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I. Conditions

• The General Rules for Competition apply to all novice exercises. Please refer to a separate publication for more details.
• All dogs must compete on a flat collar

II. Canine Testing Options & Titles

• There are three canine categories, three testing classes:
  • Canine Categories
    • Flushing Dogs
    • Pointing Dogs
    • Pointing Labs
  • Classes
    • Novice
    • Intermediate
    • Advanced
• Titles are as followed:
  • Flushing Dogs
    • NFH – Novice Flushing Hunter
    • IFH – Intermediate Flushing Hunter
    • AFH – Advanced Flushing Hunter
  • Pointing Dog
    • NPH – Novice Pointing Hunter
    • IPH – Intermediate Pointing Hunter
    • APH – Advanced Pointing Hunter
  • Pointing Labs
    • NPL – Novice Pointing Lab
    • IPL – Intermediate Pointing Lab
    • APL – Advanced Pointing Lab
• A dog must earn a total of 100 points in order to earn a title and advance to the next class.
• 30 points can be earned in each test, plus five bonus points if the owner/handler chooses to run the dog in an optional event and the dog passes the optional test.
• If a dog commits some infraction causing the dog to fail, the test stops and the dog is marked as failing. Any points acquired up until this point are still awarded to the dog; however, no title will be awarded (if 100 points has been accumulated) until the dog can correctly demonstrate the failed portion of the test.
• Live, dead, and/or artificial birds (primarily quail and duck) may be used in all retrieving tests. Live quail will be used in all upland tests.
• Upland rules for retrievers entered in the optional upland test for retrievers will follow the guidelines for the flushing dog tests, except the retriever will not be required to hup or sit when a bird flushes or a gun is fired to prove steadiness to wing and shot; however, the dog must still remain stationary.

III. Flushing Dogs

• Flushing Dogs will be scored on style, drive, hunt ability, boldness to flush, trainability, and retrieving.

IV. Novice Flushing Hunter

• The test consists of 4 finds by the dog (4 different birds).
• The dog must be held at the starting point until the judge tells the handler to release the dog.
• The dog must immediately begin to hunt showing strong desire and independence or drive.
• The dog should show signs of quartering naturally and should respond to the handler.
• The handler may encourage the dog to keep the dog in gun range; however, the fewer commands needed the better it will reflect the dogs score.
• If the dog does not respond to the handler and stay in control, then the dog will be marked as failed.
• The dog does not have to hup or sit and remain steady to wing and shot, but the less bird chasing the better it will reflect the dogs score.
• If the bird is missed by the gunner and the dog chases the bird, then the dog must stop at a reasonable distance from the handler, and come back to the handler on command.
• If a bird is missed by a gunner, then an additional bird may be planted.
• Birds must be planted away from each other.
• If a dog bumps a bird and does not intentionally flush it, then the bird will not be counted as a find.
• If the dog bumps or flushes a bird out of gun range because the dog is out of control, then the dog will be given one more chance. If it happens a second time, the dog will be marked as failed.
• The dog is required to make an effort to retrieve the shot bird. If the dog runs off with the bird and refuses to bring it back to the handler after a reasonable amount of commands from the handler then the dog will be marked as failed.
• The dog must return the bird to the general vicinity of the handler, but is not required to retrieve to hand.

 V. Pointing Dogs

• Pointing dog will be scored on style, drive, hunt ability, staunchness to point, trainability, and retrieving.

VI. Novice Pointing Hunter

• The test will consist of four birds to work and point.
• Four good solid points flushed by the handler will be required and the dog will not be required to be steady to wing and shot.
• One break by the dog will be allowed.
• The dog will loose points for hunting in close to the handler; however, in either case the dog should hold a point and not bump a bird.
• Creeping is allowed, but not to the point where the dog causes the bird to flush.
• If the dog bumps 2 or more of the birds, the dog will be marked as failed.
• The dog must run alone and not in a brace.
• The dog should allow the handler to walk in and flush the bird.
• The dog should respond to the handler’s commands.
• The dog does not have to be steady to wing and shot; however, the dog should not put himself in harms way of the shot.

VII. The Pointing Labrador

• All three classes of Pointing Labrador will be run the same as for the Pointing Hunter with the following Exceptions:
• The Novice Pointing Lab will be expected to retrieve the downed bird to the general vicinity of the handler.
• The Novice Pointing Lab can flush the bird, but only after holding a point for several seconds. The longer the point is held, the higher the score.
• The Novice Pointing Lab must retrieve the bird to the general vicinity of the handler.

For information on competing or hosting events contact

CKC Events Department at 1-888-CKC– 8042 or visit us at WWW.CKCUSA.COM

Continental Kennel Club, Inc. reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.

© 2006 Continental Kennel Club, Inc. All rights reserved.

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