Where Dual Dreams Come True
Jean Webb's Gun Dog Training
Individualized Pointing Dog Training
The Senior Hunter (SH) title is very similar to CDX or Companion Dog Excellent in Obedience, only the tests are with live ammunition or with an outdoor retrieve.

In Senior Hunt Tests the dog is to point, honor and retrieve. This is similar to obedience’s requirements of stand stay, retrieve, and not be distracted by things outside the ring. All of the control, heeling and retrieving is very similar in the two divisions. The pointing dog hunt test rulebook will give you more specific details, and it can be found at the AKC link provided above.

The Senior Hunter dog works for a minimum of thirty minutes. The dogs, in a brace of two, must work as a pair even though they have never met before. The dog must stand for the handler to flush the bird and shoot a fake or cap gun.  Then the dog is to heel away and continue hunting. The dog is to “honor” or “back” the other dog when it finds the other dog on point.  This is considered good manners. The honor is handler assisted by holding the dog’s collar. The other unusual etiquette dog skill is the “stop to flush”.  When a bird flushes before a dog gets too close, the dog is to stop and not chase the self-flushing bird. This is very difficult for some dogs to learn, as chasing birds is great fun.

The retrieve is a skill that takes practice just like retrieving over jumps in obedience.  Even though the dog can retrieve after the gunshot, it is important for the dog to learn when it may move. Designated gunners do all the shooting, not the handlers. Handlers never need to shoot any birds. Multiple commands are allowed in senior hunting but an enthusiastic fast retrieve will receive a higher score. The handler cannot assist in the dog’s retrieve by stepping toward them at any time.
If you have never done AKC Hunt Tests before, your dog does not know what its missing! Sporting dogs love to hunt and point, that is what hunt tests are all about. The tests were designed to showcase what a dog and hunter may be required to do in a normal day's hunt. The dog is measured against a standard; they are not designed as competitions against other dogs.

Your dog can earn any one or all of three titles: Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter or Master Hunter. The Pointing Breed Hunting Tests were planned so that a dog is not required to have a title at a given level before being allowed to work towards a higher title. The website of the American Kennel Club provides a great deal of information about this program, and I highly recommend you visit their site for more detailed information. Just click on the link.
CH Mythodical's King of Fools MH
AKC Hunt Tests
Junior Hunter (JH) is the most basic and easiest title for a dog to earn. It is similar to the basic obedience title CD (companion dog).  The dog must move with you off lead and obey basic commands.  The “come” command is very important and the dog needs to point half of the birds.  Pointing is the act of standing still when smelling the bird on the ground.  Quail are ground-dwelling birds and behave quite unlike the backyard birds that live in trees. Their nature makes it possible for the pointing sporting dog to find it and stop. Lifting the foreleg is a not necessary element of the point, but  it is necessary for the dog to hold its point for at least three seconds. This is intended to demonstrate natural ability.  If the dog does not point long enough it is called a “flash point” and does not count. This test requires control and natural talent.

Hopefully, the handler can then step in front of the dog and flush the bird into flying.  The goal is to make the bird fly as they would in a real hunting situation.  We try not to let the dog handle any birds, just point them and let us do all the work.  Usually, the dog will chase and not catch the bird and this is allowed at this level. “Come” is an important command as the tool to get the dog to head back in your direction and continue with the rest of the hunt test course.  Like obedience, the dog can choose to behave or continue chasing.

In Junior Hunter Tests the dogs run for at least fifteen minuets, and are paired with brace mates.  If no birds are found, the dog does not pass with a qualifying score.  This is very similar to the obedience “NQ ”. If the dog refuses to come, it will not receive a qualifying score. If the dog plays with the other dog and does not hunt, no score. The judges are looking for a dog that intensely looks at the bird, while not wagging the tail.  And finally, if the dog flash points it does not receive a qualifying score.

Junior Hunter tests are a great way for a new person to start working with their sporting dog. After all, hundreds of years of breeding went in to making of today’s sporting dogs and you can honor the past by letting your dog do what it was bred to do: hunt.  You will have fun and enjoy your dog.

Congratulations to the Junior Hunters I have trained: Ruby, Buck, Freckles, Banner, Josie, Allard, Ruffian, Sally, Skipper, Meave, Mikala, Belle, Belle Des Pralines D'Aubjoux, Guinnes Old World Imagination, Boyageur's Stars and Stripes --- do let me know if I have overlooked your dog!
Getting Started - Junior Hunters
Getting Serious - Senior Hunters
The Master Hunter (MH) title is similar to a Utility Dog (UD) in Obedience, and is the highest Hunt Test title a dog can earn. To obtain a Master title is no easy task as the dog must show a "completely finished" performance.

In Master Hunter tests the dog is to point, honor and retrieve – all with little or no verbal commands from the handler. The dogs are to recognize the situation and respond on their own. They are to be in control at all times.

The Master Hunter dogs work for a minimum of thirty minutes.  The brace is to work together as a team, and they should both behave like dogs anyone would love to own.

Pointing and backing are to be done without handler interference and done perfectly every time. The retrieve is to be quick and directly into your hand, just as is expected in the obedience ring. The added difficulty of backing or honoring when the other dog gets to retrieve requires training. The situation is exactly like an obedience dog watching another dog retrieve in front of them. The stop to flush is the same as senior. Overall, the Master Hunter is to be very polished in all of the skills of hunting, pointing and retrieving.
The Hardest Level - Master Hunters
CH Mythodical King of Fools MH - "Shoney"
Master Hunters
CH Voyageur's Lakota Trail MH, “Cody”  - Brittany - Bred by Kathy Jones - Owned by Lois Taylor

CH Diamond Hill Classic Aries CD TD AX MH VCX, “Aries” – GSP - Owned by Candis Heller

CH K Star’s Sidmar Sno’s Best MH,”Sidney” - Brittany – Owned by Kathy Shannon

CH Mythodical's King of Fools MH, “Shoney” - Irish Setter – Bred and owned by Cassie and Brent Allen 

CH Starbucks Son of A Gun TDX MH, “Sonny” – Weimaraner – Owned by Maxine Grossinger
Senior Hunters
CH Jamspirit Marksman CDX RA SH OA NAJ, "Trey" - Weimaraner - Owned by Cindy Mounts

CH Pointsetter Daze of Thundar SH, “Daises” - Shorthaired Pointer – Owned by K. Main, DVM.

CH Starbucks’ Denim-N-Diamonds SH, “Demi” - Weimaraner – Owned by Sara Jane Elam.

Ally Soar Us SH “Ally”- Irish Setter – Owned by Dave Perks

CH K Star Angelina Sno's Best "Angie" - Owned and Bred by Kathy Shannon

CH Tartana Mystic Traveller SH "Traveller" - Bred by Holly Wachuta - Owned by Randy and Patty Young.

VJK-MYST Classic Sierra Wave Sky "Seria" - GSP - Owned and handled by Candis Heller, Bred by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, Yvonne Hassler-Detering, Kris Smith-Bonner
Copyright © 2011 Jean Webb Gun Dog Training
Congratulations to the owners and breeders of the Master and Senior Hunters Ihave trained. Some of the Master Hunters also earned their Senior and Junior Hunter titles under me.