JGHV Tests

JGHV Tests:  The Purpose of the VJP and HZP

The purpose of the breed tests (VJP and HZP) is to determine the natural abilities of young dogs as they pertain to the dog’s suitability for future use in versatile hunting and as a breeding dog.  Breed tests further serve to recognize the genetic value of the parents, which is better determined the more littermates are tests.

The ethical conduct of hunting requires that the main emphasis be placed on the hunting dog’s work after the shot.  Thus, judges must pay special attention to the assessment of the natural abilities and characteristics that enable and identify the reliable retriever.  These include a very good nose, paired with desire to find and to track, along with sound temperament that is documented by calmness, concentration, and perseverance in work.

It must be the foremost goal of the judges to recognize and identify those versatile dogs that are especially suited for breeding due to their natural abilities.

Furthermore, breed tests should awaken appreciation of the hunters for the work of versatile gun dogs.

 

VJP – Spring Natural Ability Test

The VJP is a test that evaluates the natural abilities of a young versatile hunting dog.  Most of the pups who run a VJP are between 6 and 18 months of age.  A full VJP (with 5 dogs) will usually last for an entire day.  A VJP consists of three main phases of judging: Search, Pointing, and Tracking.  Your pup will be expected to search a field, find and point at least 1 wild/liberated bird, and track wild cottontail rabbits/jackrabbits in another area.

The VJP judges evaluate 5 attributes throughout the day.  Those attributes are as follows:

  1. Tracking– A dog is required to demonstrate a willingness, desire and ability to concentrate under difficult hunting conditions. The manner of the dog is also noted.
  2. Nose – The degree of accurate scent discrimination and how sensitive the nose is, are evaluated. The nose is evaluated during Search, Pointing and Tracking.
  3. Search– A dog is evaluated on the desire to find game, style, and stamina coupled with an impressive search pattern.  A dog is also evaluated on how steady it is to gunshot.
  4. Pointing– A dog is evaluated on the duration and intensity of the point, and must indicate the location of the game.
  5. Cooperation– The ability for the dog to remain attentive and to be a team member is a very highly valued trait. The dog needs to demonstrate the ability to know where the handler is, be able to change direction with the handler and have the ability to note the location of his handler when working out of sight.

A dog can be rated on a 1-11 scale for each of the 5 attribute categories.  Dogs that give an exceptional performance in extreme conditions can also earn a 12 in the tracking and nose subjects.  The tracking and nose scores are multipled by 2 and added to the search, pointing, and cooperation scores for a final score.

 

HZP – Fall Advanced Natural Ability Test

The HZP is a test that evaluates the advanced natural abilities of a versatile hunting dog.  Most of the dogs who run a HZP are between 10 and 24 months of age.  A full HZP (with 5 dogs) will usually last for an entire day.  A HZP basically consists of 5 different retrieves accomplished through three phases of judging: searching/pointing, drags, and water work.

For the first phase, your dog will be expected to search a field to find and point at least 1 wild/liberated bird.

The drag phase of the test consists of two land retrieves.  The judges will drag a dead gamebird (provided by the handler) 200 meters across a field.  The dog must complete the track and should retrieve the gamebird to hand.  The judges will also drag a dead rabbit/hare (provided by the handler) 300 meters across a field.  The dog must complete the track and should retrieve the rabbit/hare to hand.

The water work phase of the HZP consists of 3 duck retrieves in the water.  The first retrieve is a marked retrieve where the dog will get to see the duck being tossed into the water.  After the dog is sent for the retrieve, a shot will be fired over the dog to ensure that he/she is not gun sensitive in the water.  The dog must complete the retrieve.

The next retrieve is a blind retrieve.  The judges place a dead duck on the opposite shore of a pond (at least 30 meters across) and the handler must send the dog with a single command.  The dog must retrieve the duck to hand.  And finally, the third duck retrieve is set up by releasing a live mallard (with flight feathers pulled) into a wetland.  The duck is given time to swim away and hide before the dog is brought up to make the retrieve.  The handler must send the dog with a single command.  The dog must search the wetland to find the duck, catch it, and should retrieve it to hand.

The HZP judges evaluate several attributes throughout the day.  In addition to the 5 attributes judged during a VJP (nose, tracking, search, pointing, and cooperation), the additional attributes evaluated are as follows:

  1. Desire – During the whole of the examination, the dog is required to demonstrate a desire to work and a willingness to perform each of the tests on land and in water.
  2. Marked Duck Retrieve – The dog sees a dead duck thrown into the water.  After the dog is sent for the retrieve, a shot will be fired over the dog to ensure that he/she is not gun sensitive in the water.  The dog must complete the retrieve.
  3. Blind Retrieve – the dog is examined on if and how it conducts the search, whether it finds and retrieves the dead duck, and the desire to retrieve are all evaluated. A maximum of 10 minutes is allowed for the dog to complete this examination. Minimum distance of 30 meters.
  4. Search behind the duck – there are a number of qualities that need to be demonstrated by a dog; strength of character, persistence for searching and a willingness to swim.
  5. Gamebird Drag – A willingness to work the trail and a desire to return the fowl to handler are desirable traits. A dog is scored on the ability to work the track and work back to the handler. The distance is 200 meters.
  6. Hare or Rabbit Drag – This has the same requirements as the gamebird drag except the gamebird is replaced by a hare or rabbit and the distance is 300 meters.
  7. Method of Delivery – A dog is required to exhibit trained skills of pick up, the manner in which the game is carried and the delivery to handler. A dog is rated in all sections of HZP that require retrieving and the scores are averaged.
  8. Obedience – A dog is required to demonstrate a quick and willing response to voice, hand signal, and whistle. It is evaluated in all phases of the examination however not in the presence of game.

Here are the test regulations for the VJP and the HZP in English:  Regulations for JGHV Breed Tests (VJP, HZP)

 

JGHV Tests:  The Purpose of the VGP

The VGP is a performance test.  Following Hegewald, von Sothen, von Loebenstein, Oberlaender, and other pioneers of the versatile dog movement, Dr. Stroese once said that the main purpose of a VGP is “to produce dogs for the ethical conduct of hunting and to foster the knowledge of training and handling these dogs in the hunting community.  This is the exclusive purpose of a VGP…”.  “A dog that has passed the test – provided it is handled correctly and has appropriate practice – must be able to perform as a truly versatile utility dog in the hunting field.  And this is what is most important.”

Nothing has changed in respect to these principles.  It is therefore the purpose of the VGP to:

  • Determine at a public performance test the utility of the hunting dog for versatile hunting (field, forest, and water work).
  • Prove these abilities to the hunting community through the results of these tests.
  • Awaken and foster the appreciation for the proper handling of the versatile dog in the hunting community.

Dogs that received the prizes I, II, or III at a VGP and hence have been registered in the German Versatile Dog Registry must be able to cope with the demands of practical hunting in all subjects.  This requires that special consideration must be given not only to individual performances, but also to the evaluation of a thorough training in obedience and the experience of the dog in actual hunting.  The VGP can be considered the master diploma of hunting dogs, hence it shall evaluate solely if the hunting dog has been trained completely in all practical tasks which may occur during practical hunting.

In contrast to breed tests (VJP and HZP), the VGP tests exclusively the performance of dogs in each individual subject.  This does not contradict the fact that the VGP is an important indicator of a high value for breeding and that the registration in the Dog Stud Book (DGSTB) is one of our most important aids in making breeding decisions.

A dog that has been evaluated at a VGP must be so proficient that a good hunter, who is accustomed with the appropriate handling and training of hunting dogs, can hunt in an ethical manner with such a dog.

 

VGP – Association Utility Test

The VGP is a test that evaluates a finished versatile hunting dog.  Dogs tested at this level are expected to handle any game in any hunting situation.  Most of the dogs who run a VGP are between 18 and 36 months of age.  A full VGP (with 4 dogs) will usually last for two whole days.  A VGP consists of 4 different subject areas: field, forest, water, and obedience.

To put it simply, a VGP is basically a HZP plus forest work and some additional obedience requirements.  The scoring in a VGP, however, is unique.  The dogs are scored on a 1-4 scale.  Dogs that perform exceptional work can also be scored with a 4H in any natural ability category.  Although this designation does not affect their score, it will be noted in permanent record.  VGPs also differ from VJPs and HZPs in that a Prize is awarded for passing dogs.  Thereore, a dog that completes a VGP will not only receive a final score, but also a Prize I, II, or III designation.

In the field portion of the VGP, the following attributes are evaluated:

  1. Nose – A dog will need to demonstrate a good nose, to have the ability of finding game.
  2. Search – A dog is required to demonstrate a high level of desire, stamina, and cooperation in this phase.
  3. Pointing – Intensity, honoring and steadiness to shot are all observed and a dog is required to demonstrate these traits at a high level.  The dog must be steady to wing and shot.
  4. Manners – A dog is required to demonstrate the ability to relocate and hold the game.
  5. Gamebird Drag – A dog is required to demonstrate a desire to find the game quickly and without any additional directions from the handler.
  6. Gamebird Retrieve – A dog is required to complete the retrieve of a shot gamebird.

In the water work portion of the VGP, the following attributes are evaluated:

  1. Marked Duck Retrieve – The dog sees a dead duck thrown into the water.  After the dog is sent for the retrieve, a shot will be fired over the dog to ensure that he/she is not gun sensitive in the water.  The dog must complete the retrieve.
  2. Search Without A Duck – A dog is sent to search a large body of water that is devoid of any game.  The handler must remain in place but may assist the dog by pointing and giving a few directional commands (the fewer the better). The dog must hunt persistently and show a strong desire to find game whether they come across any scent or not.  Usually, the judges will expect a dog to search for 10 minutes before allowing the handler to call the dog back.
  3. Blind Retrieve– A dog is required to show the ability to locate the game by either signals from the handler or by using his/her own desire to search. Minimum distance of 30 Meters.
  4. Search Behind A Duck – It is important for a dog to show ability to follow the duck track on the water using the nose. A dog that works with eyes alone will not be rated.

In the forest portion of the VGP, the following attributes are evaluated:

  1. Blood Tracking For Hoofed Game – This is performed on a lead and a dog must demonstrate calm and confident concentration, as well as initiative and desire.  A dog must have the ability to guide the handler to where the game is and behave correctly while searching for the game.  The blood trail is approximately 400 meters long and usually aged between 2 and 8 hours.  Handlers may also request an overnight blood trail for additional points.
  2. Furred Game Drag Track – The judges lay a 300-meter fox drag (fox should be provided by the handler).  The handler must send the dog with 1 command.  The dog must complete the track and retrieve the fox to hand.  The manner of working the track and the retrieve are both taken into account for scoring, as well as the use of the nose, perseverance, and desire.  There are two parts to scoring: the track and the retrieve.
  3. Furred Game Retrieve Over Obstacle – A fox is placed behind a natural barrier (usually about 30 inches tall).  The handler must send the dog with one command.  The dog must jump over the obstacle to retrieve the fox to hand.
  4. Independent Forest Search – The dog is sent to search a wooded area that is not known for holding game.  The dog is expected to search diligently until called back by its handler.  Perseverance, passion, and boldness are all taken into account for the rating of a dog.  Generally, the judges want to see a dog search the woods for 10 minutes without another command from their handler before they will allow the dog to be called back.
  5. Dense Cover Search – In this portion of the test, the dog and handler are asked to search a dense wooded stand.  The dog will be required to demonstrate a calm and purposeful search.  The judges will fire a few shots randomly during the search.  The dog is expected to remain calm and under the control of their handler even while the shots occur.

In the obedience portion of the VGP, there are seven main categories being evaluated:

  1. Obedience during the driven hunt – The dog is put on a down-stay or a sit-stay and expected to remain quietly by the handler’s side while a mock driven hunt is conducted right in front of the dog.  The driven hunt consists of several people yelling and shooting as they push through the woods in front of the dog.
  2. Heeling on lead – The dog is required to heel on lead with its handler while weaving in and out of trees in a wooded area.
  3. Heeling off lead – The dog is required to heel off lead with its handler.  The judges will ask the handler to vary walking/running speed, stop, and change directions to evaluate the dog’s ability to heel off-lead.
  4. Down/Stay – The dog is placed on a down/stay while the handler walks out of sight.  The handler fires a couple of shots before returning to the dog.  The dog must remain in place throughout the entire process.
  5. Steadiness to Wing – During the field portion of the VGP, the dog is expected to remain steady to the flush of a gamebird.
  6. Steadiness to Shot – During the field portion of the VGP, the dog is expected to remain steady to the shot after a gamebird is flushed.
  7. Overall Obedience – A dog’s obedience is judged during the entire time of the 2-day test.  A dog should be under the handler’s control at all times…whether the handler is sending the dog for a retrieve or just walking the dog back to the car.

Here are the test regulations for the VGP in English:  Regulations for JGHV Utility Test (VGP)

(Test descriptions used by permission of the JGV-USA.  For more information, go to www.jgv-usa.org.)

Test regulations available at on the website of the JGHV, www.jghv.de