The desire to produce a cooperative, hard-working hunter in the field, and a friendly, easy companion in the home, is at the heart of everything we do in the WPGCA. Nothing is more important in this endeavor than our testing program. Tests are run each spring and fall, in each regional chapter. The results of these tests are recorded and used by our Breeding Committee, as they determine which dogs will be bred each year. The “tests” are not to be confused with “field trials.” Our tests are not intended to be competitive with the purpose of selecting a single winner, as are many field trial formats. Rather than running in braces, and competing against each other, each dog is run individually, and is judged and scored against a standard. Having all dogs score well rather than picking a winner is the goal because the former indicates consistency and high overall breed quality. Monitoring breed quality and identifying future breeding stock for the benefit of the club is our motivation for testing.

 

When an applicant is chosen to receive a dog from the WPGCA, part of the responsibility they "sign on" for is an agreement to have their dog tested. It is critical we have a chance to see and judge each dog in a litter, because this is the only way to accurately evaluate the results of a particular breeding. One puppy in a litter of eight might be an exceptional performer in the field, but if others are gun sensitive, have poor coats, are reluctant to enter the water and show poor use of nose, then a repeat breeding should likely not be approved even though one exceptional puppy was produced. Consistent production of quality hunting dogs with stable, cooperative personalities can only be measured by examining all puppies. The testing program can be thought of as breed quality control.

 

Sometime between the ages of 6 months to 16 months, the dog should run its Natural Ability Test. At this level, it is not expected that the dog will have been highly trained. During the first year of development, we use the term “exposure” rather than “training” to signify our approach to brining out a dog’s full hunting potential. For a complete discussion of this approach, we recommend the book How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves: Taking Advantage of Early Conditioned Learning by Joan Bailey. Ideally, a puppy going through its NAT has had ample exposure to game by the time test day arrives. The pup has not been trained to be steady to wing and shot; he is not expected to make a retrieve to hand. However, the dog’s natural abilities develop in response to encountering birds, having opportunities to swim, and spending plenty of time out exploring with his handler, so the judges prefer to see dogs that have had a hunting season under their belts. An example that illustrates the focus of the NAT is the Affinity for Water test. The pup is taken to a pond that is sufficiently deep to require swimming. The handler then tosses a dummy, stick or other item of his choosing into the water and encourages the dog to enter the water. Eagerness to enter the water and swim are the focus of the test; whether the dog actually retrieves the item or drops it is not a major concern.

 

Of course a young dog of 16 months should have had considerably more exposure than a pup of 6 months, and judges need to factor in differences in age and amount of exposure in an effort to measure the natural ability of the dog. At this level, the judges are trying to make a fair estimate of the developing dog’s potential rather than attempting to score a finished product. In addition to hunting potential, each pup is also judged on physical conformation, coat and temperament.

 

The second test of the dog is called the Intermediate Hunting Dog Test. Dogs are eligible for this test from the age of 16 months, up to the day they reach 24 months of age. At this level, it is expected that the dog has had hunting experience and more rigorous training. The dog must not only search for game but demonstrate tracking ability on pheasants in the field and ducks in the water. The dog is expected to retrieve game to hand. Preparation for the IHDT requires considerable training, particularly for the retrieving elements of the test. The IHDT is really the breeding test. At this stage of development, the judges can determine if the dog has the hunting potential, the temperament, the physical conformation and the coat to warrant consideration for use in the breeding program. Again, the focus is not solely on the individual dog but also on the entire litter. By this stage, physical conformation to breed standards is more apparent as is general temperament. Even though only one or two or perhaps no pups from a litter will be approved for breeding, the test results also provide data for future breedings of the sire and dam.

 

The Utility Field Test is the most demanding level of testing; however, it is not required, nor are the results used in the breeding decisions, but it is an opportunity for a handler to train for a fully finished dog. Full details are presented in the test booklet for the interested reader, but a couple examples can illustrate what sets the utility field test apart. In one portion of the test, the dog must remain steady at the blind while a hunter in a hidden location fires a gun and the handler then also fires a gun. A duck is thrown into the water. The dog must remain steady at the blind and then make the retrieve to hand when commanded by the handler. The Utility Field Test also calls for steadiness to wing and shot.

 

The requirements state:

The finished hunting dog should have control of his temperament in the field as well as at the duck blind. When the dog has pointed game and the handler flushes the game, the dog should remain steady and not chase the game.

In general, the Utility Field Test emphasizes cooperation and control as dog and hunter demonstrate working together as an effective hunting team. It is probably as much a test of the handler’s success in training as it is of the dog’s ability.

 

Each dog is scored by a group of judges, normally comprised of a senior judge, two additional judges, and one or more apprentice judges. After each portion of a test, the judges huddle apart from the handler and gallery to discuss what they saw, make notes and record preliminary scores. Observing dog behavior and applying the written, descriptive standard for each portion of the test consistently and fairly requires considerable experience. Although the tests are conducted in as standardized a process as possible, there are many factors that require subjective interpretation on the part of the judges. Weather and test ground conditions vary from one test to another and may even change drastically from running one dog to the next. One dog is six months old, another is 14 months. One dog has seen game on a daily basis; the next has seldom been exposed to more than a city park. The judges need to weigh these variables and ascertain the natural ability and hunting potential of each dog.

 

So what is it like to handle a dog in a Natural Ability Test? It’s really not as daunting as one might think. The best way to get a feel for it is to  attend a test and watch. Basically, you just go hunting with your dog. As the test begins, the handler is handed an unloaded gun, told to unleash the dog, and off they go across a field with a group of judges and probably a photographer in tow. Each handler takes a turn, so no one is competing with another handler. The judges watch how the dog searches in open fields and in thicker cover. At some point a shot will be fired to check gun sensitivity. Later a bird or two will be planted and the dog’s pointing instinct will be assessed.

 

During the tracking portion, a flightless pheasant will be released and allowed to run off out of sight. The dog is then shown the track and evaluated on it’s tracking ability. Finding the bird and retrieving it are not required. Finally, each dog has a chance to enter water and swim. Typically there are three or four dogs in a group, so while one is testing, the others need to be leashed up and waiting. It’s a good idea to carry some water to keep your dog hydrated.

 

In order for each dog to demonstrate its true potential, it is important for handlers to give the dog plenty of exposure to hunting conditions and game. Natural ability does not imply no need for training. A dog that has had a positive experience with game, a dog that has gone for daily romps in the fields and woods with its handler, and a dog that has had ample time to play, splash and swim in the months leading up to the test will permit the judges to form an accurate assessment of the dog’s true ability. As one moves through the levels of testing, the demand on thorough training increases.

 

For more information on the testing program and to read or download the actual test rule books, please visit the WPGCA Education and Research Foundation website.