Thread: Versatile hunting dog test

Originally Posted by el borracho

I shall be framing this !!! Bloody well noted =a test without a comp means less --competitions are not just the ego of winning but a tool for measuring whats been trained and retained be it for live game or pigeon --even though only one can win that doesn't mean you haven't performed to a high standard and deserve to take a proud feeling away with you on the day

Oh farrrrr out... ok, you got some of it. but not all of it... LOL These emocations rocks.

That's fine. You have never been to a test, you have no idea what the tests are about and yet you give an opinion. How typical.
Those who wish to enter tests will do so. Those who like to run things down will continue to do so. Meanwhile the genuine working gundog folk will continue on with whatever they chose to do.

I think the tests are a great thing to do and have my support but to not carry on and measure against others seems half baked to me personally -you may disagree

GSP, to what age is intermediate? I have belonged to the VHDTANZ for a number of years and have never participated usually because of the location...would the association be interested in holding a test in HB if I could find a suitable ground?
I would love to see the French TAN concept here where it is recorded on the dogs registration.

Originally Posted by EeeBees

GSP, to what age is intermediate? I have belonged to the VHDTANZ for a number of years and have never participated usually because of the location...would the association be interested in holding a test in HB if I could find a suitable ground?
I would love to see the French TAN concept here where it is recorded on the dogs registration.

Get a hold of Margaret Cotton via the website posted already KB, she is after somewhere to hold one up north.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Get a hold of Margaret Cotton via the website posted already KB, she is after somewhere to hold one up north.

Yes, I will, thank you.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Get a hold of Margaret Cotton via the website posted already KB, she is after somewhere to hold one up north.

and there in lies a MASSIVE part of the problem... she has found people before... they won;t do it again... once burned... These tests can have merit when they are run properly by hunters for hunters, not doggie people playing hunting... it's the same thing that runs through most competitive dog hunting pursuits... when it gets hijacked by the "doggie brigade" it gets screwed.

whats involved in the Frech test EB

Originally Posted by el borracho

whats involved in the Frech test EB

The test d'aptitude naturale is similar to the lines of the VHDTA tests where the young dog is expected to show natural ability...a dizzied partridge is usually used. The fact that the dog may chase the bird, after it is flushed and the judge has fired a starters pistol is not scorned but shows the drive in the youngster...the TAN is for dogs up to two and a half years old. It is the intensity of the dogs prey drive that is really noted and greatly admired. A degree of control is desirous!!

To me all testing of training is a good thing! Is the french training just on birds or involves fur -tracking and all the other versatile tests?

The TAN is not a test on training...it is a test on the puppy's/young dog natural aptitude...the judges want to see strength in prey drive, vigour in le chasse etc. The TAN is only on feather, as in partridge. By tracking you are meaning dragging a bird or fur along the ground?...no, this is not part of the TAN.

sounds pretty much like what we would do at a Sunday training day with a young dog with the GSP club if one so desired

Originally Posted by el borracho

sounds pretty much like what we would do at a Sunday training day with a young dog with the GSP club if one so desired

Tell a Frenchman that his Epagneul Breton being evaluated in a TAN is comparable to a Sunday training day and he might just rip your arms off...

I don't agree about the trials vs. tests sentiment, they aim for different things. Tests aim for a standard, trials aim to find the best individual - be it dog or handler.

Trials pretty much test your standard of either handler or dog --you can participate without having to have winning in mind --only one person out of the group can win so take advantage of the pressure