Hunting Tests for Pointing Breeds were developed so people would have an opportunity to demonstrate a dogs ability to perform under actual hunting conditions. Judges should evaluate a dog's natural abilities as well as those traits obtained through training. Hunting Tests are for people of all ages, male and female and for dogs at least […]

Field Trial Grounds being Developed in Alabama by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources First Dog to Earn MHA — ‘Battue‘ Growing Up With Field Dogs Get Started Growing Up In A GSP Family Kaitlyn Walsh -- A Young Handler for the Hunt Test Crowd "Miles" -First Junior Hunter Advanced Title Portuguese Pointer: First to […]

TITLE APPLICATIONS Advanced Title Application Lifetime Achievement Title Application Master Hunter Excellent Lifetime Achievement Title Application   EVENT APPLICATIONS Pointing Breed Hunt Test Event Application Special Event Application

2013 Versatile Weimaraner Earns JHR Title 2011 Pictures of Hunt Test Judges Riding 4-Wheelers/ATVs 2009 Nutmeg German Shorthaired Pointer Club by Chuck Kimbrel AKC Sporting Breeds Hunt With Wounded Warriors Montana Brittany Club by Tom Maneely St. Croix Valley Brittany Club and Twin Cities Vizsla Club 2008 Gordon Setter Club of America South Dakota Pointing […]

This program was formulated due to the overwhelming success of the Retriever Hunting Test program. In 1986 Director of Field Trials and Hunting Tests, A. Hamilton (Ham) Rowan, Manager of Performance Events, John Carroll, and AKC Field Representative, Bob Bartel developed the plans for the fledgling Pointing Breed Hunting Test program. The regulations were approved […]

Sunday, July 12, 2009 -- Beaver Dam, WI History was made today as the first Airedales to ever enter a Spaniel Hunting Test got the breed off to a successful start. Airedales became eligible to enter the Spaniel Hunting Test program on July 1, 2009. It didn't take long for Mark and Karen Werner of […]

By Jerry D. Mann, Field Director -- Sporting Breeds As I entered the grounds for the Mid-South Hunting Retriever Club fall hunt test near Bruce, Mississippi I hurriedly approached the contestants' sign-up area to obtain a copy of the event catalog and locate the running site of the Master test. It was with anxious anticipation […]

Starting last year at the Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club's Hunt Test, Kaitlyn has scored a "leg" at almost every Hunt Test, finishing Sage's JH title in Delaware this past January. With guidance from her father, Carl Walsh, and also Mal Decker, Eastern Director of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Kaitlyn has impressed […]

Clubs Allowed to Use Waiting Lists (July 2021) New Lifetime Achievement Title/Flea and Tick Collars (March 2019)   Regulations for AKC Hunting Tests for Spaniels Eligible Breeds    

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests: AKC Recognized and FSS Breeds Airedale Terriers American Water Spaniels Barbet Boykin Spaniels Chesapeake Retrievers Curly-Coated Retrievers Drentsche Patrijshond (Drent) English Springer Spaniels Flat-Coated Retrievers German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retrievers Irish Water […]

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Spaniel Hunting Tests: AKC Recognized Breeds Airedale Terriers American Water Spaniels Boykin Spaniels Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Clumber Spaniels Cocker Spaniels Curly-Coated Retrievers English Cocker Spaniels English Springer Spaniels Field Spaniels Flat-Coated Retrievers Golden Retrievers Irish Water Spaniels Labrador […]

Judges' Eligibility Requirements AKC Online Judges Test Judges’ Directory Apprentice Form Affirmation Form AKC Seminar Schedule Advanced Seminar Grant Info Judges Liability Coverage Judges Accidental Coverage Dog Disqualified by a Judge Form Sample Scoresheet Junior Handler Certification Hunt Test Judges Report Disqualification by Event Committee Junior Handler Certification Letter Procedural Checklist Judge's Questionaire

Master Hunter Excellent Test Launched (Feb 2024) Tracking Device Changes (Jul 2023) Buddy Hunts / Flexible Judging Schedule  (May 2023) Amateur Walking Puppy Stakes at Hunt Tests (Feb 2023) Clubs Allowed to Use Waiting Lists (Jul 2021) Special Event Hunting Tests (Jul 2020) Grounds Defined/Bracemate Courtesy/JH Trainability- Condition of Bird (Apr 2020) Max 8 Hunts/Lifetime Achievement Title […]

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Pointing Breed Hunting Tests: AKC Recognized and FSS Breeds Blue Picardy Spaniel Bracco Italiano Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Francais Pyrenean Braque Saint-Germain Brittanys Drentsche Patrijshond English Setters French Spaniel German Longhaired Pointer German Shorthaired Pointers German Wirehaired Pointers […]

I will be blogging this week on the hunt test assessment. I would like to thank those who have sent videos of their assessment attempts; it shows me what I need to do to make the process standardized for everyone. The reason this test is important is that it is a test validated across 600 […]

Remember that you are not preparing for this test. We are looking for natural ability more than trained response. You need an open area that is unfamiliar to the dog. With the 3 month test you need less space than the other tests at 6, 9, and 12 months. You’ll need at least an acre […]

Before going into greater detail on the test in the next post, just a little bit about the order and reason for of test. There is a very specific order to the test. The test should be performed in an unfamiliar area. It starts with a walk to the test site to allow for a […]

If your dog loves to chase squirrels and dig for moles, then they would love the sport of Barn Hunt. Dogs get to hunt for rats, which are safely enclosed in heavy PVC tubes that are hidden in hay bales. The sport is for all dogs of all breeds, including mixed-breeds, like Hexie, who is […]

Barn Hunt is a sport that dogs love. They get to put their incredible scent skills and hunting instincts to work. Dogs search for rats, safely enclosed in heavy pvc tubes and then hidden among hay bales. They must find the rat or rats, depending on the class level, within a certain time period and […]

If your dog is constantly on the prowl for squirrels, moles and any other critters that appear in your backyard, then they should be a natural for the fun sport of Barn Hunt.   As of April 1, 2013, the American Kennel Club recognizes titles earned at events sanctioned by the Barn Hunt Association (BHA). […]