[Rmatt.cary]

At what point in lardys trt would you feel comfortable running a senior test?

 

[Howard N]

Couple of/few weeks after swim by.

 

[captainjack]

I agree that you could probably pass a SH test shortly after swim-by. But I wouldn't feel comfortable running dog in Senior before they were honest in water cheating situations.

You would also need to have worked a bit on walk-ups and honoring which TRT doesn't really focus on (you should honor early and often, even before steady - while on lead of course).

 

[Jason Vinson]

I agree that you could probably pass a SH test shortly after swim-by. But I wouldn't feel comfortable running dog in Senior before they were honest in water cheating situations.

You would also need to have worked a bit on walk-ups and honoring which TRT doesn't really focus on (you should honor early and often, even before steady - while on lead of course).

+1
Quite a few dogs don't quite make the cut due to these parts of the test.

 

[Evan]

Wanna spend a few hundred bucks a weekend on a wish & a hope you might get a pass here or there in Senior? Or do you want to make that investment in a dog that has real reason to pass each time? It's up to you. If your dog is starting to perform competently at the Master level in training, he's probably in that position.

Prepare your dog in such a manner that the work he is normally called upon to do under whelms him, not overwhelms him. Words to the wise.

Evan

 

[Sophie Gundog]

Evan advice is very sound, as a new trainer a year ago I was getting way off track having a issue with steadiness, with some good advice from here , I am working on having a young dog that I feel will be far above the test when ran , as of today I think she could pass senior testing no problem, but will keep training above the senior level prior to running it.Who knows what is correct for you, for me I am not in any race , it is a lot of fun with the daily slow but steady that we do....

 

[Dixiedog78]

There is nothing more demoralizong than bringing an unprepared handler and dog to a test. Train for Master and then run Senior.

 

[captainjack]

I agree that running a dog before he's ready is a mistake. I didn't run Junior or Senior tests at all. I waited until my dogs were ready for Master, and then ran Master. I did run two HRC started tests with my dogs but waited until the dogs were steady (I ran without holding a collar), delivering to hand, fairly honest around the water, and running elementary cold blinds.

I ran the started test basically because I am a bit impatient and wanted to get my first ribbon. Also, in HRC, those 10 points we earned count toward the Seasoned and Finished Titles and Total Point Awards. I then waited until the dogs were ready for Finished before entering any more tests.

Point is that I understand you wanting to get out there and get the pup going in tests. And you can't wait until the dog is perfect in absolutely everything before running or you'll never run.

So, I'd say that as long as the dog is running at a level were he will not develop or engrain bad habits such as creeping, breaking, mouthing birds, cheating water, or giving up a hunt and returning without the bird, and the dog does not have any single issue that happens every time in training, then go ahead and run the dog in a test and have fun.

 

[Rmatt.cary]

I think I'll wait. My reason for asking is that I'm going to a test and need only one jr pass. There is a double jr and double sr so I thought I'd give sr a go while I was there. We r not solid on swim by so I think I'll wait and just run an extra jr test while I'm there. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Johnny Drew]

Two of the people I train with told me when we first started training together, "When you sit on the the bucket and you know you can do the work, then your ready for the test." Good luck with the tests.

 

[David McCracken]

My AWS has an HRCH. American Water Spaniels were allowed to run in AKC Retriever tests beginning April 1 of this year. I was unsure where to start, so I opted for Senior. He passed 5 for 5 without much trouble and got his SHR title on May 8. We'll start running Master Retriever tests in the Spring (Fall is for hunting). I hope to get his Master Spaniel title this summer (he needs 2 more passes...has 4).
Professor

 

[mostlygold]

After struggling through each level with my first retriever, I did what others here have suggested. I trained until I felt my dog was just about ready for MH, then ran SH. After that, the dog usually just needs their blind work finessed a bit. Not saying your dog won't fail a test, even with the best preparation, but you are certainly a lot more confident going to line with a dog you are sure of and that feeling is picked up by your dog.

Have fun
Dawn

 

[HuntinDawg]

My AWS has an HRCH. American Water Spaniels were allowed to run in AKC Retriever tests beginning April 1 of this year. I was unsure where to start, so I opted for Senior. He passed 5 for 5 without much trouble and got his SHR title on May 8. We'll start running Master Retriever tests in the Spring (Fall is for hunting). I hope to get his Master Spaniel title this summer (he needs 2 more passes...has 4).
Professor

The AKC Senior title is SH, not SHR. I believe SHR is the "started" title in HRC.

 

[Madisonian]

The AKC Senior title is SH, not SHR. I believe SHR is the "started" title in HRC.

To make matters more complex, American Water Spaniels can now run in AKC Retriever hunting tests and IWS can run in Spaniel Hunting Tests. That meant new titles, including SHR.

 

[Kelly Greenwood]

The AKC Senior title is SH, not SHR. I believe SHR is the "started" title in HRC.

SHR is the title that is given to American Water Spaniels that run our Retriever tests as of 4/1/2011. Retrievers and poodles still get the SH title... It is very confusing..

 

[Madisonian]

SHR is the title that is given to American Water Spaniels that run our Retriever tests as of 4/1/2011. Retrievers and poodles still get the SH title... It is very confusing..

And when Irish Water Spaniels pass Spaniel tests they get titles with a "U," like JHU.

 

[HuntinDawg]

To make matters more complex, American Water Spaniels can now run in AKC Retriever hunting tests and IWS can run in Spaniel Hunting Tests. That meant new titles, including SHR.

SHR is the title that is given to American Water Spaniels that run our Retriever tests as of 4/1/2011. Retrievers and poodles still get the SH title... It is very confusing..

And when Irish Water Spaniels pass Spaniel tests they get titles with a "U," like JHU.

Well clearly the poster I was "correcting" knew more than I did. Thanks for trying to clear it up guys.