AKC®
Vizsla History
Pointing Breed Hunting Tests
History of Pointing Breed Hunting Tests
This program was formulated due
to the overwhelming success of the Retriever Hunting Test program.
In 1986 Director of Field Trials and Hunting Tests, A. Hamilton
(Ham) Rowan, Manager of Performance Events, John Carroll, and
AKC Field Representative, Bob Bartel developed the plans for the
fledgling Pointing Breed Hunting Test program. The regulations
were approved on March 11, 1986 and clubs were encouraged to hold
sanctioned Hunting Tests. The Nebraska Brittany Club held the
very first Pointing Breed Hunting Test in April 1986. It attained
an entry of 43 dogs.
On August 23, 1986, a Seminar
was hosted by the Westminster Kennel Club, showcasing the Hunting
Test program for Retrievers, Pointing Dogs and Spaniels. According
to the Westminster Kennel Club's spokesmen, Harry Henriques and
Fred Wagner, the Club decided to host the first showcase of AKC's
hunting breeds because its officials believed that non-competitive
hunting tests have a place among the activities of all-breed clubs.
The Seminar was attended by 550 people; the idea of hunting tests
for Pointing Breeds became immediately popular.
These tests were designed to showcase
what a dog and hunter may be required to do in a normal day's
hunt. They were set up to measure dogs against a set standard
as opposed to a competition between dogs. Hunting tests were developed
to test dogs at three different levels. Those levels, as created
in the mid 1980's, are Junior, Senior and Master. Pointing Breed
Hunting Tests were planned so that a dog must receive a certain
number of passing scores in order to be awarded a title for that
level. A dog was not and is not required to title at a given level
before being allowed to work towards a higher title.
A Pointing Breed Hunting Test
Advisory Committee was formed to make updates to the rules and
regulations for Hunting Tests. Members of this committee are chosen
by the nine Pointing Breed Parent Clubs, with a representative
from each. This Committee is an important factor in the continuing
development of the sport today. The very first dog to receive
a title, which was that of Junior Hunter, was the German Shorthaired
Pointer, Russo's Timberdoodle Jake. To date there have been 16,697
Junior Titles issued. The Senior Hunter level has seen 3,612 titles
awarded while there have been 1,826 Master titles earned.
In
2001 there were 437 licensed hunting tests with over 14,000 entries.
2005 saw 401 Hunting Tests held with a total of 25,403 entries.
With the continuing growth in this Pointing Breed Sport it is
destined to be a huge performance event.
©
American Kennel Club®