Ideas for the new "Gundog Club" HPR tests

Mike · Ideas for the new "Gundog Club" HPR tests

In another thread Pippa asked what people would like to see in the Gundog Clubs (http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/)HPR tests, rather than "losing" the info amongst other more general discussion i've started this thread. This is a new scheme, so be creative Very Happy

tashap

I'd like to see the hunting test have a hunting element in it even if its just to find a blind dummy Very Happy

The GWP test that I did had two test elements added together and it was fantastic they did the hunting and a blind and seen retrieve together so that you could actually see your dog hunting for the second dummy.

I've found that on ground where either there is no game or where there has been numerous dogs going over the ground before my dog just isn't interested yet when she finds ground either with scent or game or it, its like seeing a switch flick on Very Happy

Marjolein

Add a blind dummy has not much to do with gundogs really, but obedience more and using their nose. All dogs have a nose. I even think, the nose of my huge Leonberger is better than the nose on the Weims.
Anyway, to make it more gundoggy, I'd say use game instead of dummies.

Allyson

To be fair practically everything comes down to obedience............... Wink

Mike

I'd certainly like to see HPR's at the higher level being required to Hunt, point (live either wild or released game) and be steady to flush (I would think with the steadiness being automatic rather than i response to whistle command). Preferably on fresh ground.

A requirement not to chase hares would be useful, as would workshops / classes on dealing with this!!

If these tests aren't just a stepping stone to open level WT I would like to see a tracking element, either with dragged dead game or live game e.g. hare.

A more thorough water element than exists in FT would be interesting.

Assesment of dogs performance and gamefinding ability on a variety of different game species (both fur and feather), obviously the field test would need to be spread into a number of sections / venues.

Also the ability to retrieve game of all shapes and sizes (IIRC someone had a Canada goose at a retriever FT) I guess that could either be appropriately sized dummies or dead fowl trainers rather than dead game?

Delivery to hand!

Maybe for the top level the dog being shot over on a rough shoot? With assesment being over a number of venues / tests? i.e. being assessed more than once.

Penny

Hi
having just plodded through the threads on working tests and what people would really like I'd like people to be thankful for what they get.
To find ground is exceedingly difficult, there must be space to hunt maybe 100 dogs, to have space for anything up to 12 tests running at the same time, for it to interesting, a challange and have good water.

For every judge 2 or three helpers are required, (for the ideal day the HVC needed 30 helpers plus judges!) they must be fed, watered thanked etc and everyone and thing is done volunterily.

Yes it is fantastic when we can provide land where every open dog has game under its nose, but the water may not ideal and therefore the tests have to be engineered to make them a challenge, yes we can get good water but maybe not the game.

I would like to suggest that everyone who competes their dogs should volunteer theier services to help at least 2 tests a year, should give as well as receive, search out those illusive fantastic perfect hunting grounds, serve on committees and put more in so that even more is available to all.

So come on everyone, make it your resolution for 07, volunteer and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your bit to help the HPR be recognised for the super dogs they are

Claire

That is a very good point Penny about helping out. Its the same in the showing world too. So much goes on in the background and it can be damned hard work. I will be volunteering my services to help out at future tests because apart from helping out it will also allow me to see what is going on before I enter one and it will be good experience to hear what the judges have to say etc.

Pippa · Field Tests

I really appreciate the replies and will pass information on to our panel.

I think some of you thought the thread refered to local FT clubs and societies working tests whereas it actually refered to the field tests being planned by The Gundog Club to be offered on a national basis throughout the country in its new Graded Training scheme.

These tests will not be in the form of a competition but will test each dog against a set standard. The standard tests the 'training process' itself rather than being aimed at the finished dog and the final grade (six) will be set at approximately open working test standard

Bearing in mind that this is a completely new scheme there is plenty of scope for interested parties to influence the designs and let panellists know what they would like to see included.

Pippa

Mike

Sorry Pippa, my mistake i've worded the topic title badly and then compounded it in the first post Embarassed

Apologies to Penny also if you thought I was suggeting these should be added to existing GWT! Embarassed

I've ammended the first post so hopefully it is a little clearer Very Happy

Mike

For those of you currently don't compete with your dogs at GWT what tests could be done that you would find useful, that would actually make you more likely to undergo a formal assessment?

Allyson

I am prepared to undergo a formal assessment on the criteria that already exists.

"If these tests aren't just a stepping stone to open level WT I would like to see a tracking element, either with dragged dead game or live game e.g. hare."

I assume you mean open level working tests Mike not open level Working Trials? Cos tracking a corpse would be of much lower difficulty in Working Trial terms! Wink

Wot about retrieving a fox?

josie

It would be good to see more varied things assessed. Pointing, using caged game at the early stages, maybe at the next stages followed by game in bird launchers and a sit to flush/launch, for eg. Perhaps ending up with something as happens in US, where game is released into an area before each dog runs, so each dog can be assessed on the whole HPR sequence put together.

Having said that, I also just wonder if the test organisers would need to think about what they consider the end goal to be - a dog which works on a shoot, a FT dog, a dog which performs well in Open WTs, a rough-shooting dog, all of the above, and so on - because perhaps the system of tests and what the highest level demonstrates a capability of, will vary depending on this.

Mike

Allyson

I think it is better that I start competing in Gundog Working Tests and maybe having some success under the system as is Shocked

before I would deign to proffer an opinion on their current usefulness or not.

This in itself would be a big jump for me as I have not specifically trained for gundog working tests per se and so I need to gain loads of experience before I believe I would be entitled to a view! Wink

Mike

josie

I agree, after all, our forum carries this welcome message:

"Everyone here is equal and everyone's opinion is valid".

http://workinghprs.myfastforum.org/ftopic18.php

Pippa · scheme

Helen

Can I ask what type of owner has completed the gundog club assessments? Is there a mixture of shooting people, people wanting to get into shooting, and pet owners wanting to do something else with their gundogs? Wondering about the actual shooting of game aspect if people don't like killing things?

I would have thought what would be useful is a test which concurs (sp)with training an hpr. Basic stuf from heeling on and off lead, sitting to the whistle, hunting, gunshot, retrieving etc etc. How is pointing tested in working tests? Is live game used? Pointing is an incredibly important part of an hpr's work.

Not so sure about tracking and retrieving foxes as although they are used for that (Teal's litter brother went to a keeper to be used for tracking foxes), I don't think the "general" public would be interested.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the future with this and I will be keeping a close eye on it.

Helen

Alkemist

Please can someone look into incorporating the bloodtracking that is available on the continent - I'd love my weim to get a bloodtracking qualification, but they don't appear to be on offer over here. Her sire is a Swedish bloodtracking champion - wouldn't that be a nice thing to aim for?? Afterall, tis one of the original purposes of lots of HPRs that is way overlooked. And I also found it to be one of the best fixes I've ever had, watching it set up and participating in one when Marjolein came over and did one for our weims.

Also I'd love it to be much easier for complete newbies to access things - wherever they are in the country.

Just a little basic feedback from someone who has absolutely no experience at all Embarassed

Nina

Mike

Pippa · candidates

josie

Pippa -

When someone applies to enter a Gundog Club test, filling out an entry form, what happens next? Do they then have to contact the nearest assessor themselves and organise a test etc? Or are they assigned a test date?

How many people have been taking the retriever/spaniel tests so far and what are the results like?

Thanks, just wondering.

Pippa · tests

Ideas for the new "Gundog Club" HPR tests

Field Tests

scheme

candidates

tests