2. NAHRA Judge's Clinic President Frank Plewa & Tom Johnston

3. 9/17/2015 2 AGENDA Introductions Purpose of Judges Clinics Becoming a NAHRA Judge Judge’s Responsibilities Accepting a Judging Assignment Field Test Planning Scoring NAHRA test levels in brief

4. 9/17/2015 3 AGENDA Test Design Marking Tests Blind Retrieve Tests Upland Hunt Tests Trailing Tests Firearm Safety Code of Conduct

5. So you want to be a Judge? 9/17/2015 4

6. PURPOSE OF CLINIC Train New Judges Calibrate Existing Judges 9/17/2015 5

7. 6 PURPOSE OF CLINIC To promote the field test standard To maintain a pool of quality judges To train new members to become quality judges Meet continuing education requirement of judges

8. 9/17/2015 7 JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES Design the Field test Score the Dogs Represent NAHRA & the Host Club

9. Design the Test 9/17/2015 8

10. Score the Dogs 9/17/2015 9

11. Represent NAHRA & Host Club 9/17/2015 10

12. Becoming NAHRA Judge Member in Good Standing Pass Judges Exam Handled and Qualified a Dog 9/17/2015 11

13. Remain NAHRA Judge Attend Judges Clinic Every 3 Years Agree to Judges Code of Conduct 9/17/2015 12

14. JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES Design Test & Score Dogs Represent NAHRA & Host Club Deciding the Breeding Stock of NAHRA Future 9/17/2015 13

15. 9/17/2015 14 JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES Understanding of the Rules Compliance to the Rules Voluntary and Serious

16. 9/17/2015 15 JUDGING ASSIGNMENT Accepting Conflicts Arrival Professionalism

17. Judge’s Equipment Be Prepared NAHRA Rulebook Score book Pencil Sunscreen, Bug Spray & Drugs Raingear and appropriate clothing Chair, Bucket, and Blind-bag Umbrella & Umbrella stand Flagging, poppers, and popper gun 9/17/2015 16

18. 9/17/2015 17 FIELD TEST PLANNING The day before Morning of the Test Scenarios & Test Dog Call Backs

19. TEST DESIGN Concept Based Test –Inverted Triple Marking Test –Poison Bird Blind Location Based Test –How would I Hunt This & what would happen? 9/17/2015 18

20. TEST DESIGN 9/17/2015 19 NAHRA is Hunting Simulated Program

21. Factors to Consider in Test Design Technical Difficulty of the Concept Distractions & ‘Fog of the Hunt’ Physical Conditions of the Test Site 9/17/2015 20

22. Approaches to Test Design & Scoring Design an “Easy Test” & Expect Near Perfection Design a “Tough Test” & expect success, but not perfection 9/17/2015 21

23. Make it Real Test where you would hunt Use Decoys & Other Fun Stuff Act Like you are hunting Dress like you are hunting 9/17/2015 22

24. Test Set-up Work Out the Mechanics Estimate the Time per Dog Run a Set-up Dog Have FTC “Approve” Test 9/17/2015 23

25. Good Help Is Hard to Find 9/17/2015 24

26. 9/17/2015 25 Day of the Test Meet Your Crew Handlers Briefing Test Dog Don’t Be Afraid to Change the Test Call Backs

27. Score Book & NAHRA Rulebook Always Carry NAHRA Rulebook Prepare Score Book Ahead of Time Be Prepared for Rain Dogs Name on the Score Sheet 9/17/2015 26

28. 9/17/2015 27 Scoring

29. What are you Scoring ? Technical Performance Line Manner & Behavior Team Work 9/17/2015 28

30. Scoring Technical Performance Marked Retrieves Marking the Fall Remembering the Fall Hunts the Area of the Fall Returns without Delay 9/17/2015 29

31. Scoring Technical Performance Blind Retrieves Line with Precision Hold the Line Stops Crisply Cast Crisply 9/17/2015 30

32. Scoring Technical Performance Upland Hunt Understands the Concept Indicated Game Scent Checks on Command Under Control in Scent Hunts the Entire Gun Line Steady to Flush, Shot & Fall 9/17/2015 31

33. Scoring Technical Performance Trailing Test Understands the Concept Indicated Scent & the Trail Recovers from Lost Trail Can be called Off the Trail 9/17/2015 32

34. 9/17/2015 33 Scoring Line Manners Judges should look for natural and trained abilities Focus, desire and memory (marking) Hunting desire (upland) Ability to follow scent (trail) –The rest is OBEDIENCE Control going to the line Control during Walks-ups Control while marks are released Control during a remote Quartering & ranging Walk up to the trail Returning to handler Bird handling During Diversions When leaving the line Handling on marks and blinds Honoring Started (with mild restraint) Intermediate & Senior

35. Scoring Approaches Point Reduction Method Big Picture Method Scoring Each Test 0 to 10 9/17/2015 34

36. NAHRA Test Levels in Brief Started Hunter Intermediate Senior 9/17/2015 35

37. Started Field Test Five Single Marked Retrieves Two on Water & Two on Land 50 Yards on Water 75 Yards on Land “Steady” but may be Steadied Basic Hunting Situation Be reasonable- No Tricks 9/17/2015 36

38. Hunter Field Test Land Double 75 yards Water Double 50 yards Not tighter than 45 degrees Steady & Deliver to Hand 30 to 50 yard basic trailing test 9/17/2015 37

39. Intermediate Field Test Land Double to 100 yards Water Double to 75 yards Land Blind to 75 yards Water Blind to 50 yards Blind not incorporated with marks Upland Hunt no Flush Trailing test 9/17/2015 38

40. Senior Field Test Land Triple to 100 yards Water Triple to 100 yards Land Blind to 100 yards Water Blind to 100 yards One Blind incorporated with marks Upland Hunt with Flush Trailing test 9/17/2015 39

41. 9/17/2015 40 MARKED RETRIEVE Setting up a marking test Judging guidelines Test concept Hunting scenario Scoring a marking test

42. 9/17/2015 41 Marked Retrieve "Marking" or memory of fallen birds is of paramount importance. –Ideal line is a “Laser Beam” to the fall – i.e. run directly to the bird and return with it.

43. 9/17/2015 42 Marked Retrieve Area of Fall The ability to "mark" does not necessarily imply "pin-pointing the fall." –A dog that recognizes the depth of the "area of the fall," hunts tight, then quickly and systematically locates the bird, has done a credible and an intelligent job of marking. –Such work should not be appreciably out-scored by the dog that "pin-points" the mark NAHRA makes no explicit distinction as to the route to the area of the fall. –Does the dog know where the bird fell and proceed to that area?

44. 9/17/2015 43 Marked Retrieve Area of Fall Dogs that leave the area of the fall should be able to work their way back into the fall area. –We never know for sure why the dog doesn’t find a bird (placement, scented field etc) –The dog should set up a systematic - gradually expanding - search. –Once out of the area – a brief search and return to the area shows intelligence Dogs that go directly to the back side of the gun station probably did not mark the fall - that is much more severe than hunting the area of the fall and then drifting to gun stations

45. 9/17/2015 44 Marked Retrieve Area of Fall There are a lot of factors that make up the area of the fall –Cover, Change of Cover, Slope, Lighting, Wind, Distance –Terrain and natural barriers (hills, angled entries/crossings) –Suction – from old falls, blinds, natural factors, unnatural factors (gunners, bird buckets etc.) –Speed of the individual dogs, –Whether one is establishing the "area of the fall“ for a single retrieve, the first bird of a multiple mark, or subsequent marks in a multiple marks Strong Wind Gunner Steep Slope Angled entry to Stream or road

46. 9/17/2015 45 BLIND RETRIEVE TEST Setting up a blind retrieve test Judging guidelines Concepts Hunting scenario Scoring a blind retrieve test

47. 9/17/2015 46 Blinds Alignment & initial line Carry on line - casts Obedience - whistle sits Stays within corridor Teamwork Continually improving position with each cast

48. 9/17/2015 47 Blinds Initial line –How close to a “perfect” direction towards the blind? –How long does he carry it? –How well does the handler/dog team deal with distractions? Crisp whistle sits – dog immediately turns and looks to handler for direction X1 X2 Literal cast Hard over - hard Back X3 Cast Refusal (wants to go to ‘his’ spot) Steep hill and valley where you lose sight of the dog

49. Blinds Often times, in order to get the dog to go deep, a handler will allow the dog’s momentum to carry him too far out – i.e. doesn’t (or is afraid to) handle –Can’t get a whistle refusal if I don’t blow the darn thing! –Dog/handler team is “out of control” – subjective scoring deductions 9/17/2015 48 X1 It is difficult to pass a team where one or the other of the team members refuses to handle!!!

50. 9/17/2015 49 Blinds Think of a corridor around the line to the blind Handler/dog team should stay within this corridor. Handle here…. ……not here X1 Attack the blind…

51. 9/17/2015 50 Blinds Factors in a blind – suction to go somewhere other than the line to blind Scented Point Earlier mark Poison Bird Acute angled entry

52. 9/17/2015 51 UPLAND HUNTING TEST Setting up a upland test Judging guidelines Concept Hunting scenario Scoring an upland test

53. 9/17/2015 52 Upland Hunting Desire Control Steady to Shot Stays within gun Actively pursues game Works independently

54. 9/17/2015 53 Upland Hunting Search aggressively, leaving little unsearched area Stays within gun range (30-35 yards). Naturally puts the wind to his advantage –“Quartering" into the wind primarily and to his handler secondarily –approaching birdy objects (clumps of cover and brush thickets) from the downwind side. Moves throughout the field independently with minimal whistle, hand and voice signals Two dogs may be run in a brace (scented areas only, no birds for intermediate braces).

55. 9/17/2015 54 Upland Hunting Methods of upland hunting –Quartering in a “Windshield Wiper” pattern –Hunting areas most likely to hold birds –Working on scent –The field may be “salted” with bird scent or dead birds –Although the dog is not being judged on retrieving, if he finds a bird he MUST pick it up and deliver to hand

56. 9/17/2015 55 Upland Hunting Steady to Shot –Realistically, bird is released some distance from the dog (safety) –Dog is expected to sit or remain standing at position –Bird may or may not be shot –It is natural for a dog to want to grab at the bird when flushed. Dog will either be released to retrieve a shot bird – or recalled to the handler for a fly-away

57. Don’t Be Afraid to Walk 9/17/2015 56

58. 9/17/2015 57 TRAILING TEST Setting up a trailing test Judging guidelines Concept Hunting scenario Scoring a trailing test

59. 9/17/2015 58 Trail Perseverance Natural ability to use nose Willingness to ‘find it’ Control at the point of origin –Trained to trail Judging difficulties –Impossible to tell what factors are present (wind, drag- back etc) –Impossible to tell how good the trail is Note; a dog's scent is 7 times more sensitive than a humans –Best time is early morning when there is some moisture

60. 9/17/2015 59 Trailing "Trailing" is perhaps the most independent function of the hunting retriever. The dog must show concentration and desire to locate and follow the trail of a crippled bird or hunt for upland game. Wind Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg Typically, trails are performed with a dragged duck - but can also be performed with a running duck or pheasant Normally starts down wind with a cross wind turn

61. 9/17/2015 60 Trailing Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg Three methods of trailing: –Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird. Wind

62. 9/17/2015 61 Trailing Three methods of trailing: Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg –Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird. –Head up using a short quartering pattern across the trail until the bird is found Wind

63. 9/17/2015 62 Trailing Three methods of trailing: Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg –Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird. –Head up using a short quartering pattern across the trail until the bird is found or –Head high following the scent on the downwind side of the trail. Wind

64. 9/17/2015 63 Trailing Less favorable behavior in the trailing test –Over excited dog who bolts out of the blocks and loses the trail due to momentum –Dog who ignores the trail and takes off on a hunt –Overzealous handlers who try to “help” their dog Wind Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg Judge should direct handler to stop and recall the dog at this point. Then, resend the dog and see if he picks up the trail

65. 9/17/2015 64 Trailing Conditions can change during a test that must be considered Wind shift from the south can make the previous example an acceptable line –(dog running with his nose high a good distance from the line) Both judges and handlers need to be aware of the conditions Wind Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg A significant shift in wind direction can result in a dog trailing down wind from the drag in a position that was unacceptable under different wind conditions

66. 9/17/2015 65 Trailing Wind Downwind Leg Crosswind Leg On completion of the trail do NOT allow the dog to return directly to the handler (at the starting position) because it will add scent to an area of the field that is not on the trail Carrying a bird low to the ground across the field will fowl the area for subsequent dogs (No pun intended!) Remember – the bird MUST be delivered to hand.

67. 9/17/2015 66 FIREARM SAFETY Direction of gun Finger off trigger Gun unloaded until ready NRA rules

68. 9/17/2015 67 JUDGES CODE OF CONDUCT Promote the NAHRA Philosophy Understand the Rulebook Represent NAHRA & Host Club Judge Objectively & By the Rule Set Good Example for Potential Judges

69. This Says It All 9/17/2015 68

70. 9/17/2015 69