By Don Paltani, AKC Senior Executive Field Representative Dennis Pierce started in German Shorthaired Pointers in 1993, having no knowledge of formal dog training. Dennis became involved in NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Assn), which has a strong training program for new handlers. Dennis ran his dogs through the NAVHDA programs including natural ability […]

First NAVHDA based club to host an AKC Hunt Test By Bonnie Hidalgo, Executive Field Representative A reciprocal agreement for dog registration between the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) was announced in July 2007. The reciprocal agreement makes it easier to register a dog with AKC if […]

By Lyle Johnson, AKC Executive Field Representative In Pointing Breed Field Trials, the gun dog stake is probably one of the most fun stakes for the judges to choose the winners. While the Open All-Age dog might be the prototypical "big running dog," the Gun Dog should be more in tune with the handler and […]

By: Zach Simpson Zach Simpson is a16-year-old from Wadsworth, IL, who knows exactly what he wants for his future. An All Honors or Advanced Placement student, this Junior is heavily involved in competitive shooting as well as his Hunting Test activities with his Vizsla, Otis, who Zach trained and handled to his Master Hunter title. […]

Hunting Tests for Pointing Breeds were developed so people would have an opportunity to demonstrate a dogs ability to perform under actual hunting conditions. Judges should evaluate a dog's natural abilities as well as those traits obtained through training. Hunting Tests are for people of all ages, male and female and for dogs at least […]

Luis Neves and Betinho do Choupal -- Our Road to Master Hunter -- July 30, 2012 I was born in Portugal and spent my youth hunting with my father and our dogs. It was there that I developed my life-long love of hunting. I moved to America when I was 18 years old. I continued […]

Starting last year at the Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club's Hunt Test, Kaitlyn has scored a "leg" at almost every Hunt Test, finishing Sage's JH title in Delaware this past January. With guidance from her father, Carl Walsh, and also Mal Decker, Eastern Director of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Kaitlyn has impressed […]

Growing Up In A GSP Family Ten-year-old Brandon Novoa, a 5th grader at Boston Valley Elementary in Boston, NY, has reason to feel proud: He recently put a Junior Hunter title on one of his parents' German Shorthaired Pointers. Active in school extracurricular activities such as the school newspaper, orchestra (playing violin), chorus and various […]

First Dog to Earn MHA -- 'Battue' On March 17th, 2012 Battue completed the final leg of his MHA, Master Hunter Advanced, hunting title at the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Northern Sacramento Valley test in Rio Vista, CA to become the first pointing dog to accomplish this title. Battue is a five-year-old Vizsla bred […]

  In honor of start of Movember, we're putting wags and whiskers centerstage. Here are six stately dog breeds that boast some seriously awesome beards.   Airedale Terrier: Look at at those muttonchops! No wonder he's called the "King of Terriers."    Miniature Schnauzer: Who can resist the bushy beard (and, seriously, the EYEBROWS) on […]