We set some lofty goals for 2023. We enjoyed stretching
ourselves and our trip to Thomasville Georgia to run our 2nd Master National.
2024 We had a whole new focus. Young dogs and the HRC Grand.
We achieved success early with a Grand Pass on Peach, a Finished Title for Faith and Started Titles for Voodoo, Haze and Wink.
Then realizing we would need a lot more points for Peach to become a Grand Hunting Retriever Champion she and I began running Finished tests. The two of us passed 8 out of 9 to accumulate enough points for a title with her next Grand Pass.
You'll notice letters before and after the registered names of our girls. We spend our summers and into the Fall training and running both AKC and HRC Hunt Tests. Sometimes we even miss a week or 2 of hunting real birds. With each pass or qualifying score, we begin earning points towards those letters (titles) and bring home ribbons. The purpose is to produce a puppy that anyone would be proud to own!
The majority of our puppy families aren't interested in competing with their new family member and we're okay with that. I often hear people say " I'm not interested in all those fancy titles. I just want a good hunting dog". Well, how do you know if you're getting one?
Those titles don't come easy! But what they do is indicate the dog's ability to learn challenging concepts and be a team player. Some will be better than others. Each level is increasingly more difficult with additional requirements.
We were introduced in 2014 to the world of Hunt Tests when Sugar was in training at Flatlander Kennels. They recognized her talent and intelligence soon after we dropped her off. We went to watch her, and we were hooked!! The following year I began running in the lower stakes. Now I handle the girls myself. The 2023 Master National in Thomasville GA made history for being the Largest Performance Event in the history of AKC. The first Dog and Handler in Flight D to begin was Peach and yours truly!
We average nearly 30 tests a year and have enjoyed a 85% +\- success rate. In the Fall of 2021 ran our first Master National in McCall Idaho.
Since beginning to run at the Finished level we have produced 5 HRCH's as well as 3 Master Hunters. Hopefully there will be a Grand Champion in the near future.
We recognized early it's fun running Hunt Test and earning titles. So, to those that say, "I don't care about all those ribbons and titles" You haven't seen what dogs of that caliber are capable of.
Following is a description of titles:
The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. and the United Kennel Club, Inc. are providing a program to develop the hunting retriever to fulfill its intended purpose in life - hunting. These two organizations, working closely together, providing hunters and hunting retrievers a series of actual hunting tests in a controlled environment working toward titles granted by UKC.
Upland Hunter (UH)
Started Hunting Retriever (SHR)
Hunting Retriever (HR)
Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH)
Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH) 3X,4X,5X or more each additional Grand pass.
American Kennel Club (AKC) also have Hunt Test which allows a dog to earn Titles or Degrees. We transition to AKC usually once we have earned their HRCH (finished) title. Normally we go straight to Master Tests. It can prove to be more challenging for some dogs than others. We have earned Master Hunter titles on 3 of our girls as of July 2023. Sochi, Peach and Faith are our firsts.
When a dog earns a Qualifying Score (pass) they earn ribbons and points and just like the Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) titles for (AKC) are as follows and their title follows their registered name. Example HRCH Whiskey Raiders Sochi Bear MH14
Junior Hunter (JH)
Senior Hunter (SH)
Master Hunter (MH)
Master National Retriever (MNR)
Second pass of the Master Nationals (MNH)
Fourth pass of the Master Nationals (MNH4)
Honestly, I enjoy aspects of both clubs but have grown to prefer running AKC Master Tests the most.
Below are two of the most used entry services in the country.
Click go to go to Entry Exspress
Click image to go to Hunt Secretary
