Hunt tests are a great way to compete your working retriever against a certain standard and gain titles. What's the value behind the titles? For your dog to gain a title (JH, HR, HRCH, MH, etc) your dog must pass hunt tests. This proves that your dog can do the work to gain the titles. This can put more value on future dogs from his/her pedigree. Also, can help your dog keep in shape & further his training experience. Plus it's a lot of fun to compete your dog & meet other people that enjoy dogs. AKC, UKC, MH, JH, HR, HRCH: OK, what in the world does all this mean?? There are many types of dog registries, but I will only focus on 2. American Kennel Club (AKC) & United Kennel Club (UKC). Each registry has the same goal in mind, but different rules & regulations. Below is just a brief overview of what to expect in a AKC or UKC hunt test. For a complete explanation of the rules please see the AKC & UKC rule book. There are 3 levels of hunt tests. They are below. Hunt tests run in the Fall & Spring of each year.
UKC | AKC |
Started (SHR) | Junior (JH) |
Seasoned (HR) | Senior (SH) |
Finished (HRCH) | Master (MH) |
American Kennel Club (AKC) Hunt Test | United Kennel Club (UKC ) Hunt Tests |
Junior level hunt test (JH title) An overview of what you can expect in a Junior level Hunt test:
How to gain the JH Title: A dog must pass 4 AKC Junior Level Hunt tests. |
Started level hunt test (SHR title) An overview of what you can expect in a Started level Hunt test:
How to gain the SHR Title: Five (5) Championship points per hunt test are awarded for those dogs who pass all Started Hunting Retriever tests. Four (4) Started passes are required for the Started Hunting Retriever (SHR) title. |
Senior level hunt test (SH title) An overview of what you can expect in a Senior level hunt test:
How to gain a SH title: A dog must pass either 5 AKC Senior
level hunt tests OR pass 4 AKC Senior level hunt test if a dog
already acquired a JH title.
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Seasoned level hunt test (HR title) An overview of what you can expect in a Seasoned level hunt test:
How to gain a HR title: Ten (10) Championship points per hunt test are awarded for those dogs who pass all Seasoned Hunting Retriever tests. A maximum of forty (40) Championship points towards a degree can be earned in this category. Ten (10) points can be rolled over from the started hunt tests. Either a dog must past 3 seasoned test if they have 10 points from the started or they have to pass 4 seasoned test if no started points have been achieved. |
Master level hunt test (MH title) An overview of what you can expect in a Master level hunt test:
** In the master level only one set of marks must be a triple,
the other can be a double and a single, a triple, three singles,
just use your imagination. *** The blinds can be a single or
double, this is left up to the judges. How to gain a MH title:
A dog must pass either 6 AKC Master level hunt tests OR pass 5
AKC Master level hunt test if a dog already acquired a SH title.
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Finished level hunt test (HRCH title) An overview of what you can expect in a Finished level hunt test:
How to gain a HRCH title: Fifteen (15) Championship points per
UKC Hunt test are awarded for those dogs who pass all Finished
Hunting Retriever tests. The Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH)
title is attained by earning one hundred (100) Championship
Points. Sixty (60) of the one hundred (100) points must be
earned from the Finished category. Points can be earned in
Started, Seasoned or Finished. Therefore if a dog has a HR
title, they are required to pass 4 finished hunt tests.
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Is there a difference between a hunt test & a field trial? YES -- the field trial system is set up much different than a hunt test. The marks and blinds are much longer and difficult. Also, in hunt test your dog & you are competing against the test. In a field trial you are competing against every dog running. I can go more into explaining the Field trials, but that's another page. Field trial titles are AFC, FC, NAFC, NFC, etc.
Are there other registries that put on hunt test & field trials? YES -- There are registries all over the world that puts on different types of hunting trials.
You may also visit the Hunting Retriever Club to find more Retriever
Clubs in your area.
www.huntingretrieverclub.org or
www.akc.org (AKC site)
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