Tuvuk's First Hunt Test

CONGRATS TO TUVUK AND TIG

Well today was the big day for Tuvuk.  To start we had to fly from Nome to Fairbanks on Thursday night. Once we arrived we had all day Friday to do some last minute work before the test on Saturday.  I was also going to be in charge of running Tig which is Aliy Zirkle's labrador retriever.  I will briefly explain the types of test that we were running and what had to be achieved to receive a pass.  I will first start with Tuvuk's test.

This test is called a UKC Started Hunt test.  It involves having to retrieve 2 single birds on dry land and 2 single birds in the water. I will post videos when I have a little more time to edit them.  He had to pass both segments today to get his first full pass.  To get his started title he will have to achieve 4 passes.  This weekend he has a chance of achieving 2 of these.  

Tig is in what is called the UKC Seasoned Hunt Test.  Tig is about 2.5 years old.  This involves again a dry land test and a water test.  On the land she has to mark and retreive a double mark, a blind, and a walk up bird.  There are also many small metrics that I will not go into right now that can fail a dog in this type of test.  I know that this may be a little foreign terminology for you but I will also try and post a video of Tig's test.  For the Seasoned Test you have to pass 4 times before you receive the Seasoned Title.  Tig now has 2 passes and will be going for her 3rd tomorrow.  I have had the privelage of helping in the early stages of her training on mainly obedience.  Aliy has done a great job with her since starting these test.  We have also shipped Tig out to Nome for several hunts with me in the past 2 years. She is a great dog and I love getting the chance to work her in a competition.  

Just so you know Tuvuk is on the lefthand side of the picture and Tig is on the right.