Handler's tips

1. If you have a question about a test or what the expectations of the judges are, ask 
either during the scenario or before running your dog.

2. A handler must stay at the determined line to accept delivery of the bird. Moving 
to where the dog is to take the bird is a failure.

3. In Junior (or at any level) the dog can only me held lightly by the collar or by a 
slip cord that goes through a collar. Touching a dog to sit, change positions or 
touching the dog or collar when taking the bird from the dog is a zero.

4. When a dog is handled on a mark it must be handled all the way to the bird. When 
we blow the whistle we are taking over the job our dog is failing to accomplish. Once 
we take over control it is our job to stay in charge. Letting a dog hunt after a 
handle is not acceptable.

5. A hand signal used to steady a dog is considered an intimidating gesture in field 
work. While it is a part of obedience training it can be a cause for failure at a hunt 
test.

Judging Tips

1. Know the weather forecast for the weekend. Always consult with a club member about  wind directions and how these patterns shift throughout the day.

2. The most difficult station to set up is the flyer station. It must be placed in a location that is safe for the line, the gallery, the parking lot, other workers and the surrounding environment. Look for a location that is wide and open with short cover to eliminate no birds and long hunts.

3. Never be afraid to call a no bird, especially those that fall long and out of the  area of other falls. Such falls are not only unfair to the working dog but waste time with long hunts.

4. Always have a plan B in case a test does not work out for some reason. Don’t be afraid to scratch a test. If you do, the replacement test must be set up in a new area.

5. Before a test starts, discuss with your co-judge what your expectations of performance on each particular test should be. Establish a creep line, the area for no birds and how you will handle situations that might arise. Divide judging duties ahead of time.

This is just a sample of the many things covered in our seminar. You can learn even more by attending one.