Are you looking to start doing some hunting events with your bird dog? When you are new to hunting events, it can be overwhelming to try to figure out which type of event to start with. The way I see it, there are three main categories of these events: field trials, hunt tests, and versatile dog tests. Since I have competed in all three types, I often have people ask me which one they should start with. Like most things in life, the answer is, it depends, which is why I’m writing this blog post. Let’s go over the things you should consider when deciding where to start. By the way, this post is also available in podcast form – check out episode 69!
Overview of Event Types
Hunt Tests
Hunt tests are noncompetitive events and dogs are judged against a “standard” – a list of behaviors that describes how the ideal dog should perform. If every dog does well, then every dog can pass or even earn maximum scores! Multiple passes at the same level lead to titles. The most common types of hunt tests in the U.S. are American Kennel Club (AKC) hunting tests. If you’re in Canada, Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) tests are similar.
Field Trials
In contrast to noncompetitive hunt tests, field trials are always competitive. That means you and your dog are competing against every other dog-handler team in the same stake. Placements are given out for the dogs who perform the best. However, your dog may have its best day in the field and still not win, because another dog could beat them. AKC hosts field trials and the United Kennel Club (UKC) has many field trials under its umbrella including ones put on by American Field, National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA), and the United Field Trialers’ Association (UFTA).
Versatile Dog Tests
These tests are a type of hunt test but they are more involved and really analyze the true versatility of a pointing dog. In addition to field work, these tests involve water retrieving, tracking, obedience. The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAHVDA), JGV-USA (“German” tests), and the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation (VHDF) are the main organizations putting on these tests.
A dog retrieves a dead duck from the water in a NAVHDA test.
What Kind of Dog Do You Have?
To start, what breed of pointing dog do you have? This may determine what you can do. The most open organization in regards to dog breeds is the VHDF. They allow any breed of dog to participate in their tests, including mixed breed dogs! I don’t know of any other organization that officially allows mixes (although please reach out if I am incorrect). NAVHDA allows 35 breeds of dogs (including many rare types) and you can view the list of accepted breeds on their website. AKC hunting tests accept 28 breeds of dogs, so they are almost as comprehensive as NAVHDA.
In contrast, AKC field trials are much more restrictive and only 14 breeds are allowed. For example, if you have a Pudelpointer, you cannot participate in AKC field trials. But you would be able to participate in AKC hunting tests, NAVHDA tests, or VHDF tests. JGV-USA tests only allow dogs that have an FCI pedigree. The breeds that are typically tested include Deutsch Drahthaars, Deutsch Kurzaars, Deutstch Langhaars, Pudelpointers, and Kleine Munsterlanders.
Be sure to check the requirements of the testing or trialing organization you’re interested in so that you make sure your dog meets the specifications to participate.
Vizslas are one of the breeds allowed in AKC field trials.
What Kind of Training Do You Enjoy the Most?
All of the tests and trials I’ve mentioned above include an aspect of upland hunting, where you and your dog are walking along in a field or wooded area, looking for game birds such as quail, chukar, or pheasant. The dog is expected to point when it encounters live birds and, in the upper level events, retrieve birds if they are shot. Hopefully this type of upland hunting is something you enjoy doing with your dog, otherwise it’s probably not worth it to train for these types of events!
Versatile dog tests go beyond upland field work. They include retrieving game out of water, searches for ducks in water, higher levels of obedience (heeling, extended sit/down stays), and are more involved than events that only have a field aspect. If you find those extra pieces complicated to train for, then you may want to stick with AKC hunting tests or any of the field trial organizations. However, when I first joined NAVHDA, one of the things I enjoyed the most during the summer was to work on things that involved water. It’s very hot in North Carolina in the summer and you only have a limited window when you can safely run dogs in a field. Being able to work on water retrieves and duck searches gave me something to do during training days and other training sessions. I also used to participate in triathlons, so I suppose I appreciate an event that includes more than one thing. :)
A Pudelpointer and its owner heel down to the water during a NAVHDA test. Versatile dog tests involve a lot of obedience.
Do You Like Competition?
This is an important question to ask yourself. Some people do not like competition or don’t like the subjectivity that can go with competitive events. It also depends on the organization about how subjective the judging is. American Field and AKC field trials have rules and guidelines that help judges make decisions on which dogs should get placements. But there is no point system and participants must accept a certain level of subjectivity on the judges’ part. In contrast, NSTRA and UFTA field trials use a point system to rank the dogs. There may be little bit of subjectivity for determining points, but it’s much more standardized than AKC or AF.
If you do decide to participate in a field trial and you’ve been used to running hunt tests or other standards-based dog games, it’s important to keep your expectations in check. I’ve been to field trials where I’ve thought my dog did a good job, but we still didn’t get a placement ribbon. It’s a little disappointing, but I’ve had to recognize that the other dogs must have done a better job. As I mentioned above, your dog’s best may still not be good enough to win.
If you do like competition, you may really thrive in the field trial environment. I’d never thought of myself as a competitive person until I started running field trials with Zara. I do like to win and I like the motivation it gives me to try to improve. If you want to win a field trial, a lot of things need to line up, so that can push you to work harder in training. I also think it can be exciting to attend a field trial because it is a competition. It can be compared to other sports like football, basketball, track and field, etc. There are highs and lows – the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!
What are Your Dog’s Strengths and Weaknesses?
As you think about your options, you want to consider what your dog is good at and what skills he or she is not as strong in. Also, genetics matter. Did your dog’s parents or grandparents participate in hunting events? If so, which ones?
If your dog loves to run fast, range far, and looks stylish on point, that’s a dog that may do well in AKC or American Field field trials, where the range and snappiness of a dog’s run is important. Maybe your dog is a really solid retriever and you’ve put the time into developing a polished retrieve that requires very few commands. Retrieving is crucial in all of the NAVHDA tests beyond Natural Ability and a dog that can consistently retrieve to hand in multiple contexts will score higher in those categories than a dog who needs a lot of encouragement or drops birds often. JGV-USA and VHDF tests also highly value retrieving. But retrieving is not scored as stringently in AKC field trials. In many AF trials, there is no retrieving.
A polished retrieve with minimal commands is important in NAVHDA tests, VHDF tests, JGV-USA tests, and AKC Master hunting tests.
Do You Like to Ride Horses?
If you have experience riding horses or would like to learn, then American Field or AKC field trials would be a great place to start. A lot of these stakes allow horseback handling and running your dog off a horse can give you a much better vantage point than being on the ground walking. If you have a big-running dog, a horse will help you keep up! These field trials also allow a horseback gallery (which sometimes can be quite large) so you have the opportunity to ride along and watch other dogs as well.
If you aren’t comfortable riding a horse, don’t worry. In AKC field trials, even if it’s a designated horseback stake, you can ALWAYS walk. I wrote a blog post on this topic a few years ago. Also, the majority of events mentioned in this post do not allow horseback handling. The hunt tests and other field trial organizations (UFTA, NSTRA, etc.) more closely simulate hunting and when most people go hunting, they walk behind their dog.
Consider the Length of Your Dog’s Career
Most of the hunting events I’m talking about have different levels. There are often beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and these refer to the skills of the dog, not the handler. For example, AKC hunting tests have Junior, Senior, and Master levels. NAVHDA has four levels: Natural Ability, Gun Dog, Utility, and Invitational. AKC and AF field trials have Puppy and Derby stakes for young dogs and Gun Dog/Shooting Dog and All-Age stakes for advanced dogs. Depending how quickly your dog progresses (which depends on your dog, your training skills, and a little bit of luck), it’s possible to move through the standards-based testing at a steady pace. Some people may have an AKC Master Hunter or a NAVHDA Versatile Champion when their dog is say, three years old. Once you’ve accomplished the highest level in one of those hunt tests, there isn’t much more to do with your dog in that venue. It can kind of feel like, what now?
In contrast, I think field trials offer more opportunities over the whole career of your dog. Yes, you could have a Field Champion by the time your dog is three years old, but many people keep competing even after their dog finishes their initial title. Field trials offer regional, national, and breed-specific events that encourage people to keep running their finished dogs even as they get older. A dog may not really hit its stride and become a truly seasoned hunter until they are seven or eight, and that’s when they might win a national event.
A few years ago, at the Vizsla Club of America’s National Amateur Field Championship, all four of the placing dogs were seven or eight years old. That doesn’t always happen, but I thought it was interesting because it showed that experience can make a difference in a dog’s success.
This picture was taken at an AKC field trial. It was a walking stake, but the judges and gallery are on horses.
There is A Lot of Overlap
While all of these hunting events have distinct parts that make them unique, there a lot of similarities between them. For example, many people who run NAVHDA tests also participate in AKC hunting tests. A dog that successfully completed its Natural Ability test could very likely do well in a Junior hunting test. Running Master hunting tests can be a great way to prepare for the NAVHDA Invitational. A dog that is steady enough to run a Master hunting test would probably make it around clean in a Gun Dog or Shooting Dog field trial stake.
Because of that, many people do transition easily between types of events. It’s certainly possible to start with one type and move on to another type as your dog matures or completes the title requirements in one. You don’t need to feel like if you started with one organization then you won’t be able to move onto another one later on. With Zara, I started with NAVHDA, moved to AKC hunting tests, and eventually started competing in AKC field trials. Just last weekend, we even completed her AKC Junior Hunter Retriever title, venturing into retriever hunt tests at age 11.
Pick One and Get Started
Even with all this information, you may find yourself still unsure about what kind of event you should train for, or you may be interested in multiple venues. If that is the case, pick the one that will be easiest for you to get started with. Plenty of people (including myself) run lots of different kinds of tests and trials with the same dog. Set a goal to start and you can move on to a new challenge in a few months or years.
What kinds of events do you run with your dog? Have you tried one and then transitioned to another type? Let me know in the comments below.
