[Chad Clagg]

Got a question for ya'll. I've done signed up to run an AKC test, my dog is 11 mo. old and just about the rest of the field is 2-5 yrs. old,WHY. Also could ya'll tell me what a junior test is like? Distance,cover and line manners. What are the major differences between UKC Started and AKC Juniors? I've ran UKC before.

 

[check171]

4 single marks up to 100 yards 2 on land 2 water . retrieve to hand can lightly hold your dog .

 

[Chad Clagg]

perfect, I appreciate it.

 

[Swampcollie]

Four singles two on land, two on water.

The dog must come to the line tractably at heel.

Marks don't normally exceed 100 yards although they sometimes do. Expect there to be more factors included in the test than would be found in a Started test (cover changes, water to land transitions, decoys, boats, etc.).

The dog must deliver the bird to hand. Repeated dropping of game can cause the dog to receive a failing score.

You may not speak to the dog from the time you signal you're ready for the judges to call for the birds, until the dog is released by the judges.

Don't forget to wait for the judges to call the dogs' number before releasing the dog.


Don't forget to have fun!

 

[John Gassner]

I agree with the previous posts, except that in the Junior I think you can bring the dog to the line on a lead and then take it off.


John

 

[Trevor Toberny]

you can bring to line with lead onthen take off.I have even told my dog to mark after I have called for the birds and have never been warned or told not to.

 

[okvet]

I have even told my dog to mark after I have called for the birds

I'd say you're lucky--you must have had some very forgiving judges.

best of luck and have fun!

 

[Trevor Toberny]

I have done it in all of them that I have run.

 

[Polock]

I have done it in all of them that I have run.

Cheater...................... :lol:

 

[Dale]

Since no one else has made a stab at the age issue I will take a guess.
Check the dogs that are older, there is a good chance that some (not all) are show dogs. Show people have this thing for wanting a hunt test title on there show champion. Not to diminish what a show champion goes through to get that CH in front of there name. But more often than not a JH is as far as they go. Not to say that there are not any that go farther. Show people also spend a graet deal of the show dogs early years competing weekend after weekend in the show ring.

 

[Trevor Toberny]

or sometimes it is females just to get a title for breeding.

 

[Frenchy]

Or their like me and had no clue the HT game existed until thier dog was old. My golden got his JH title right close to his 6th birthday.

So fowlhunter, is there any particular reason why you say mark after calling for the birds? I'd say your lucky for not receiving a warning in the first series. I'd say your even luckier if you repeated it in the second. Just saying its clearly written in the rules.

I'd also say that the marks will include alot more factors than that seen in started.

 

[Swampcollie]

You will see a wide variety of folks who enter the AKC Junior Test beyond those with young field dogs. You'll see some dogs from the conformation world, dogs from the obedience and agility games, and a whole lot of folks who have never tried any kind of dog game before.

Many of those "older" dogs are trying the hunt test as a second or third activity with their dogs.

 

[2tall]

"The dog must come to the line tractably at heel."

"Scuse me, but I was kind of laughing about this line recalling how my dog and I arrived at the line both days of the PRC ht. Husband over heard, I read the line to him, as he wanders off to the other room he is muttering to himself, "dog comes to the line attractively dressed in heels"

 

[MRGD]

what would the most common reasons for failing a Junior test be? That is , other than not picking up a bird. Heeling/line manners? Not delivering to hand?

 

[stonybrook]

- Poor marking, which would turn into a very extended hunt and eventually a S.O.B. (stumble on bird).

- Sending the dog before the judges say your number or "Dog".

- Lack of perseverance. Not finding the bird and then returning to the handler without the bird. If the dog comes back to you without the bird, you're done. No resends once the dog has established a hunt.

Travis

 

[Swampcollie]

what would the most common reasons for failing a Junior test be? That is , other than not picking up a bird. Heeling/line manners? Not delivering to hand?

Generally the dog and handler just aren't prepared to be there.

Generaly, the dogs trained skills are too weak for it to keep its' composure and do its' job. Missed marks due to general unsteadiness at the line, repeatedly dropping birds, repeated refusals of general obedience commands, inexperience with birds thrown by somebody other then the handler, noise, etc.....

 

[TxFig]

I have even told my dog to mark after I have called for the birds

I'd say you're lucky--you must have had some very forgiving judges.

best of luck and have fun!

Well.... we ARE talking about Junior here....

Considering that saying "mark" to your dog on the line is at worst considered a control break, and that a control break is allowed in Senior, the penalty for it in a junior test would be fairly small.

And that's the worst case scenario.


But the way I interpret this (as a judge) is that the rules allow the handler to "lightly restrain" the dog, and verbally talking to your dog is simply another form of "restraint". Ergo, talking to the dog in Junior is specifically allowed by the rules.

8)

 

[TxFig]

what would the most common reasons for failing a Junior test be? That is , other than not picking up a bird. Heeling/line manners? Not delivering to hand?

Yes to all 3 of those.

Add to that:

Munching on the bird
Failure to enter the water (and I'm not talking about cheating the bank)
Bringing back a decoy

 

[MRGD]

Thanks for the answers and for the thread. I am running junior this weekend and I have never been to an akc test. I'm looking forward to it.