Pointing competition

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:50 am

I wanna get my Vizsla into competition. People mention "hes going for junior hunter". What is this?? How do I get into this?? How can I start priming him for it?? (hes 8 weeks) Im gonna get him a trainer when hes old enough. But how should I start out?? Any websites with info on this will help!!

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:48 am

Hunt testing is good stuff, but is not competition, just so you understand. Dogs are tested to a standard. No 1st, 2d, etc. Field trials are competition.

If you want to find out what the standards and rules are for these, go to www.akc.org.

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:04 am

AKC hunt tests are a very approachable format to get started in. If there is a club in your area, I think training for the NAVHDA Natural Ability test would fit hand-in-glove with the AKC Junior Hunter test.

Later, the AKC Senior Hunter and the Utility Prepatory Test seem to fit together well.

Finally, the AKC Master Hunter and the Utility Test require the same sort of staunchness.

If they are available to you, another good format are AKC walking field trails. You'd be taking your pup through the Puppy and Derby classes. That would keep you busy till your pup is 2 years old.

Here is the AKC page for hunt tests:
http://www.akc.org/events/hunting_tests ... /index.cfm

Here is the NAVHDA home page:
http://www.navhda.org/
-- On this page, but sure to get a feel for what NAVHDA is all about and also read the "Aims, Programs, Test Rules" PDF.

The NAVHDA "Green Book" available in their bookstore is a good place to start on learning that kind of training and it's an easy read.

A great source of information about hunt tests and field trials for your Vizsla is here: http://www.vizslabook.com/ .

Best regards,

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 1:04 pm

http://www.geocities.com/nstramiregion/

Here's the MI NSTRA web page might could find some local contacts that can help you out.

Also have you talked to your breeder to see what they do regarding hunt test/competions?

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:36 pm

NSTRA is really cool.

If you want to do anything else where the degree of staunchness is greater than that of NSTRA, though, you'll find it easier to do it first and then drop back and have fun w/ NSTRA later.

That's exactly my plan for my GSP, BTW.

Before you commit to NSTRA w/ your V, go into NSTRA's dog records and see how many V's place in NSTRA trials. They're great dogs. I have one myself and think he's great. It's just a rare Vizsla that has a competitve enough nature to excel in NSTRA.

Best,

Post by **pear** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:25 pm

Greg,
I think your analogy, of the AKC Hunt Tests and NAVHDA, are right on. They are truly not a competition, yet you are competing against a standard. Each dog at a test is a hopeful winner, and each one can pass or fail without the comparison to the other entrants. Competition isn't for everybody, and we all know that politics can play a disappointing role in field trials.
I have found that even those adamantly apposed to head to head competition, can feel good about competing against a standard. The owner and/or handler can feel and individual sense of pride in the accomplishments of his dog and they're ability bond as a team.
They aren't hard or unrealistic standards, but they will show the drive of the dog and the ability of both the handler and the dog to learn and hone a task.
I can't see how a serious gun dog owner could ever be sorry they participated........."pear"

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:30 am

Don't mean to suggest one is less than the other. The question was "competition." Just fact, hunt tests and NAVHDA are not competition. FT's are competition. Although there is certainly an element of competing against yourself (can I do it? can I train a dog well enough to get an MH or a VC?). Also, a little bit of an element about best scores. (I got a NA Prize I 112!! - I only got a Prize I 110, I could have gotten a 112 if only...).

Some people like to compete, win or lose, others do not like to compete. The choice is theirs to make. Not suggesting any value judgment.

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:04 am

Just remember rule #1.

1. Train the trainer (yourself) and then train the dog.

Since your pup is still just 8 weeks old, you have a lot of time to train yourself to get used to all the jargon and nuances of these tests and competitions. Go just to observe, and take some mental notes. A good familiarity with how things work in application will help you a ton down the road.

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:06 pm

Ayres wrote:Just remember rule #1.

1. Train the trainer (yourself) and then train the dog.

Since your pup is still just 8 weeks old, you have a lot of time to train yourself to get used to all the jargon and nuances of these tests and competitions. Go just to observe, and take some mental notes. A good familiarity with how things work in application will help you a ton down the road.

Sound good to me... what could it hurt, ya know?? It would be really interesting, I think I could pick some stuff up, like you said. Thanks

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:47 am

That is some good advice "Train the Trainer" as is "Train the Handler". I and maybe lots of you have taken the dogs out of placements.
It is good to watch many trials or tests to learn what is needed and train for it. At each level of testing or competition.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:44 pm

I don't know if you are looking at this post anymore but I am really into hunt test. I have 4 GSP dogs and I run at a course in Highland MI all the time. That is very close to you if you have any questions on getting in to this let me know superiorconcrete@earthlink.net

Brittguy · Post by **Brittguy** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:50 pm

Suggest you locate a Vizsla club in your area. If it is an active club they will put you on mailing list and you will meet people that have strong interest in same breed . A lot of good friendships are made this way.

catfishsteve · Post by **catfishsteve** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:39 pm

Here's a link:
http://www.thecheckcord.com/archives/2kjrhunttest.html
to an article with some insights on the AKC junior hunting test.

sdgord · Post by **sdgord** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:52 pm

Stop now before you start, you only have one dog now stop before its too late. Hunt tests and field trials are addictive they should come with a warning label. If you are married be prepared for lots of cold stares when you come in screaming about how your pup is steady to wing and shot and stops to flush. The wives really get misty eyed about backingSDGORD