Versatile Hunting Dog Test ASSN (NZ)

News

Next test weekend is on 20th & 21st March 2010.
The venue is yet to be finalised but it will be in the Waikato region, possibly Te Awamutu.

Test entry form HERE

There is a proposed test weekend also in Picton area in July. Any Sth Islanders keen to attend please contact
the secretary. This site is ideally more suited to puppies but an Intermediate test could be run.

Why dummy or toy for NA water test and not a bird?

The reason we use a bird as a last resort, is that the test is a measure of the dogs confidence and willingness to enter the water, not a retrieve.
The dummy is used to give the dog a reason, ie: a target. Ideally dogs should need no such enticement, they should just go, the same as when
you release them into the field, however, this is a test for puppies.

The bird taps into the dogs Prey Drive and a dog with little affection for the water will overlook this if they have a strong desire for birds, but we are evaluating a pups natural inclination to enter water - "water love" so no bird except as a last resort.

1080 Drop notice:

Hi neighbouring Gundog Club Secretaries and pheasant hunters

I just thought I'd draw your attention to a document passed on to us personally this week which notifies those living nearby of a planned arial 1080 poison drop over the Maramarua Forest in July and August this year.

Although we are fully aware of the necessity to reduce the possum population periodically (even using 1080) it would be worth attempting to persuade TB Free NZ to reconsider their timing of the operation to avoid the hunting season. I would certainly not consider hunting within a kilometre of an area which had an arial poison drop over it, the danger to my dog and myself by consuming contaminated carcasses or game would be far too great a risk. It would be in their interests PR wise if TB Free NZ took forest user's interests into account when planning such operations.

You should consider speaking with your local Fish and Game representative about this either individually or as a club. I have already notified David Klee at Brymer Road but the more people aware of this issue the greater the likelihood of some pressure being applied in the right places. At the least I think this is something your members should be aware of.

Best Regards

Helen Sansome

Photographic Competition

Theme: Gundogs in Action

~ $50 prize for best photo ~

Also available subject to the number of entries:

$30 prize for runner up

$20 prize for third

(Prizes will be increased if entries permit)

$5 Entry Fee per photo

Entries close 31^st March 2010

Entries are invited in a competition designed to develop a series of action photos of NZ gundogs. The competition will be independently judged.

It is planned to use some or all of the photos, with appropriate attribution, in a calendar which should be available for sale from October 2010. The photos may also be used by the NZ Gundog Trial Association to promote gundog trialling in NZ.

Contact Esmé Macdonald at bigmac3@paradise.net.nz or PO Box 182, Alexandra 9340 for entry form or any additional information regarding this competition.

Renewal of annual subscription due 1st March 2010
Subs: $10 single $5 extra family member
Post to The Secretary, 122 Emano St, Nelson.

The joining form link is on the opening page of this website.

A small membership fee of $10 allows you to enter members site and read test regulations, results etc. It also gives us funds toward running the tests, and holding training days. In the future getting
judges "down south" to run tests. Please support the aims of the VHDTA with your subscription.

Entering the Natural Ability Test

NATURAL ABILITY TEST

From the arrival of your new pup you should begin training; training as a game, training in a no pressure fun manner.

With the help of tasty treats pup will first learn to sit and to come to call. Each day do a couple of fun retrieves with a special toy, up the hallway is ideal.
Within a few months pup will be learning to walk quietly beside you and to lay down and stay put for a short time.

Most importantly you will have taken your puppy as often as possible for enjoyable romps in many different places, the sort of places you hope pup may find some birds and definitely different scents to figure out.

You cannot teach a dog to hunt, they learn about scent and wind, birds and animals, ponds and streams, grass and gorse as they grow up. All this because you made sure they have the exposure to sights, sounds, terrain and above all game so they use all their innate natural abilities and learn from their experiences.

Judges will not expect from a 6 month pup what they will from a 16 month old. An older pup should have had a seasons hunting and be more advanced in training. A 6 month pup is at the beginning of your hunting adventures.

If your pup has not had the opportunity to follow a running pheasant or wounded bird, you will need to give pup that experience. You can drag a bird or even just walk out in fresh green grass and leave a treat or favourite toy at the end of your track.
Start short and slowly extend the distance as pup improves.
Following your tracks is also how pup will find you when hunting in heavy cover.

You will need to introduce gunfire as a blank shot will be fired to check pups reaction in the test. A gundog must hunt for the gun. Be careful how you go about introducing gunfire, pup must be involved in other business when you fire from a distance, watch pups reaction and plan your future conditioning from there.
Whatever you do, don't let pup associate gunfire with something bad, even someone scolding another dog at the time of a shot can cause pup to relate the two together.

Overtraining of a pup for the Natural Ability test will be noticeable to the judges from the dogs demeanour, and will be marked accordingly.

Walk in the normal manner you do out hunting, carry the gun as you normally do and behave in the same manner as when you are hunting with your dog. Some interaction is expected, but too many commands and excessive control will lower your score.

If your pup points, approach fairly briskly from the side or front. Either flush the bird or carry pup away. Don't worry if pup chases the bird, walk off in another direction and whistle pup to come along.
The judges just want to see if pup has some pointing instinct, that the point produces some game (whatever that may be) is not a sight point, and is not a false point.

To recap: Your puppy must be old enough and keen enough to be leaving your side and hunting for game.
Your puppy must have been introduced to gunfire (we only use primers to test puppies)
Your puppy must have been introduced to water and willing to go into it and swim (with a little encouragement of course).

                This all boils down to YOU making sure you puppy has exposure to these things. A run in a mown park is not enough, puppy must be "in the wild" on a regular
                   basis to give it the chance to develop those natural instincts. Take puppy alone for these walks so puppy learns for itself - just a 1/4hr hunting expedition
                   you and the pup before you let the other dogs out will be enough, but that 1/4hr you and pup are HUNTING. Not playing, not you talking or dreaming along -
                   HUNTING !

What would have been the outcome if Motzart never was given the opportunity to play a piano?

The Intermediat test is for dogs that have done a seasons' hunting. It involves a lot of retrieving land and water, and tracking. Your dog must retrieve a duck to hand and have had some experience at following a drag (track). Your dog must display basic obedience. More obedience is required of those that enter in the "older dog test" as these dogs are evaluated as seasoned workers.

Training supplies: http://www.gundog.co.nz/trainers.php

DVD available for members on the 2007 Hegewald tests for Deutsch Drahthaar. Contact Margaret.

DVD available on Gundog Trialling (NZGDTA)

New books:

The German Shorthaired Pointer
A hunter's guide to the selection, care, training & handling of Americals most popular pointing dog.
Author: David Gowdey

You can order this book $US24.95 from this website -

www.wideskypress.com website or order regularly off of amazon.com.

The book covers the origins of the breed, conformation standards,
picking a pup, training your pup to be a reliable hunting dog and
family companion, reading the dog, hunting tactics, safety afield, and
breeding.

>>>

For those who found Joan Baileys book for pups and young dogs worthwhile "How to Help Gundogs Train Themselves, she has produced the book to follow this called How to Have the Best Trained Gun Dog.
Learn - how to force retrieve train with little or no pain
- how to control your dog at all times
- how steady to wing & shot are made easier

At this early stage available from Swan Valley Press http://www.swanvalleypress.com/pages/order.htm

You will have to request as pre publication not shown on site. I expect the cost inc freight in $NZ to be about $50.00

Executive elected for 2009/10
President: Jake Overton
Vice President: Paul Hannibal

Sec/Treasurer: Margaret Cotton - mcotton@orcon.net.nz

The VHDTA (NZ) is affiliated to the NZ Gundog Trials Assn, and hence the NZKC.

About Testing - the reason for testing dogs with the VHDTA.

At this early stage, the Association needs much positive feedback, encouragement and assistance. Only a very few people are putting a lot of dedication into making this work for our NZ Versatile Hunting Dogs, so let's get on with the vision. All the test regulations describing how the dogs are evaluated, what makes up a truly versatile hunting dog and training articles are available for members inside this site.

Test scores are available in members section.

Entering a Natural Ability Test: This test is for pups 6 months to 16months of age. You can enter an older dog for a grading, but the dog is not eligible for any Prize classification.

A pup needs to have been given the opportunity to fossick and romp about in the fields and woods, learning about scent and maybe finding a bird or two. The pup needs to be taken into hunting areas with no other dog, so that it can learn all about hunting by itself, gain confidence and not rely on an older dog finding game for it. The pup needs to have been introduced to water in a manner that allows pup to feel safe and gain confidence in swimming. The pup also needs to be conditioned to the sound of shot.

Entering an Intermediate Test: This test is for young dogs 16 months up until they reach 30 months of age. Again, an older dog can be entered for a grading but is not eligible for any Prize classification.

This dog should have at least one hunting season behind it, it should be obedient to basic commands, be confident to enter water, and a reliable retriever. The dog will be expected to retrieve gamebirds, and optional fur.
As this test involves some tracking of game, it certainly would be advisable to practise a few drags with your young dog prior to the test. The game should be dragged with the wind at your back, the ground cover should be lush, the dog shouldn't see you setting the track, leave the game for the dog to retrieve but continue around in a circle down wind of the drag back to the dog. Practise with your dog on a leash if the dog wants to range rather than concentrate on the drag.

On joining the Assn ($10) you are able to view the test regulations in the members section.

Joining the Assn in the members section you can print off a copy of the test regulations. These tell you exactly what is expected of your dog, and tells the judges what to look for in evaluation of the dogs. Everything you need to know.
It is essential you read these regulations before you run your dog in a test.

.............................

ARTICLES

The below articles have been generously given by the authors for publication on this site. We hope they will give you some assistance in training your versatile hunting dogs to their best abilities. Please remember these articles are copyright to the authors.

Article - How Dogs Learn

Article - On Tracking

Article - Retrieve Steps