ABOUT THIS EVENT :

ABDA is excited to bring up AKC and NAVHDA judge, Philip Thayer form New Hampshire, for our July pointing dog hunt test. On Saturday he will spend the day going through the main training aspect and technics of pointing dogs (pointing, steady to wing, shot and fall, honoring and retrieving).

The AKC Hunting Test is a pass/fail test where your dog demonstrates its usefulness in the field hunting upland game. The judge evaluates the handler/dog team. That means not only does the dog have to deliver acceptable performance, but the handler has to present the dog to its best advantage. This clinic is intended to give dogs and owners/handlers a chance to test against AKC hunting test standards, and will help you refine your handling methods to maximize your chance of a successful test.

This fun event will be open to all pointing dog and versatile hunting dog breeds. No AKC registration required.

Dogs will run a course seeded with live birds identical to an AKC hunting test.

Electronic collars and check cords will be allowed in this event.

PHILIP THAYER'S BIO:

I got my first Brittany in 1974. My wife and I got our first Brittany in 1984. We had our first litter in 1988. I joined Yankee Chapter of NAVHDA in 1988. I tested my first two dogs in NAVHDA in 1989. I became a NAVHDA Apprentice Judge in 1991 and a NAVHDA Judge in 1995. I was a NAVHDA judge from 1995 to 2020. I have titled over 70 dogs in NAVHDA.

I joined the Local Brittany club in 1990 and attended an AKC Hunt Test Seminar in 1991. I have been judging Hunt Tests for 31 years. Over the years I have chaired many events including field trial, hunt tests, specialty shows, and training days.

Over the past 33 years I have guided wild bird hunts, managed a shooting preserve, taught dog obedience classes, trained dogs for people, and competed dogs for people.

My life is all about the dogs. I spend almost every weekend at a dog event. In the winter and summer, I am busy showing dogs. In the spring and fall, I am busy competing in field trial, hunt tests, and NAVHDA tests. October is spent bird hunting. On some weekends I am attending different events. For example, on Friday April 22nd I am competing in a Horseback field trial in CT. On Saturday April 23rd I am judging and testing a dog in a double hunt test in ME. On Sunday I am showing 2 dogs at a dog show in western MA.

SATURDAY CLINIC OUTLINE:

• 8 am to 8:40 am – Intro and discuss with participants on what aspects they would like to work on. Discuss issue they would like to deal with.
• 8:40 to 9 am – Discuss aspects of the AKC Hunt Test. Questions and answers.
• Demo on Steadiness Training.
• Demo on Backing – Discuss issues with Senior backing.
• Planting birds Dos and Don’ts
• Setup training course then run dogs thru it.
• Station 1 – Moving on after flush and shot of blank.
• Station 2 – Stop to flush training and moving on training
• Station 3 – Backing
• Station 4 – Steadiness and retrieve – shot bird
• Lunch
• Mock Hunt Test – Length of time in field as needed