AKC Licensed Retriever Tests

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests:

• Airedale Terriers
• American Water Spaniels
• Barbet
• Boykin Spaniels
• Chesapeake Retrievers
• Curly-Coated Retrievers
• Drentsche Patrijshond (Drent)
• English Springer Spaniels (11/1/22)
• Flat-Coated Retrievers
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• German Wirehaired Pointer
• Golden Retrievers
• Irish Water Spaniels
• Labrador Retrievers
• Miniature Poodles
• Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
• Small Munsterlander
• Spinone Italiano
• Standard Poodles
• Vizsla
• Weimaraner
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
• Wirehaired Vizsla (6/1/22)

Visit the AKC Hunt Test Eligibility Page for Retrievers for updates or changes

You can be a handler in a hunt test simply by listing your name as the handler when you enter your dog to run.  Yes, professional dog trainers can run your dog for you or you can run your dog yourself.  It is a lot of fun to run your own dog and we can help you learn the ins and outs of how to run in a hunt test!  Join us on one of our training days to learn more.

In an AKC Hunt test you and your dog are competing against the test.  YOu are not competing against other dogs and handlers.  You either pass or fail the test. 

In a Field Trial you are competing against the other handlers and dogs and have the ability to win First place.   

According to the AKC, hunt test work as follows, “Judges score dogs on their natural ability to mark and remember a fall, on their hunting style, perseverance or courage. They are also scored on learned abilities such as steadiness, control, response and delivery.

This non-competitive environment creates a very warm and communal atmosphere where everyone encourages each other to succeed. Even though you have to remain quiet during the test, you should hear the round of applause afterward! It’s not to be missed.”

In order to earn a hunt test title you must pass the required number of tests as laid out by the AKC for each level of competition. Currently the number of passes to earn each title are as follows…

Junior – In order to earn a Junior Title, you will need to successfully pass four tests

Senior – In order to earn a Senior Title, you will need to successfully pass four tests, as long as you already have a Junior Title. If you haven’t completed your Junior Title, there is an additional pass needed.

Master – In order to earn a Master Title, you will need to successfully pass six tests, as long as you already have a Senior Title. If you haven’t completed your Senior Title, there is an additional pass needed.