Join The Club
What do you do with your hunting dog when the hunting season ends? Join the club! I’m talking about clubs where you can compete in AKC hunt tests, field trials and fun hunts. I wasn’t able to be there Saturday but Annie passed her first leg of the AKC title “Junior Hunter”. My good friend Chris Colt handled Annie in her first AKC hunt test and she did great. It takes 4 passing runs before she obtains the official JH title behind her name. The spring hunt test was hosted by the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Utah (GSPCU) of which I am one of the newest members.
Next month we will be attending a National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA) field trial to see how that particular competition is run. I just received my NSTRA membership packet and rule book in the mail today. I look forward to competing with Annie in these competitions and especially look forward to making some new friends and seeing some talented dogs. Joining a local hunting dog club is a great way to meet new people and learn how to train dogs. Club members are always willing to offer advice and even help you in training your hunting dog. Many clubs meet monthly and often host just for fun hunts or training days as well as formal gun dog competitions.
So get off the couch and join a local bird dog club or gun dog association and get your dog tuned up for next years hunting season. Here are a couple of hunting dog clubs to look into:
AKC Hunt Tests for Pointing Dog Breeds
National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA)
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA)
The Versatile Hunting Dog Federation (VHDF)
Hey Jon,
Congratulations!!!! That is so cool.
Abby and Ace are doing great! They are great buddies. They run and play all the time.
Take care and stay in touch!
Cheryl
Great job!
I will be running my young Brit., Briar in the VHDF Hunting Aptitude Evaluation (HAE) for puppies this September. I have never handled a puppy (he will be 10 months old in Sept.) in a HAE before so it should be a lot of fun training this spring/summer to get him ready.
Keep up the great work on your blog and with your dogs.