Yesterday I went over some of the basics of the Master Hunter tests, including the definition of marks, blinds. diversion shots/birds and walk-ups. I explained that Master Hunter tests must contain 3 series and are run over two days. Today I want to go into a little more detail as to what Freighter is likely to see at a Master level test.
The phrase “is likely to see” is a bit misleading because at the Master level, judges have a lot of leeway to set tests as they like and throw what ever they want into them. They must include the requirements stated in the rules, but those are the minimum and they can add more as they like.
The Rules say that the test must include:
“…multiple land marks, multiple water marks, multiple marks on water and land, a land blind and a water blind (at least one that shall be a double blind in any combination)…”
They also say:
“In Master tests, in at least two multiple marking situations the dog’s marking/memory will be tested with at least (3) falls before the dog is sent to retrieve. The (3) falls must be presented before a dog is sent to retrieve any mark or blind. During a double set of marks (2 falls) Master judges shall include additional elements of testing, i.e. walkup, diversion bird, diversion shot, blind/s etc. in testing the dog’s abilities.”
In simple language what that means is that at least two series will have triple marks, but the judges could put a quad in there too. If the judges set up double marks in one of the three series then they need to add difficulty with things like a walk-up, diversion birds/shots and or blinds.
In Master tests, distance of marks and blinds should not normally exceed 150 yards. Usually there is at least one shot flyer unless shooting live birds is prohibited in the test location.
I haven’t been to a ton of Master tests, but I have been to several. Normally the land series will be a triple with either one or two land blinds. Then there will be a water series with a water blind or double water blind. Another series could be a combination land water series with another triple and a water blind or could be a double water blind or a water blind and a land blind.
These are just examples, there are infinite combinations. For example, a judge could set up a delayed triple where the dog watches one or more of the marks go off, then has to run a blind before picking up marks as designated by the judges. In Master tests it is all fair game.
In Senior tests the blinds are run outside of any marks, but in Master tests they can be run so they require the dog to run under the arc of a mark and that adds difficulty because the dog is tempted to go back to the mark. When you have multiple marks and blinds, it can indeed be a challenge for a dog. There are no controlled breaks allowed in Masters so the dog must be steady for all of the marks.
In addition to all of the above, dogs are required to honor another dog at least once during the course of the test. An honor requires the dog to watch the marks being thrown for another dog and remain steady.
Tomorrow I will have a little bit about how the dogs are scored during a Master test.
that sounds interesting, I hope I can visit a test of the Weimaraner Club in September, it’s not really far away and I hope I can go (without Easy, that wouldn’t be easy with Easy)
This sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
As one advances the tests get so complicated. It is not easy to pass, a dog and handler need to really know their stuff!
I think it’s a lot to remember. Not just for the dogs but for the handlers too! LOL
Interesting!!! SO SO much goes into this, it’s fascinating to learn! Looking forward to tomorrows post as well!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
The Master tests are getting a lot harder, a lot of the time I can’t follow all the written part describing the marks, order, and all the extra’s. Go get them Freighter, I’m sure you can do it, just focus;)
With all that detail, you really have to respect those dogs and their handlers who work so hard to get it accomplished!
It must be nerve wracking not knowing what they might throw at you…and require a lot of training to make sure you’re prepared for anything!
You explained this very well. There is so much involved in running a test let alone the judges setting up the test and making it all come together.
“then has to run a blind before picking up marks as designated by the judges.”. Just to be clear, if there are 2 marks remaining, the judge can not designate the order to retrieve the marks…that is up to you as the handler. The judge can designate when you need to pick up the blind, for example, retrieve the first bird (it does not have to be the go bird..that is up to you as the handler), run the blind, the pickup the remaining 2 marks in the order you think is best.
If a bird is thrown when the retriever is returning with a mark, the thrown bird is a “bulldog diversion” and is not judged as a mark.
No argument. I was speaking about having to run a blind before any marks are retrieved.