A Great Day for The Viv!

Posted March 2, 2025 by Martin Sondey -

Today was a GREAT day for Vivian. We went to an AKC Hunt Test in Chester, SC and she had a FABULOUS time. She earned her 2nd Junior Hunter pass (she needs 4 passes to earn her Junior Hunter title).

We were not 30 seconds into the test when The Viv flushed a Quail. About 2 minutes later she went into a beautiful point, and when I flushed the bird, she took off in pursuit towards the tree line.

For all of my non-bird dog friends: If you’ve never seen a bird dog go into a point, let me tell you now it is one of the more magnificent moments in life. The dog is hunting the bird by smelling the scent on the breeze. They may go in several different directions seemingly at once in what seems like a frantic search, or they might systematically course an area back and forth. And then…they stop and freeze instantly. They know exactly where the bird is and they point it. It takes your breath away no matter how many times you witness it.

At the tree line – about 75 yards away - she slammed into another point. I took off towards her while I heard the judge say: “I’ve got her, she looks good.” It took me at least a minute or more to get to Vivi, and SHE HELD THAT POINT THE ENTIRE TIME. I was one proud Dad when I flushed that Quail (a minute can be a long, long time).

She was not finished.

She circled around in the field and came back to a different area near the tree line and went into another point – and once again held it until I got there. The Quail was about 3 feet away in clear view and Vivian just held the point until I flushed it. Why I didn’t get a photo I’ll never know.

We finished up as I directed Vivi back to the primary field. She didn’t want to go – she wanted to get back to the tree line because she knew that was easy pickings. But, she listened to me and stayed close and for that I am so proud (in all reality, she was tired). The judge was complimentary and said her points were beautiful. The gallery adored her and heaped praise on her. The bird dog community is a great bunch of guys, gals, and kids and it’s fun being a part of it (I swear there was a boy who couldn't have been more than 9 years old handling a German Shorthaired Pointer at least the same size as he was - it was highly entertaining).