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Hunt Test Terminology

Air Your Dog or Airing: A brief period before a test or training exercise to allow the dog to relieve itself, warm up, and get a feel for its surroundings.

Blind: A retrieve where a dog did not or is not allowed to see the fall and will need direction from the handler. (see fall, holding blind)

Break: also Breaking.   The moment a dog violates SIT by moving toward a retrieve before being given a command. (see controlled break)

Bring to the Line: Act of handler walking dog at heel from the blind to a sit at heel, on either side of he handler. (see line)

Bumper: (or dummy) Retrieving object made of plastic or soft canvas. Typically has a throwing rope attached and is used in training for durability. There are three sizes, puppy, regular, & large. Different colors are used by advanced dogs to make marking more challenging. (see marking)

Call Back: Term used in hunt tests to inform which participants are allowed to continue on to the next series. (see series)

Call for the Mark: A brief hand signal indicating to the judges that you are ready for the test.

Cast: Signal by handler using arm or hand in a specific direction to change the route to a mark while the dog is on a retrieve.

Cheating: Term for when a dog violates standard, reasonable lines on a retrieve, i.e. Runs along the bank on a water retrieve or avoids running through cover.

Controlled Break : Dog makes an attempt to break or breaks by leaving the handlers side before being sent but is quickly controlled by the handler without force by using a verbal command. (see sent)

Collar: Flat Buckle Collar

Cover:   Vegetation concealing a mark from the dog.

Creeping: Not to be confused with Breaking. When a dog moves its body away from the handler in the direction of a mark before it is sent. (see sent)

Dead Bird: Bird which is deceased at the time it is used for a mark.

Dog: not animal. Term used by a Hunt Test judge to signal a handler when they may send their dog on a mark. (see judge, mark)

Duck Call: Type of whistle/call used to simulate a duck mating call. Mallard, wood duck, etc.

Dummy: (see Bumper)

Fall: The location of the mark once it has hit the ground. (see mark)

Flat Collar: Collar which is either quick clip or buckle made of nylon, leather or synthetic. Not braided, rolled, pinch prong, or choke.

Flyer: also Live Flyer. A live bird shot for a retrieve.

Gunner: Person either shooting, throwing, launching ducks or dummies for retrieves.

Gun Station: Area, typically behind a blind from which a Flyer is thrown & shot. (see blind)

Gun Shy: A dog unable to work due to fear of loud noises.

Handler: Individual running the dog in the hunt test. Heel: Dog sitting or walking closely to the right or left of the handler with head/shoulders in line with the handler’s body.

Hard Mouth: Act of dog utilizing too much pressure to hold a bumper or bird causing damage to object.

Holding Blind: Device which conceals dog & handler while waiting their turn to run at a test or during training. Bind is also, device which conceals gunners.

Home Base: Where test information can be obtained, the point from which workers are directed.

Hard Mouth: Act of dog utilizing too much pressure to hold a bumper or bird causing damage to object.

Hunt Test Premium: Event application form.

Hunt Test Catalog: Booklet listing running order, dog’s registration information, owner, & handler. Running order may be altered by the Marshal.

Hunt Test Worker: Volunteer who helps set-up hunt tests, distribute information, take care of the needs of Judges, Marshals, Gunners and other volunteers out in the field while working from home base.

JH Leg: JH (Junior Hunter) is the designation added to the end of a dog’s registered name when four Junior level hunt tests are successfully completed. Each completed test is commonly referred to as a “leg.”

Judge: Appointed evaluator who selects marks for a hunt test & evaluates each dog against its level standard. (See hunt test)

Lead also leash: Length of leather or nylon used to control a dog.

Line: The starting point from which a dog is sent on a retrieve.

Long Line: Long length of lightweight lead (leash) used to help a handler guide dogs when learning to retrieve. Not a flexi-leash.

Poison Bird: An object which is purposely planted as a distraction to a dog sent for

a blind mark and which cannot be retrieved until the blind is recovered.

Mark: Term for bumper or bird thrown for retrieving where the dog is to see the object and its fall.

Marshal: Volunteer responsible for maintaining the test running order & conduct of participants.

No-Go: also balk, could be a refusal. When a dog sent by a handler on a retrieve does not go.

Poison Bird: An object which is purposely planted as a distraction to a dog sent for a blind mark and which cannot be retrieved until the blind is recovered.

Pop & Throw: Device used to launch bumpers or birds using slingshot, or catapult mechanisms. The pop results from the sound of a blank powder cartridge.

Popper Gun: Not a toy and still powerful enough to severely injure, a popper gun simulates the sound of live shot using blank or popper cartridges. The popper gun is fired when a bumper or bird is thrown as a mark.

Recast: Second attempt to send a dog on a mark, from the line position.

Send: When a handler commands the dog to a mark.

Series: A single test in a judged retrieving event. i.e. The 5-series consists of 5 individually judged tests or series. (see judge)

Single: A single mark thrown for retrieve.

Standard: Desired behavior formally established and considered when judging retrieves.

Refusal: When a dog refuses to follow the command given by a handler.

Running Order: Order of participants in which the hunt test is to be run, established by the test catalogue & marshal.

Send: When a handler commands the dog to retrieve a mark.

Stake: The “group” which contains a running order, Junior A & Junior B, Senior A & Senior B, Master A & Master B. The designations A & B do not indicate ability level.

Series: A single test in a judged retrieving event. i.e. The 5-series consists of 5 individually judged tests or series. (see judge)

Test Dog: Dog of similar ability as the test participants used to show where the marks will be and that the test is set up to the standard ability level .

Walk-up: Act of a handler with dog at heel bringing the dog from the blind to a predetermined area where marks are thrown or shot. Not to be confused with bring to the line. (see bring to the line)

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