Hunt Test
Hunt tests, also called field tests, are conducted under the auspices of the North American Hunting Retriever Association, Inc. (NAHRA). The objective of the test is to recover the bird as quickly and efficiently as possible, to create the least amount of disturbance in the marsh and upland, and to give the hunter the maximum amount of time to actually take game. NAHRA has published general procedures and regulations governing the tests.
There are four test levels. They are Started Hunting Retriever, Hunting Retriever, Intermediate Hunting Retriever, and Senior. Dogs do not compete against one another for placements, but rather their performances are judged individually against a “standard.” A formal field test awards points towards the titles of Master Hunting Retriever (MHR), Working Retriever (WR), and Started Hunting Retriever (SHR). The following chart shows hunt test comparisons between names of titles, test levels and qualifying scores for AKC, CKC, HRC, and NAHRA.
