given to each dog for Nose, Pointing, Search, Co-operation and Desire to Work. There is a very complex points system, but essentially everyone is trying to score a maximum of 4 points for each ability and test, to get to a possible perfect score of 112 and a Prize 1. Dogs can fail, dogs can pass, and good performances are awarded a Prizes 1, 2 and 3. You can run the test as many times as you like - although all scores are published and recorded officially - so there's no hiding the bad results!
The dogs do not compete against one another. So, in theory, every dog can earn a top score . The dogs are marked on what they do right - rather than eliminated for what they do wrong. (No danger of hearing a "thank-you very much, now pick up your dog" from the Judges!) But anything undesirable - such as failing to point, bumping birds, not covering the ground well, false pointing or a reluctance to swim - will loose a dog a lot of points and could result in a failed test.
For Hunting each pup is given a minimum of 20 minutes run, and plenty of open ground to cover. Four quail are planted before each dog runs, so no excuses for a blank run! Whilst the dogs run, shots are fired to check for gun shyness. For our hunting test my dog was tested in a head wind and a backwind. When he came on point I was asked to go up in front of the dog and flush the bird myself. At the flush, dogs are expected to be steady. But once the bird is kicked up, a good long chase is encouraged, as it shows good "bird desire". Mulligan did me proud with a wonderful search, resulting in six stylish and solid points - and 6 birds flushed, plus he was nice and steady to every one. He caught one quail, but that was not thought to be an issue, and the judges were pleased that my dog happily gave the bird up to me. (One of traits of Co-operation they look for).
At the Water the judges want to see each dog swim twice. They give you a selection of dummies (you are not allowed to use your own) and you can throw as many as you like to get the dog to swim. Obviously, the quicker & more confident he is to enter water, the higher the mark. The dog doesn't have to retrieve (but most of the dogs did) as at this stage of your dog's training, you are not expected to have moved onto retrieving - in USA this comes later when dog is more mature & can take firmer handling.
Finally Tracking is tested by releasing a pheasant with clipped wings into a field. The judges watch him away, noting where he runs. A pile of feathers marks the start of the track. I was expected to bring my pup up to the feathery pile, at the start of the track, indicate to my dog to get his nose down in the grass. And give a command of "Track". Then the handler is not allowed to say a further command, or move, and the dog is expected to follow the line of scent, and ideally find the bird, which usually makes its way off into the nearby wood. The dog is marked for being able to follow the scent, and not deviate or get distracted by other game scent he might encounter.
At the end of the day Mulligan scored a total of 106 (out of a possible 112) and was awarded a Prize 2. He earned maximum scores for Pointing, Nose, Search, Water and Desire to Work. He gave a wonderful account of the breed, as the GLP is still little known here. What's more, both Mulligan & I had a thoroughly fun and enjoyable day in the field with an opportunity to learn & grow from the experience. Next Stop NAVDHA Utility in the Fall.
Article added
2010-06-07 10:36:50
Site designed and maintained by WebElementary | How To Use This Site |
Acknowledgements |
Disclaimer | Privacy | Contact Us