Accidentally entered a spaniel hunt test, but found a new game!

Just as the title says. I knew it was a spaniel club, but did not realize the hunt would be different. It honestly was not very clear in the premium. I show up and they are putting out these flag things and guys are pulling out their over-unders, then I realized I screwed up. I wasn't the only one to make this mistake. There was a lab guy there who thought the same thing.

I went to the judges before the event started to scratch and was encouraged to "trust my dog". But neither her or I knew anything about upland hunting. Turns out she knew just fine. My golden ended up working amazingly. Naturally quartering and flushing birds. Even had a long long chase and retrieve into thick woods after an injured bird. I was beyond proud. The judge turned to me and said "she's kicking my springer's butt right now".

I was hoping to finish up her JH retrieving title, but now I have two passes towards a JH upland title that I have to finish. Now I am also really wanting to go on an upland hunt with her soon. I definitely see the fun that you flushing and pointing guys have.

Welcome to the darkside.
Pretty addicting game.

Sounds like you've got a great dog. Just so I'm clear, you've never upland hunted with your pup but she instinctively knew, with just migratory bird training, how to quarter and flush? That's amazing. I don't know the first thing about upland hunting or dog training, but to me, that sounds incredible. Congrats.

Right, she has been through intense retriever training, but nothing upland. She runs blind retrieves really well. So we got to the line and I said "dead bird", then handled her back and forth between gunners as we walked through the field. She got it faster than I expected then just started searching for birds. Probably not perfect quartering, but hunting well and I would call her back if she got too out of range. Then she flushed the birds and delivered to hand. So now I know to trust her and in the end the dogs have fun no matter what you are doing.

They shoot the birds for akc jh spaniel test?

Yes, live birds planted in a field. Judges and handler stand in between two shooters. Walk down the field as the dog works. If a shot is blocked by dog or people then they will throw a dead bird, shoot, and have dog retrieve.

Junior hunter is 2 birds, delivered to area, does not need to be steady. They used pigeons.

Senior and up were pheasants. Basically the same but heavier cover and has to be steady after shot and deliver to hand.

That's cool.
Makes sense for a flushing test. Weird to me though that in an upland jh test you don't actually shoot any birds. All they have to do is point. Should have to retrieve to the area like the flusher tests.

Awesome. Good for you and the dog.

great job!!!!!!! I went to Nebraska this yr duck hunting and was talked into some afternoon pheasant hunts my 1 1/2 lab did really good I mean really good she out hunted the guides dogs that were in training.