Weimaraners
are one of the versatile gun dog breeds. As such, they should be bred
for the desire to hunt both birds and furred game and the ability to trail,
hunt, point, swim, and retrieve on land and in water. These skills are invaluable to the hunter. Hunters often get involved in field training clubs in order to perfect their dog's work or to extend their enjoyment of the outdoors beyond the hunting season. Folks who don't hunt often get smitten by the fieldwork bug once they see firsthand the passion with which their dog strikes a point or the desire they have to retrieve birds. Organized field training and competition events are ideal for non-hunters as you don't need to even own a gun or know the first thing about hunting to participate.
There
are many different organizations that offer fieldwork competitions in
North America. The events most often entered by Weimaraners are: American
Kennel Club (AKC) Field Trials and Hunt Tests, Canadian Kennel Club Field
Trials and Field Dog Tests, Weimaraner Club of America Field trials and
Shooting/Retrieving Ratings and North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association
(NAVHDA) Field Tests.
FIELD
TRIALS
North
American Field Trials began in the mid 1800's with the aim of evaluating
and improving pointing dogs. In most Field Trials, the judges, handlers
and spectators are on horseback. The dogs are paired in braces, and the
stakes are from 20 minutes (puppy stakes) to 1 hour (Classic senior stakes)
in length.
A
typical horseback field trial stake begins at the break away, where the
handlers are notified by the judges to start the brace. Each brace pairs
two dogs to run a designated course simultaneously. When the dogs are
released, time is started.
The handlers attempt to guide their dogs along the course as they range
out at a gallop to look for birds along the way. As the event progresses,
the dogs are judged on several attributes including hunting desire, running
speed, running range, class, style of run and point, responsiveness to
handler's commands, independence from their bracemate and the ability to find birds.
During
the competition, when a dog points, the judges verify the point and the
handler, if on horseback, dismounts and walks toward the dog to flush
the bird or birds. When the game flies, the handler fires a blank shot
into the air. During this exhilarating portion of the event, a broke (fully
trained) dog must demonstrate its maturity and good training by standing intently in place
until the handler removes it from the area. Then, the dog is released
to hunt again until time is called. While dogs under 2 years of age are expected to show natural hunting and pointing ability and no sensitivity to blank gunfire, they are not required to demonstrate the polished performance of the broke dogs.
In American Kennel Club (AKC) or Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Field Trials
the dogs compete against each other for points towards a Field Championship
or an Amateur Field Championship. In an Amateur Field Championship, all
of the points towards the championship have been earned in stakes in which
only Amateur handlers are permitted to enter. In the junior stakes (puppy
and derby), only the winning dog receives points towards a Championship.
In the senior stakes (broke stakes), the second and third placing dog
may also receive points if the entry in the stake was large. Points are
awarded according to the size of the entry to a maximum of 5 points for
a stake with 25 dogs or more (AKC) or 20 dogs or more (CKC). 10 points
are required for a Field Championship and for an Amateur Field Championship.
For
an AKC Championship for Weimaraners, 4 of the points towards a Field Championship
must come from stakes in which a retrieve of a shot bird is required,
at least one of the senior stakes must be a 'major', that is, a first
placement in a senior stake worth at least 3 points. No more than 2 points
may come from puppy stakes, no more than 2 points can come from derby
stakes and the dog must also demonstrate the ability to back and pass
a water test consisting of a 20 yard retrieve of a dead bird from water.
For a CKC Championship, no retrieving points are required, no water test
is required, and demonstration of the ability to honor (or back) the bracemate
is required, but the requirements are otherwise the same. Weimaraner Club
of America Field Trials are run according to the rules of AKC field trials
with the exception of the Field Futurity which is a non-regular stake
conducted approximately as a derby stake.
The
puppy stakes are restricted to dogs between 6 months and 15 months (AKC)
or 18 months (CKC) in age. In puppy stakes the dog is not expected to
be very polished, but is expected to show hunting desire, independence,
animation and birdiness.
The
derby stakes are restricted to dogs over 15 months but less than 24 months
(AKC) or over 18 months but less than 27 months (CKC) in age. In derby
stakes, the dog is expected to still show good groundspeed, desire, and
independence, but should also show more maturity in its search and should
be more responsive to the handler's commands, must find a bird and point,
and must not be gunshy. Derby dogs are not required to be steady to wing
or shot.
All of the senior, or broke stakes are open to any dog over 6 months of
age, however, the dog will not receive a placement unless it demonstrates
satisfactory speed, range and application on its run, finds at least one
bird, points every bird it contacts and remains steady through the flush
and shot, retrieves to hand in a retrieving stake, backs (honors) another
dog it encounters on point if required, stops to the wild flush of a bird
if required and is in contact with its handler at the end of the stake.
HUNT
TESTS (AKC) AND FIELD DOG TESTS (CKC)
In
these tests, the dogs do not compete against each other, but against a
standard that allows every dog the opportunity to pass or fail. Dogs must
be at least 6 months in age to compete in tests, however there are no
other age restrictions, older dogs may still enter the novice levels.
While the judges are on horseback, handlers must walk in the tests. Gunners
are provided for any test that requires the dog to make a retrieve.
The
AKC hunt tests offer Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter levels
with progressively more stringent requirements. Likewise, the CKC offers
Field Dog Junior, Field Dog and Field Dog Excellent levels. Earning a
title requires earning passing scores at different tests 3 times (CKC,
all levels), 4 times (AKC Junior Hunter or Senior Hunter) or 5 times (AKC
Master Hunter). Handlers can begin entering tests at whatever level they
wish, they do not have to earn novice titles in order to compete for advanced
titles, however, in AKC tests dogs jumping in at the Senior or Master
levels are required to earn an extra leg at each of those levels in order
to complete their title.
In
AKC hunt tests the dogs are run in braces; in CKC tests the dogs may be
run either singly or in braces at the discretion of the test-giving club.
In the junior tests the dog is judged for at least 15 minutes as a novice
fieldwork prospect, expected to show birdiness, independence, strong hunting
desire, responsiveness to the handler's commands, pointing ability and
gunsureness. In the intermediate levels, the dog is judged for at least
30 minutes and is required to show the same passion with a more mature
hunting pattern and style, greater manners around birds, and evidence
of training. The dog must point and be steady until the handler flushes
the bird. The dog must retrieve. At the top levels the dog is judged for
at least 30 minutes and is expected to show a fully finished broke performance,
including steadiness through wing and shot, backing, stopping to flush
if necessary, retrieving to hand, and excellent compliance to its handler's
commands, which should be minimal. A water retrieve is also required in
the Field Dog Excellent test (CKC). In order to pass a dog must receive
at least 50% of the points available for each section of the test and
in addition must receive an overall score of at least 70% (AKC tests)
or 75% (CKC tests).
NORTH
AMERICAN VERSATILE HUNTING DOG ASSOCIATION TESTS
The
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association was developed in order
to fully assess the usefulness of pointing breeds as versatile gun dogs.
The tests are modeled on the European testing system used in Germany to
assess Weimaraners for field ability. The tests involve assessment of
hunting ability in land and water, trailing of live and wounded game,
retrieving steadiness and skill, pointing ability, gunsureness, and cooperation
and obedience with the handler. There are three levels, Natural Ability
(NA) for dogs up to 16 months of age, Utility Preparation Test (UPT) for
dogs partway through their training, and Utility Test (UT) for fully trained
dogs.
In Natural Ability Testing a pup is tested on its willingness to swim
and retrieve bumpers. Two retrieves of approximately 20 yards each are
required, the pup does not have to deliver the bumper to hand. A good
score requires speedy and enthusiastic water entry with a direct return
to the handler. After that, the judges examine the dog's coat, conformation,
temperament, and teeth. Next, the pups are tested one at a time for their
hunting range, pattern and style. While they are running, a shotgun is
fired twice in order to test for gunshyness. The pup then proceeds to
a birdfield where game birds have been released and they are required
to point but not to be steady to flush. Cooperation with the handler is
highly rated and if the dog catches a bird it was expected to retrieve
it to the handler. The last portion of the test is trailing ability on
a live running bird. A few feathers are plucked from a wing-clipped bird
that is then allowed to run off into the woods. Then, the dog and handler
(who have both been hidden out of sight) are brought to the starting feather
pile and the dog is released on the trail. A good score requires the pup
to pick up and follow the trail for at least 50 yards or so, but it is
not necessary for the dog to find the bird in order to score highly.
The
Utility Preparation and Utility Testing levels have very similar requirements,
however, a more polished performance is required in order to score well
in Utility as compared to Utility Preparation. The water work involves
the release of a live wing-clipped or dead duck into a far corner of a
pond. Then, the dog and handler (who have both been hidden out of sight)
are brought to the water's edge where the dog is required to sit while
the handler fires the shotgun into the air in a direction away from where
the bird was. The dog is then sent into the water to search for the bird,
and must actively search for at least 10 minutes without further encouragement.
A dog could score highly even if it did not find the bird, as long as
it searched diligently for the entire time. The second part of the water
work is a test of steadiness by the blind. A duck is thrown into the far
side of the pond while the dog waits by the blind. The handler is required
to shoot a blank in the direction of the bird in the UPT level and in
the UT level there were additional shots fired by other 'hunters'. The
dog is required to be steady and quiet in a sit until sent for the retrieve.
After that, the judge examines the dog's coat, conformation, temperament,
and teeth. Next, the dogs are run singly for 25 minutes in the field to
assess their hunting range, style, and pattern, ending in a birdfield
where they are required to find and point at least 2 birds. The handlers
carry an empty shotgun that they aim at the flushed bird and pretend to
shoot, while 2 gunners do the real shooting. In UPT the dog is allowed
to release itself on the shot to make the retrieve and in UT the dog is
required to be steady until sent for the retrieve. Retrieving is required
to be soft-mouthed, direct and to hand. The last section involves the
trailing of a wounded or dead dragged bird - the drag track is about 100
yards long with a right angle turn in the middle and the bird ending up
hidden in heavy cover. Neither dog nor handler are permitted to watch
the track being set and the dog is required to both locate the start of
the track and to follow it and make a retrieve of the bird at the end.
NAVHDA
tests are a realistic reflection of typical scenarios encountered in upland
and waterfowl game hunting and they are a great way to assess the many
talents of the versatile Weimaraner!
WEIMARANER
CLUB OF AMERICA RATINGS TESTS
The WCA has offered both retrieving and shooting ratings tests for decades.
As in hunt tests, in ratings tests the dog is judged against a standard
resulting in a pass/fail score, the handler can enter at whatever level
they feel is appropriate, and gunners are provided for any retrieves requiring
the shooting of live birds. Only one pass is required in order to earn
a title. Dogs must be at least 6 months of age to participate, but there
are no other age restrictions. Dogs must not have any WCA disqualifying
faults (oversize, blue, monorchid etc) but spayed and neutered dogs may
compete. A .22 blank gun must be used where applicable, crimps are not
allowed for any part of the test.
Three
levels are available for retrieving: Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD), Retrieving
Dog (RD) and Retrieving Dog Excellent (RDX) and three levels are available
for hunting/pointing: Novice Shooting Dog (NSD), Shooting Dog (SD) and
Shooting Dog Excellent (SDX).
General Regulations for all tests include: no dog is permitted to practice
on the Rating Test grounds on the day of the test, only a leather or fabric
collar may be worn during the test, no training aids are permitted (choke
collars, weighted collars etc).
Retrieving
Ratings additional regulations: for land retrieves the cover should be
high enough to completely hide the bird, handling is permitted, but overhandling,
either voice or whistle, is penalized, all of the land retrieves are performed
before the water retrieves, dogs that fail the land portion may not proceed
to the water portion, a circle of rope or hose 12 feet in diameter is
to be laid out, in the case of the water retrieve the circle is to be
no closer than 3 feet from the waters edge, the handler must remain in
the circle at all times.
The
Novice Retrieving Dog Ratings Test consists of a single land retrieve
of a dead bird at approximately 40 yards and a single water retrieve of
a dead bird at approximately 20 yards. The dog must retrieve the bird
to the circle. No dog must be sent until the bird has hit the land/water
and the handler has been directed by the judge to send the dog. Steadiness
at the line is not required. The dog may be restrained by holding the
dog, the dog's collar, and/or having the dog on leash. Verbal encouragement
is permitted throughout.
The
Retrieving Dog Ratings Test consists of a double land retrieve of one
live shot flyer and one dead bird at approximately 40 and 60 yards distance,
and a double water retrieve at approximately 20 and 40 yards distance,
with the farthest bird thrown amongst decoys. The dog must remain steady
at the line without physical restraint of any kind, however, verbal cautioning
is permitted. All birds must be brought to within arm's reach and must
not be mangled so as to be unfit for the table.
The Retrieving Dog Excellent Ratings Test consists of a widely spaced
double land retrieve of one live shot flyer and one dead bird at approximately
40 and 60 yards distance, a triple, widely spaced water retrieve at approximately
20, 40 and 60 yards distance, with the farthest birds in and beyond a
group of decoys, and a blind water retrieve of approximately 40 yards.
No physical or verbal restraint is permitted at the line. Hand signals
and redirection is permitted as required. The birds must be retrieved
directly to hand and must not be mangled so as to be unfit for the table.
Shooting Ratings additional regulations include: dogs are run in braces
with the handlers walking and the judges on horseback, and dogs that instigate
a fight will be disqualified.
The
Novice Shooting Dog Ratings Test consists of at least 7 minutes in a backcourse
followed by 8 minutes in a birdfield. The dog is expected to show desire
to hunt, birdiness, and reasonable cooperation to commands. The dog must
find a bird, point and must not be gunshy. Steadiness is not required.
The
Shooting Dog Ratings test consists of at least a 22 minute backcourse
and 8 minutes in a birdfield. The dog is expected to show evidence of
training. The dog must have show satisfactory application on the backcourse,
and must find a bird and hold point until the bird is flushed by the handler.
Gunners shoot the bird and the dog must retrieve it to within an arm's
length of the handler.
The
Shooting Dog Excellent Ratings test consists of at least a 22 minute backcourse
and 8 minutes in a birdfield. The dog is expected to show a fully finished
performance. The dog must show a mature hunting style and pattern in the
backcourse with minimal handling. The dog must find at least one bird
and must be completely steady to wing and shot. The dog must wait to be
sent for the retrieve and must deliver to hand. The dog must back its
bracemate and stop to flush if the situation arises.
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