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Tips for Handling in AKC Pointing Breed Hunting Tests
Why Mount the Gun in
Master? One of the distinctly unpleasant chores I have had in judging Hunting Tests is to disqualify a dog in Master where the handler fails to mount the gun on the flush. I have actually had a handler fail to even move the shotgun upwards on four flushes in a Master Test, even though I have warned the handler to mount the gun on the next flush three times. The dog in question was a Dual and Amateur Champion, and the Master Test would have been passed with very good scores had the handler listened and mounted the gun. The rules are quite specific, the handler in Master must mount the gun and swing on the bird as if to shoot at it. When judging a Hunting Test, I am very lenient with the requirement to mount the gun. If the handler even makes a half-hearted attempt to mount the gun, I will consider the mount to have been made. The reason the AKC requires that the handler mount the gun in Master Hunting Tests stems from the speculation on the behalf of the AKC that many dogs in Field Trials are steady when the handler is using a starter pistol, and break when hunting with the handler using a shotgun. It is not entirely clear that this happens a lot, but it does distinguish the requirements between adult stakes in Field Trials and Hunting Tests. Tip #1: In Master, when the bird flushes, bring the butt of the shotgun to your shoulder and point the shotgun at the flush while looking at your dog. This should suffice to satisfy any Hunting Test judge that you did indeed mount the shotgun as required. It also should allow you to make that controlling eye contact with your dog. Have fun and good luck at your next Hunting Test! Reprinted with permission from the Pointing Breed Sports in the Field Internet World Wide Web pages (http://members.aol.com/attwater/pbsports), sponsored by Attwater Publishing. Attwater Publishing is the proud publisher of QUALIFY! A Guide to Successful Handling in AKC Pointing Breed Hunting Tests by Mark Powell, available for $21.90 including first class shipping and handling (Idaho orders must include 85¢ state sales tax), 1-800-513-3772.
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From Attwater Publishing:
QUALIFY! is the book to help you handle your pointing breed dog from its first Junior Hunting Test to its Master Hunter Title. Over 200 pages of Hunting Test Handling information, covering all levels of testing, with 26 photographs of actual handling situations. Reviewed extensively with praise by four members of the AKC Executive Field Staff. For more information or to order QUALIFY!, click here.
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