Attending an AKC Hunt Test Seminar - Glossary of Terms By Sandi Dremel Photos taken by Sue Meyer, Provided by Ron & Bev Haag Return to the Attending an AKC Hunt Test Seminar Article

1. English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association is the AKC member parent club of the breed. For additional information, please visit their website at http://www.essfta.org/. 2. Wisconsin English Springer Spaniel Association - Wisconsin based English Springer Spaniel Club. For additional information, please visit their website at http://www.execpc.com/~wessa/. 3. "flushing" or "land" spaniel breeds - The breeds of spaniel hunting companions who find (hunt) and "flush" game (birds) from the field allowing the hunter to shoot the game. After the game has been shot, the dogs then retrieve the game to the hand of the hunter. These breeds include: American Water Spaniel, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel (American), Cocker Spaniel (English), English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, and Welsh Springer Spaniel. Note: Irish Water 'Spaniels' compete with retreivers in hunt tests and field trials and not with land spaniels. 5. WATKC, the West Allis Training Kennel Club, is a gundog training club with facilities that provide members with the opportunity to attend meetings, seminars and utilize the grounds for training and performance events. 9. Hunting Ability includes desire, courage, perseverance, independence and intelligence. Bird Finding Ability includes bird sense, response to wind and scenting conditions, and use of nose. Flushing Ability (boldness) Trained Abilities include range, pattern, gun response, response to commands. Retrieving Ability includes marking, enthusiasm and mouth. ADDITIONAL TERMS Back Blind: Hot Blind - a blind where the bird has been shot immediately prior to the retrieve. Cold Blind - a blind in which no shot is fired. Which will totally confuse you when you here the term "Blind Retrieve" used in the field or with water work - as it means the process in which a bird is hidden in water or brush, and the dog sent by the handler to retrieve it, without a shot being fired to allow the dog to 'mark' the bird. Flush/Flushing: The dog forcing the bird out of the brush or off the ground in someway to cause it to take flight. Gallery: The spectators who watch a Hunt Test, following behind the judges and handler and following the instruction of the marshal. Gunner: There are two gunners, with specified range responsibilities, who shoot the birds after they are flushed. Hard Mouth: When a dog bites down too tightly on the bird during a retrieve. Hup: A command issued to bring the dog to a stop. Marking: The following of the path of a bird, following it's being shot, that allows the dog to locate the bird for retrieval. Over: Command used with hand signals to move a dog in a specific direction. Pattern: The path the dog takes, using scent and hunting ability, to locate a bird. There are a variety of 'patterns' spaniels follow. Quartering: The dog moving back and forth, from side to side, in front of the gunner while 'hunting' for a hidden bird. Steady to Shot: When the dog is trained to the level of 'hupping' on command, immediately after flushing a bird and until a shot is fired or the dog is released by the handler.

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