NAVHDA creates a new hunt test adding the Gun Dog Test (GDT) to its lineup of possible titles.
The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) was created to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds. NAVHDA is a registry, database and testing organization that hopes to promote selective breeding that creates reliable versatile dogs. NAVHDA historically had four hunt test levels: the Natural Ability Test (NA), Utility Preparatory Test (UPT), Utility Test (UT) and the Invitational Test Versatile Champion (VC) title. All of these except the VC have a numerical score and prize level based on the dog’s performance in multiple hunting scenarios. The UPT was meant as a preparatory test for the Utility test however it was much closer to the UT test than the NA test. Very few participants utilized this test. For example, last year 2201 dogs were ran in NA and 1089 dogs were ran in UT while only 118 dogs were ran in UPT.
NAVHDA has been working with its judging and testing committee as well as all its current judges to develop a rebranding of the UPT. As of February 1, 2025 the UPT was replaced with the new very similar Gun Dog Test (GDT) title. NAVHDA wanted to create a test that was more in the middle between NA and UT that would be utilized by more members and hopefully get more members to test dogs at levels beyond the NA level. This test is a more natural steppingstone title between these two tests.
The key differences between the new GDT and UPT is that in the GDT the duck search portion of the test was removed, In the retrieve of duck scenario they have added decoys and the scoring of retrieves in this test has been carefully defined. One thing identified was the need for live ducks and that many NAVHDA members were not hardcore duck hunters and wanted a test that would show the dog could make a simple retrieve of a jump shot duck or pheasant that ended up in the water without training for the duck search. Some breeds don’t naturally just jump in the water and do a duck search and some members live in places where they must travel long distances to get to wetlands appropriate for duck search training. NAVHDA is very excited to introduce this new test and help its membership reach their goals.
The GDT is an intermediate test for handlers working towards a more finished dog. It is divided into two main segments.
1. Field Group: The dog is hunted for a minimum of 25 minutes and evaluated on:
a. Search
b. Pointing
c. Steadiness on game
d. Retrieve of shot bird
e. Retrieve of dragged game
2. Water Group:
a. Walking at heel
b. Steadiness by blind
c. Retrieve of a duck
The following are judges throughout the GDT:
a. Use of nose
b. Desire to work
c. Cooperation
d. Obedience
e. Physical attributes
For further information NAVHDA just came out with an updated version of the NAVHDA Aims Programs and Test Rules Book which can be found at www.navhda.org
Author of article, Dominic Bachman, has been a member of NAVHDA since 1997 and is a Senior Judge. He is also a Breeder Member of the German Wirehair Alliance.
