I cant remember if Ya said this was your first dog!
I TRY and run both!
I started with AKC Junior,, then went to HRC and accomplished a HRCH FINISHED title. I have now returned to AKC with that dog , and am trying to get a SENIOR title.
If I were to do that again,,
and run both venues,, I would concentrate on AKC first,, then move on to HRC, especially if this is your first dog, and you just want to play the Games/test deal. AKC hunt tests IMHO, require a bit different mindset than HRC tests do. Their tests tend to be a bit more technical, blinds will be longer, and require much tighter control.
Also, even though its OK to Handle on marks within both venues rules,,
AS A RULE OF THUMB, your only gonna get 1 handle in the Marking part of the AKC tests.
You will also need a very "steady" dog. You can run them without one,, but it makes a mess a yer shorts!
!~~~~ I KNOW!!!!!
Now to HRC~~~~~
Ya want a HUNTING DOG!!!? YA Want test set ups that MIMIC Hunting as much as possible?, Ya wanna incorperate a real gun being shot next to the dog, and the dog learning to mark off the end of the gun barrel?. Ya wanna be able to talk to the dog all the time this is goin on,, just like Ya do when hunting,, and most important,, Ya wanna have a GREAT time doin it????,, then run HRC!!!
The tests are FUN!!! FUN !!! FUN!!! The people are great, the food is fantastic!
You can run Back to Back tests every weekend. (run a test Sturday, then enter a seperate test, same club, on Sunday!)
There are no call backs between series. If ya bomb in the morning Land series,, your welcome to come back in the afternoon and run the water test!!
My OPINION?????!!!
If its your first dog,, I would pick the venue. that Makes Most sense to you,, and run ONLY that one venue and shoot for the moon!! Sometimes a Jack of all trades will be kinda good at a bunch a different things,, but never really masters one.
Prolly what it will all boil down to,, is that PRO guy yer gonna use, is gonna tell Ya what the capablities is of that dog ,, but most importantly,, what the
HANDLERS capablities are,, and how much work HE OR SHE is willing to put into the deal,, that is going to be the deciding fator!!
Listen to what that Mr Jobman guy has to say very carefully,, and become a student of that game,, and learn it well!! ~~~~ Just DONT TELL HIM YA KNOW GOOSER!!!!
Gee!!! I wished I practiced what I preach!!!
Gooser
