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 […]

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

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Pointing Breed Hunt Tests - Judges’ Eligibility Current Requirements For all Judges Information please review Chapter 1 of the Regulations for AKC Hunting Tests for Pointing Breeds Prior to Apprenticeship Minimum Age: 18 yrs. Handling Experience: 1 qualifying leg at level to be judged or higher (club’s responsibility to monitor) Prior to Judging Apprenticeship: Twice […]

  Barn Hunt events may be held in conjunction with AKC events provided they are held "separate and apart". Separate and apart means there must be a clear demarcation between the two events. The clear demarcation can be achieved in a number of ways --- Different times -- Starting the Barn Hunt event after the […]

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 […]

Visitors and residents of Savannah, Georgia, who are hoping to catch a glimpse of something (or someone) otherworldly are getting a little help from a rather intuitive Golden Retriever. Bailey The Ghost Hunting Dog of Savannah accompanies his owner, Melynda Ware-Loomis, as she leads walking ghost tours of what is considered by some to be […]

As strong as it is swift, the Borzoi was bred for centuries to course fox, boar, hare and, famously, wolf – hence its moniker, the Russian Wolfhound.

Many dog breeds were first developed to hunt vermin. Learn more about the sport of Barn Hunt and how it could be perfect for you dog.

Dogs can make excellent companions for a variety of hunting excursions. Dogs help locate camouflaged game, flush it from hiding, and retrieve flying or running quarry. Some dogs are better suited to hunting, like Retrievers, pointing breeds, and Spaniels. Regardless of a dog's innate instinct and hunting skills, however, proper gear is essential to keep your […]

Egg hunts are a springtime tradition, but don't let kids have all the fun! Create an egg hunt for your dog for a simple, fun scent game your pup will love.

The Harrier's history is rooted in the English indulgence of pursuing hare and the dog on which the sport and breed were founded.

The Flat-Coated Retriever (Flat-Coat) is a large and strong utilitarian hunting dog that shines at flushing birds, such as quail and pheasant, during upland shooting (the pursuit of birds usually found in heavy cover on the ground). He is also skilled at retrieving game from the land and the water. Here are nine interesting facts […]

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). […]

Tyson was approximately 12 weeks old when he joined Cindy’s family in July 2010. He was rescued off the streets of Detroit, found by a local rescue group, in a box labeled “Free Puppies” along with three others.  Cindy took Tyson to puppy class and progressed to basic obedience and early agility training. “At 18 […]

March 22, 2016 The Alaska Board of Game, part of the state’s Department of Fish and Game, will be considering almost 140 regulatory proposals at meetings scheduled to take place from March 18 to March 28.  Proposal 69 seeks to prohibit statewide hunting with domestic dogs.  All concerned residents, clubs, and allied organizations are strongly […]

A bill moving in the New York Senate makes certain hunting competitions illegal.  As written, however, Senate Bill 4099 contains important amendments requested by the AKC to protect training and performance events. Summary: Senate Bill 4099 is similar to bills introduced in previous sessions that would make it unlawful to organize, sponsor, or participate in […]

On Thursday, February 2, a proposed Oregon Constitutional amendment that would declare constitutional right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods, subject to certain legal restrictions will be heard in the Oregon House Rules Committee. In Oregon, the term “hunt” is defined in part as taking or attempting to take wildlife with […]

On Wednesday, March 20, at 9:30a.m., the Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to consider a bill with serious implications for those who hunt with dogs.  The proposed legislation makes changes to the laws related to trespassing on private property while hunting. Senate Bill 1087 would not only allow for a hunter, even […]

June 8, 2015 The New York Assembly Agriculture Committee is considering a bill tomorrow (Tuesday, June 9) that would make some changes and clarifications to the laws regarding hunting dogs. Assembly Bill 7220 deals with dogs recovered or seized by local law enforcement for being at-large.  Under the provisions of this bill, a hunting dog […]

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has proposed restructuring several state regulations impacting hunting and the use of public lands with dogs.  With these housekeeping changes, DEM wants to streamline how the public is able to access and abide by the regulations for hunting in a more effective way.  Rhode Island dog owners […]

At its recent Committee meeting, the Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee amended a bill that would have had serious implications for those who hunt with dogs.  The proposed legislation makes changes to the laws related to trespassing on private property while hunting. As originally propose, Senate Bill 1087 would have made changes to the […]