Hunting Working AiredalesHunting Tests and Titles
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The inauguration of Airedale Terrier Club of America's hunting tests in
1994 brings a significant opportunity for the breed.
During the years of development of workshops and prototype tests, the H/W
Committee faced the crucial question: Does today's Airedale have the
instincts and abilities, the gameness and grit, for which the breed was
originally bred?
Now owners who have been training their Airedales can answer that question
in three separate tests offered on junior, senior, and master levels.
In the Upland Bird test, Airedales are required to find and flush two
planted birds and do one water retrieve. Qualifying dogs receive the
Junior Hunter - Flushing (JHF) certificate. Greater proficiency must be
demonstrated by Airedales competing for the Senior Hunter - Flushing (SHF)
and Master Hunter - Flushing (MHF) titles.
In the Retrieving Test, a dog must retrieve two chukars on land and two
ducks on water. Qualifiers receive the Junior Hunter - Retriever (JHR)
certificate. Senior Hunter - Retriever (SHR) and Master Hunter - Retriever
(MHR) certificates are offered for advanced performances.
In the Fur Test, a dog must follow a pre-laid track of raccoon scent on an
indirect route through fields to a tree holding a caged raccoon. The dog
must then bark or bay to announce the find. First-time qualifiers receive
the Junior Hunter - fur (JHFur) title. More difficult tracks await dogs
entered in the Senior Hunter - Fur (SHFur) and Master Hunter - Fur (MHFur)
competitions.
A dog who qualifies in all three basic tests receives the title Junior
Hunter - Versatile (JHV). SHV and MHV titles are further possibilities.
Dogs successful in this broad performance range prove that the Airedale can
indeed do it all.
Anyone can claim that he has the best hunting dog," Steve says, "but now we have a standard of competition to measure a dog's ability. If your dog qualifies, you know he has performed with a level of ability that's universal."
Hunting Test Rules 2008
