Hunt Test Howto - Senior AKC Hunt Test

In the Senior test your dog needs to demonstrate much more stability, marking, and handler control, than in the Junior test. In the Senior test your dog is required to be off lead during the entire test.

The Senior test requires a land double (two marks thrown before the dog is sent), land blind, a water double, and a water blind. At least one of these situations should be a walkup (after you and your dog leave the holding blind, you precede with the judges to the line, all the while you and your dog are being judged). On the walk up you may have a mark thrown from behind you, landing in front of your dog.

Your dog may also encounter a diversion bird thrown near your dog's return path from a mark. Diversion shots may also be used at some point during the test. Your dog will also be required to honor (after your dog has finished it's series it is required to sit a short distance from the working dog at the beginning of it's series) at least once in a Senior test. Marks for a Senior test should not normally exceed 100 yards.

Requirements at the Line

You may take your dog to the holding blind on a slip lead. Once the judges have called your dog either to the line or on the walkup, remove the slip lead. If you are on a walkup and a bird is thrown, you may use your whistle to sit your dog if you prefer.

At the line, you signal for the first bird to be thrown, usually called the memory or money bird, and the judges will signal for the second bird. Your dog should be steady at the line. A controlled break or creeping will receive a lower score in trainability. The judges will tell you if it matters which bird is picked up first. Usually your dog should go for the second bird first, which most of the time will be the shorter bird. Dogs may be resent on a mark, however, you will be scored lower in perseverance.

Requirements during the Test

The handler shall always carry and/or shoulder an empty shotgun except when honoring the working dog or when running a blind. Your dog must deliver to hand after a retrieve. After the first bird is retrieved to hand, send your dog for the second bird. If your dog switches (on a line for one bird and then changes it's mind and goes for the other bird, or drops one bird and goes for another, or establishes a hunt and before retrieving the bird, returns to an old fall and establishes a hunt), it is an automatic disqualification. You may handle your dog on marks. However, resulting in a lower score in marking.

After the second bird is retrieved, take your dog to the line for the blind (a mark that the dog has not seen fall). In a Senior test, blinds will not be run between marks. Handle your dog to the mark. If your dog pops (stops and turns for instruction without a whistle) continually, you may receive a lower score in perseverance. The same scenario of two marks and a blind will occur for the water series as well.

Requirements after the Test

To receive a Senior title, your dog needs four qualifying scores if it already has a Junior Title, or five qualifying scores if not titled yet.

Reprinted by permission of East Tennesse Retriever Club