First AKC Junior Hunt test

[Firstbuck]

Hi all,
I am planning on participating in the AKC Junior Hunt tests on Augst 26th and 27th run by GSPClubWA and Washington Brittany Club.

My dog is a 10month old male GSP and due to living in Ballard, I sent him to Jim Cochran. So he is exposed to gunfire, birds, handling, etc. At this point he just needs a season of hunting and fun.

This will be my first hunt test, and with Jim gone until november I have questions and no one to ask:
1. will I need a blank gun for the Jr Hunt test?
2. How much opportunity is there to take your dog somewhere else to let them burn off a little energy?

Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated thanks!
I'll try to post a couple pics of my dog for those interested...

[JayBird02]

Have fun is the first thing I will tell you. Yes get a blank gun, I got a .32 my first time and a few folks complained so I'd suggest a .22. Is the test at the K9 country club? If your dog points and flushed the bird before you get to him fire a blank. Junior level must point they don't have to be steady and last don't get discouraged. It should be fun for your dog and I'm sure he will make mistakes, ran my first one when my dog was 7 months old. He was perfect in training went to a hunt test and it was a train wreck but the next one he ran he was perfect.

[Firstbuck]

Thanks for the reply JayBird!

I have no expectations for Duke, I'm considering it a pre-fall opportunity to get out there run around and maybe find some birds. I'm entering him four times so he'll have plenty of opportunity to embarrass me  especially with running in a brace.

I haven't been able to get him out for some training for a couple weeks so I'm going to try and get some pigeons this weekend to work him.

The hunt test(s) are being run by the GSP Club of WA and Washington Brittany Club at Koopman Farms in Oakville, WA Aug 26 and 27th.

[constructeur]

Your test will be held here, there is a map on the page that you can cross reference to google maps
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/scatter_creek/Davis%20Creek/

The test staging area will be full of participants, dogs, campers, and horse trailers with the testing fields below you just above the river. No room to run the pup really. The surrounding area you'll be in will be a mix of private and Chehalis tribal land, and as far as I know the only place to let your dog free run will be a couple more minutes down the road at the Hoxit WDFW property
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/chehalis/Hoxit/

If you search online the AKC hunt test rule book will cover all your questions on what is expected of you and the dog.

No need to ever be embarrassed about anything, you got that dog to have fun with, so have fun with him 

[Firstbuck]

Thanks Constructeur! I ran him in the hoxit unit and let him blow off steam saturday and he did awesome. Sunday he passed but was much more wild and bird crazy, possibly due to a longer waiting period for his run slots.
Can't wait to shoot some birds over him...

[lokidog]

 

[Old Dog]

Good job!   

[SpringerFan]

Never use a pistol. Start with exposing him to shotguns from a distance. And not at a range.