U-CH URO1 RATN Sand Spring Outlaw CGC RATN RN SPOT – Josie is in training for her Junior Hunter tests. Her goal this summer is to obtain her AKC Junior Hunter title. There is an upcoming Junior Hunter test the end of May so she came over the other weekend to start practicing. I was able to snap some pictures of her in action.

Section 5. Junior Hunting Tests. Dogs shall be tested on a minimum of four single marks, two on land and two on water. No more than two marks may be thrown in a series. Judges in keeping with simulation of realistic and natural hunting conditions must remember the use of numerous decoys, islands, points of land, rolling terrain, cover, ditch lines, wind direction, etc. are important factors to consider when designing test scenarios to evaluate Junior dogs as capable hunting companions. (1) Dogs may be sent to retrieve more than once, but only in cases of confusion as described in Chapter 4, Section 7. (2) Dogs shall be steady but may be brought to the line on leash with a flat buckle collar. The dog is under judgement when it leaves the holding blind. A Junior dog that is not under control when brought to the line (jumping, strongly tugging, etc.) even though it is on a leash shall risk receiving a lower score in trainability including zero in extreme cases. Dogs may be restrained gently with a slipcord looped through the flat buckle collar, or held gently by the flat buckle collar until sent to retrieve. 31 (3) A dog must retrieve to hand. Failure to do so merits a grade of “0” in Trainability. (4) A dog may be encouraged to hunt, but excessive noise in encouraging the dog suggests a lack of hunting desire and a low grade in Perseverance is required. *AKC

Hey! What’s up with all the guys standing around, let me back in the water for more!

Josey did excellent training this day. Hopefully it will continue and she will be ready to pass a test or 4 for her title.