An Example of a Finished Land Test

A finished test typically consists of two series. A series is a collection of marks and blinds (described below) that constitutes a scenario that the dog must successfully complete. The dog is graded on how well it completes the elements of the series. The finished test is the most complex of the tests that we perform here at Roadrunner HRC. This page describes a typical "land" series, where the marks fall primarily on the land, and most of the dog's work is on solid ground. Most finished land series use a triple marked retrieve, a blind retrieve, and frequently include an "Honor" dog. The situation might be as that shown in the following figure.

a Finished land setup

In this series (or scenario), the working dog starts at the position (W). An Honor dog (H) is in position as the working dog approachs the line. The working dog sits at the line, and it's handler tells the Judges that the team is ready. On the Judges signals, throwers behind the trees throw the first mark (a bird thrown to location 1), the second mark (a bird thrown to 2), and the third mark (3). A slight (several second) delay exists between the throws. The Handler shoots the birds (with blanks) at the top of the thrown arc. (The dog thinks it's hunting...) Both dogs are expected to sit quietly as the birds are thrown and the shots are fired. When all of the birds are on the ground, the Working dog's handler releases their dog to retrieve one of the birds. When the dog is coming back with its first retrieve, the Honor dog is dismissed by the Judges.

(The honor dog has just demonstrated its ability to take turns, an important part of the finished test.) The Working dog is expected to remember where all of the birds fell and to pick them up without help from the handler. If the Handler has to help, various scoring deductions may be made. Following retrieval of the marks, the Handler uses whistles and hand signals to direct the dog to pick up the "blind", a bird at (B) that has been hidden prior to the scenario. The Working dog did not see the placement of the bird, and must trust and rely on the Handler's directions.

Finished dogs are expected to negotiate various "factors" such as streams, hills, and heavy cover as indicated in the diagram. A finished dog, one that can complete the scenario described above, is a true pleasure to hunt with in the duck blind or the pheasant field.

Not all finished tests look exactly like this example. Tests vary with available land, judges, and hunt test committee opinions in their details. But all finished tests evaluate the basic skills described above. They all incorporate some level of hunting realism. At our last Roadrunner HRC test, this writer observed a finshed handler giggling at the line while his dog was hunting for one of the marks. When asked why he was giggling, the handler replied "It feels like I'm really hunting!" That's the point!, and a terrific testamony to the realism of the test sceanrios used at HRC finished levels. Testing at this level extends most of the fun of hunting througout the entire year, even though the seasons are closed.

New Mexico Hunting Retrievers

Finished