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Utility Test proves versatile hunting dogs
By Elizabeth Prata

The situation was tense. Not a dog barked. Not a duck quacked. Not an owner coughed. The camouflaged hunters in the bush waited as if they were statues, wondering if the German Short haired pointer would pass.

The Yankee Chapter of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association was conducting its Utility Test. Trained dogs are evaluated in water and on the field, before and after the shot, as finished versatile hunting companions. Last Saturday, the water test was being conducted at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds, and the field portion at New Gloucester resident Fred Thurston's home on Rt. 231.

The Royal River location at the Fairgrounds made the location an ideal one to conduct the tense water test, an event that dogs have practiced and trained for with their owners all year.
Left, The dog is led by his owner at heel over the field, to the water. There, he must sit at attention. False shots are fired from different locations, "To simulate actual hunting situations," said NAVHDA member Dean Croxford. There were many members on hand to support the owners as they went through the test.

The dog waits, and then the owner shoots (blanks) over the water. A catapult is launched, flinging a fake duck into the water. The dog is told to swim and retrieve the duck.


"The goal is to have a well-trained dog that can bring back the game for the table. The last thing we want is unretrieved wounded or wasted game." Right, the catapult
This dog heeled well and waited at attention, never flinching when the loud blanks were fired. He hurted himself into the water, and immediately got distracted by the flock of decoys bobbing near the shore. The mood was hushed, as the owner and the members, and most of all the judges saw that he got spooked when he was bonked on the nose by a bobbing duck. The dog swam back to shore and began barking at the flock. Meanwhile, the fake duck was drifting along in the current near the far shore.

"They need to practice this part, a seemingly simple thing can throw them. They train for the hard parts but forget to train for the little things," Mr. Croxford said. Below, the Pointer waits for instructions.

The owner and judges threw several rocks to alert the dog as to where the duck was, but the dog was hesitant to get back into the water.
It wasn't long before the judges sent a 'pick-up' dog to retrieve the fake duck, and it was evident that this pointer would need more training.

The chapter was conducting double tests all weekend. "Usually we test 7 dogs, but we are doing 14 dogs each day over three days," said Mr. Croxford. The chapter had a backlog and the members, of which Patti Carter is President, decided to try a double testing weekend.

"The location is wonderful," said Ms. Carter. The chapter was grateful to the town of New Gloucester for allowing them to use it, which consumed only a small segment of the park. The chapter was also grateful to Mr. Thurston for allowing them to use his land for the field portion of the test. Dogs tested in the field at Mr. Thurston's were brought to the water in the afternoon, and vice versa.

As the dog was being led from the brush, the judges were setting up the next owner and dog for the Utility test. Hopefully he would pass enough of the criteria to make it into the next level of testing. Mr. Croxford explained that the Ability test was like grammar school, the Utility test (this one) was like high school, and the college-level test is the Invitational. "That's when you have dogs that go from really good to exceptional," Mr. Croxford said. "It makes for a nice ride home with a Prize 1 knowing you can go to the Invitational," Mr. Croxford said with a grin.Below, pick-up dog to the rescue

Winners would be read at 5 p.m., and will posted on the NAVHDA website soon (www.yankeenavhda.org.) FMI about the Yankee chapter contact President Patti Carter, 33 Simpson's Pt. Rd. Brunswick, ME 04011. Phone 207/725-8229 or e-mail mmkennel@gwi.net.