Field Events
American Water Spaniel Club Tests
Four titles to earn (titles placed at the suffix of Dog’s Name on Pedigree):
Started Dog (SD) Working Dog (WD) Working Dog Excellent (WDX) Working Dog Superior (WDS)
Summary: The AWSC offers a hunt test program designed to thoroughly test American Water Spaniels as all-around field dogs. These tests allow a team of judges to evaluate the trained ability of an AWS to perform in the field as both a flushing and retrieving dog. There are four test levels offered in the program that correspond to the following available titles: Started Dog (SD), Working Dog (WD), Working Dog Excellent (WDX), and Working Dog Superior (WDS). Each level incorporates field flushing tests, retrieving tests, and a water test. Each increased level of difficulty requires a higher standard of performance, increased distances, and additional tests. For example, to receive a passing score at the Started Dog level, a dog must successfully pass three events. To receive a passing score at the Working Dog Superior level, a dog must pass five events. Working Dog tests are held at the National Specialty each year and at regional sites, as available. Below are the four tests and the basic requirements.
Started Dog A Started Dog must be still and attentive at the line but may be restrained gently with a slip cord or held gently by a flat buckle collar until sent to retrieve. All dogs on the line must have a clear view of the fall. Dogs should be able to handle minor or limited variations in cover and terrain change. Delivery to hand is not required The handler may move about within said circle.
*Flushing test. A started dog must successfully flush and retrieve one (1) planted bird. It is not necessary that a dog be steady to wing and shot. If the bird is not killed and flies away the dog must, when commanded, return to the handler within a reasonable period of time.
*Single land marking test. A Started dog must successfully complete a single marked retrieve of one dead bird. The retrieve is to be up to forty (40) yards distance from the line. The dog will have a clear view of the fall.
*Single water marking test. A Started dog must successfully complete a single marked retrieve of one dead bird from open water. The retrieve is to be up to forty (40) yards distance from the line.
Working Dog
*Flushing test. A Working dog must successfully flush and retrieve two (2) planted birds. The handler should encourage the dog to hunt the area. Idle chatter should be kept to a minimum. Avoid giving unnecessary or repetitive commands/encouragement to the dog. It is not necessary that a dog be steady to wing and shot. The dog must retrieve to hand, however the handler may take a step toward the dog. If the bird flies away, or, in the judge’s opinion, is not retrievable the dog must, when commanded, return to the handler within a reasonable period of time.
*Single land marking test. A Working dog must successfully complete a single marked land retrieve of one dead bird. The retrieve is to be up to fifty (50) yards distance from the line.
*Single water mark. A Working dog must successfully complete a single marked water retrieve of up to fifty (50) yards distance from the line. Decoys, if used, shall be placed off to the side of the line of the retrieve so as not to interfere with the dog’s path to the birds. The number of decoys used shall not exceed twelve (12) nor be less than six (6).
*Single land or water mark with diversion. A Working dog must successfully complete a single land or water mark of up to fifty (50) yards distance from the line with a diversion bird without switching. This shall be incorporated into one of the two marks described above. The diversion bird shall be no longer than 20 yards distance from the line (and may be shorter) and no closer than 10 feet from the dog. Upon completion of the first retrieve, the diversion bird is retrieved. The choice of whether it is a land or water mark will be at the discretion of the judges.
Working Dog Excellent
*Flushing test. A WDX dog must successfully flush and retrieve two planted birds. The dog need not be steady to wing and shot but control is very important. The dog may break as the bird flushes or as the shot is fired and the handler must be able to call the dog back within a reasonable period of time and in such a way as to not disturb the hunt. He must retrieve the bird to hand.
*Land marking double test with diversion. A WDX dog must successfully complete a double marked land retrieve of two dead birds, up to 60 yards distance from the line and with a minimum of 60 degree separation between birds.
*Land blind test. A WDX dog must successfully complete a land blind at a distance of up to fifty (50) yards.
*Water marking double test A WDX dog must successfully complete a double marked water retrieve of two dead birds, up to 50 yards distance from the line and with minimum of 60 degree separation between birds.
*Double land or water mark with diversion. A WDX dog must successfully complete the double land or water mark with a diversion bird without switching. This shall be incorporated into either the land double or water double described above. The diversion bird shall be no longer than 20 yards distance from the line (and may be shorter) and no closer than 10 feet from the dog.
Working Dog Superior
*Flushing test. A WDS dog must successfully complete the flush of three and retrieve of two planted bird. WDS dogs must be steady to wing and shot. The WDS dog must exhibit steadiness on one flyaway and any missed bird is considered a flyaway regardless of the succession in the flushing order. The handler must be in control of the dog at all times. For each bird flushed the dog must sit or stand steady. Repositioning to see the bird shall not be penalized. After the bird is shot and on the ground, the dog will retrieve on the command of the handler and must deliver to hand. Judges will not release the dog. After the retrieve the judge will examine the bird. The judge then gives the command to hunt on. In the case of a flyaway, the dog must return directly to the handler after being commanded to do so. If the judge calls no bird, the gunner closest to the flush bird will fire a shot in a safe direction so that the bird may count as the flyaway.
*Water triple marking test. A WDS dog must successfully complete a triple marked water retrieve of three dead birds of up to sixty (60) yards distance from the line. It is not required that the mark fall in the water. In the case of small bodies of water or for the design of the test, the line can be moved away from the shore in order to achieve the total distance required, preferably no further than ten (10) yards from the water’s edge and/or, the mark may fall up to 10 yards on land back from the water's edge.
*Land triple marking test. A WDS dog must successfully complete a triple marked land retrieve of three dead birds, up to sixty (60) yards distance from the line. There should be adequate separation between the marks to prevent in-line marks.
*Triple land or water mark with diversion. A WDS dog must successfully complete the triple land or triple water mark with a diversion bird without switching. This shall be incorporated into either the land triple or water triple described above. The diversion bird shall be no longer than 20 yards distance from the line (and may be shorter) and no closer than 10 feet from the dog. Upon completion of the third retrieve the diversion bird is retrieved. The choice of whether it is on land or water will be at the discretion of the judges.
*Blind. The WDS dog must successfully complete a blind retrieve (water or land/water combination) between sixty (60) and eighty (80) yards distance from the line. As the dog is returning from the last mark, a shot will be fired from the line by an official gun to indicate to the dog that a bird is down.
*Honor test. The WDS level dog shall honor one send of the WDS working dog’s triple retrieve and will not be dismissed from its work prior to the working dog being sent. The honoring dog will be placed at a location indicated by the judge at approximately 10 feet from the working dog.
For greater detail and full regulations with the most current updates, please click below.
AKC Spaniel Hunt tests
Titles earned
Junior Hunter (JH) Senior Hunter (SH) Master Hunter (MH)
Summary: The Spaniel Hunt Tests are designed to evaluate the abilities and training of various spaniel breeds by testing them against performance standards for flushing spaniels. Titles are awarded at progressive levels corresponding to the dogs development as hunters. When the requirements of a level are met, the dog is awarded an AKC title. The AKC titles earned through the Spaniel Hunt Test program are the Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH) and Master Hunter (MH) titles. At each successive level of difficulty, there are additional tests and the performance standard increases. To achieve a Junior Hunter passing score, a dog has to complete a flushing test and a water marked retrieve test. To achieve a passing score at the Master Hunter level, a dog must be steady to wing, shot, and fall in the flushing portion, as well as complete a water blind, land hunt dead, and a water marked retrieve. A series of passing scores leads to the dog earning a title, which is added to their registered name. AKC Spaniel Hunt Test judges are required to evaluate AWS performance based upon the AWS Club’s description of the AWS's Field Working Qualities.
Junior Hunter: The dog must find, flush and have opportunity to retrieve two birds on land and one water retrieve. If successful, this is considered passing one “leg”. The dog Must achieve 4 qualifying scores (or four legs) to receive a JH title. *Dog does not need to be steady to wing and shot or deliver to hand. Dog should show no fear of cover, respond reasonable to commands, and maintain reasonable working distance from it's handler.
Senior Hunter: In addition to junior requirements, dog must show boldness to cover, demonstrate pattern in field, showing independent hunting sense and desire to hunt. Dog need not be steady to wing and shot on land, but must be line steady at water, retrieve to hand, and have ability to “hunt dead” on a blind retrieve. Dog must pass 5 legs to achieve SH title, or 4 legs if dog already has a JH title.
Master Hunter: Dog is expected to be finished and experienced. Dog must locate game, flush well and be absolutely steady to wing and shot on land and water. Intelligent use of wind and terrain in locating game, accurate nose and intensity are essential. Must retrieve promptly and to hand. Must retrieve a water blind of approx. 40 yards, and one Hunt dead on land of approx. 60 yards. Dog must achieve 6 passing scores or legs to achieve a MH title, except if the dog has earned a SH title, then it requires 5 passing scores or Legs to achieve MH title.
The Scoring System: Keeping in mind that the purpose of a flushing dog is to hunt, find, flush and retrieve birds in a pleasing and obedient manner, the judge assigns a numerical score that reflects an estimation of how well a dog performed against an established standard for the test level under consideration. The ability categories are: (1) Hunting ability, (2) Bird finding ability (3) Flushing ability, (4) Trained abilities, (5) Retrieving abilities. Judges assign a score from 0 to 10 for each category of performance. As dogs advance, their performance is expected to be more finished; therefore, they are judged with less tolerance. In order to receive a passing score, a dog must average 7 across all categories and cannot receive a score of less than 5 in any category.
For more detail and current updates;
AKC Retriever Hunt Tests
Junior Hunter Retriever (JHR) Senior Hunter Retriever (SHR) Master Hunter Retriever (MHR)
Summary: The Retriever Hunt Tests are designed to evaluate the abilities and training of various breeds against performance standards for retrievers. In 2011, the AWS became eligible to earn AKC titles as retrievers in addition to titles as flushing spaniels. This illustrates the versatile nature of the breed.
Junior Hunter Retriever: Tests consist of single marked retrieves on land and water and dogs are allowed to be lightly restrained at the line; are required to retrieve 4 birds total during a test. 2 birds must be retrieved from land and 2 from water at distances up to 100 yards on each retrieve.
Senior Hunter Retriever: Tests consist of double marked retrieves, and relatively simple blind retrieves on land and water, as well as honoring the retrieve of another competitor;
Master Hunter Retriever: Tests are for the “truly finished and experienced hunting companion” and as such full refinement in trained abilities should be expected. Master tests consist of multiple marked retrieves on land, water, and land water combination. Master blind retrieves should be demanding and are done on land and water, one of which must be a double blind. Honoring is also required as well as a walkup situation, where the dog should be walking at heel, as the first bird is thrown in a marking situation.
For current details regarding AKC Retriever Information click following links below:
As an AKC parent club, the primary focus of the activities promoted by the club are AKC oriented. As a service to our club members please see the link to the other organizations that also allow participation of the AWS in their hunt test programs.
United Kennel Club Hunting Retriever Tests
HRC tests are intended to simulate hunting environments to test a dog’s hunting abilities. Dogs are tested against a standard in five different levels of difficulties. For more information regarding the most current hunt test rules and regulations, please click Here.
North American Hunting Retriever Association
NAHRA tests place dogs in five different levels based upon skill and are judged against a standard. The intent is to simulate hunting situations. For a complete set of NAHRA’s rules and regulations, please click Here.