Versatile Hunting Dog Test

[RC3]

Just wanted to let anyone who is interested know.  There will be a spring VHDF test on May 3,4th in Elma,WA if anyone is interested in running a dog or just watching the test just PM me and I can give you any info or you can check out the VHDF website.

[ghosthunter]

Never heard of it before. How is it different from AKC Hunt Tests?

[RC3]

I could tell you on here but if you go to www.vhdf.org it would probably be more informative.

[Happy Gilmore]

Post up the event info. Don't be shy.

[RC3]

Well lets see, there are 3 different tests the HAE (Hunting Aptitude Evaluation) or puppy test, the AHAE (Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation) up to an approximately 2 year old dog, PE (Performance Evaluation) Finished dog.

All tests are non-competitive, just given a score in different subjects on a 12 point system.
0-2 poor
3-5 fair
6-8 good
9-10 very good
11-12 Excellent/Difficult circumstances

The HAE consists of a field search where the pups are evaluated on their ability to search for game in an unpolluted (Scent) field. Then move on to a portion of the field where birds are planted and they are evaluated on Pointing.  A pheasant track and a water aptitude evaluation.  Throughout the 3 phases the pups are judged on Nose, Desire, Cooperation and Obedience.

The AHAE is a more advanced test that combines natural ability and trained ability where there is a longer search, the dog should be steady to flush and retrieve to hand, there is a search behind the duck, a game drag, and a marked water retrieve.

The PE is a very tough test to test the performance of finished gun dogs,  They should be steady wing, shot and fall, back, and retrieve to hand.

This is a pretty brief description of what they are all about so like I said if your interested you should check out the site www.vhdf.org.

[AspenBud]

Well lets see, there are 3 different tests the HAE (Hunting Aptitude Evaluation) or puppy test, the AHAE (Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation) up to an approximately 2 year old dog, PE (Performance Evaluation) Finished dog.

All tests are non-competitive, just given a score in different subjects on a 12 point system.
0-2 poor
3-5 fair
6-8 good
9-10 very good
11-12 Excellent/Difficult circumstances

The HAE consists of a field search where the pups are evaluated on their ability to search for game in an unpolluted (Scent) field. Then move on to a portion of the field where birds are planted and they are evaluated on Pointing.  A pheasant track and a water aptitude evaluation.  Throughout the 3 phases the pups are judged on Nose, Desire, Cooperation and Obedience.

The AHAE is a more advanced test that combines natural ability and trained ability where there is a longer search, the dog should be steady to flush and retrieve to hand, there is a search behind the duck, a game drag, and a marked water retrieve.

The PE is a very tough test to test the performance of finished gun dogs,  They should be steady wing, shot and fall, back, and retrieve to hand.

This is a pretty brief description of what they are all about so like I said if your interested you should check out the site www.vhdf.org.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the VHDF a little more breed agnostic than NAVHDA? As in it might be possible to run a pointing lab in their games? Or is it still only for traditional versatile pointing breeds? At a glance I didn't see anything on their website about that and I know that has long been a gripe about NAVHDA with PL guys...

[RC3]

Yes you are correct, there has been one pointing lab tested that I know of.  It did pretty well if i remember right.