Retriever Hunting Tests

Retriever Hunting Test Score Sheet

Effective September 1, 2005, a new "score sheet" for the Retriever Hunting Test program will be initiated. Even though similar to the old form, the new sheet will be divided into two stand-alone sections, requiring that Marking tests be scored separately from Blind tests. While a "series" may include both marks and blinds, they are two distinctive and separate tests and must be so scored.

Under new guidelines, a dog must average a score of five (5) or higher in each ability under both the Marking and Blind tests, separately and independently of each other. Failure of a dog to achieve this minimum average score of five (5) in any ability in either it's marks or blinds means that the dog cannot qualify.

To that end, columns are now provided on the new score sheet for recording these average minimum scores. Their presence is intended not only to emphasize the above point, but to keep the scores for Marking and Blind tests separate and apart from each other. No longer can the Marking scores be used to "assist" in raising the Blind scores, and vise versa. From now on, dogs are expected to be able to run both their marks and blinds to the same minimum standard. As always, in addition to maintaining the average of five (5) or higher in each individual ability under Marks and Blinds, a dog must continue to have an "Overall Average" final test score of seven (7) or higher in order to qualify.

While it has always been required, now it is more important than ever with the new score sheet that Judges take the time to actually calculate and record the individual scores for each of the dog's abilities on every single mark and every single blind. And as you will see in the examples provided below, understanding the correct method of calculating the scores in obtaining these averages will make a big difference as to whether or not a dog qualifies if the number of marking tests run and the number of blind test run are not the same.

The Regulations and Guidelines for Retriever Hunting Tests are replete in the requirement that Judges score the dogs. A few illustrations make this point clear.

In Chapter 2, Section 1, 2nd paragraph, it provides that "The ability categories in a series must be graded on a scale of 0-10.

In Chapter 4, Section 2, it requires that "The Judges shall score the dogs on (a their natural abilities including Marking (memory), Style, Perseverance (courage/hunting), and (b) to relative greater degrees in Senior and Master Hunting Tests their Trainability as evidenced in (steadiness, control, response and delivery)."

Judges are required (must be graded - Chapter 2) (shall score – Chapter 4) to score dogs, in all test levels, on a scale of 0-10 in each of the four abilities demonstrated during testing. Failure to do so is in violation of the Regulations.

Procedures for utilizing the new score sheet:

Junior Test

1. Each ability (Marking, Style, Perseverance and Trainability) is scored for each of the four (4) single marks under "Marking Series."

2. When all marks are completed, the "Average" score for each ability is calculated and posted. If any ability averages below five, (5) the dog cannot qualify.

3. If all abilities average five (5) or higher, they are carried over to the "Average Score for All Series" column, totaled to reach "Total Scores," and then divided by four (4) to determine whether or not the dog qualifies. The "Overall Average" must be seven (7) or higher to qualify.

Senior and Master Test

1. Each ability demonstrated during the running of the marks (Marking, Style, Perseverance and Trainability) is scored under "Marking Series." If a series includes a blind/s, each ability, (Style, Perseverance, Trainability) demonstrated during the running of the blind/s is scored under "Blind Series." (Each blind run is scored separately).

2. Once all testing requirements are met and testing has been completed, the "Average" score for each ability demonstrated is calculated and posted for both the Marking Series and the Blind Series. If any ability under "Marking Series" or "Blind Series" averages below a five, (5) the dog cannot qualify.

3. Calculating the "Average Score for All Series" differs, depending on the number of marking tests and blind tests run.

If the number of marking tests and the number of blind tests are the same, the "Average" scores, for each ability, (Style, Perseverance and Trainability) may be totaled, divided by two and the results moved to the "Average Score for All Series" column. The "Average" score for Marking needs only to be moved to the "Average Score for All Series" column.

However, if the number of marking tests and blind tests differ, the "Average Score for All Series", must be calculated by adding all the individual scores in each ability, i.e. Style, Perseverance and Trainability, and dividing by the total tests run.

Example (example score sheet): Suppose that in a Master Test, three series of marks are run, and five blinds, with two blinds being run in conjunction with the first series of marks, two in the second series and one in the last series. Under the ability of "Trainability", a dog is scored seven (7), eight (8) and nine (9) respectively in the marking tests. (The "Average" score would be 8.00). For the blinds, the dog is scored in Trainability as eight (8), six (6), eight (8) four (4) and five (5) respectively. (The "Average score would be 6.20). If the "Average" scores were simply added together, and then divided by two, the "Average Score for All Series" would be 7.10. This would be a false picture of the dog's actual performance. In order to reach an accurate picture, all the scores for both marks and blinds would have to be totaled (7+8+9+8+6+8+4+5 = 55) and divided by the number of scores given (55 divided by 8 = 6.88). Thus, 6.88 is the correct "Average Score for All Series" in Trainability, not 7.10.

4. After each ability's scores have been calculated, and the "Average Score for All Series" is completed, those are then tallied, under "Total Scores" and divided by four (4) to reach the "Overall Average". Dogs must reach an Overall Average score of seven (7) or higher to qualify.

At this point, STOP and CALCULATE the sample test scores as practice for yourself before proceeding. [These particular test scores are designed to emphasize that correctly calculating the scores in obtaining the "Average Score for All Series" will make a big difference as to whether a dog qualifies when the number of marking tests a dog actually runs differs from the number of blinds tests it runs.] Answer: If figured incorrectly this dog will qualify with a score of 7.04. However, if figured correctly the dog will fail with a score of 6.95.

The new Retriever Hunting Test score sheet can be found on the AKC web page for downloading as needed.