About our Hunt Test - Junior Hunter Pass!!!

From Martin Sondey, Nov 9

Today was a GREAT day for 5-year-old Vivian. She earned her first Junior Hunter pass and I have to brag for her because she did it in such style (plus, she cannot read or write).

Before I say anything else, all my non-bird dog friends need to realize that a Pointer is not the only dog which will "point" birds - there are several breeds which point birds and an English Setter is one of those breeds. A Hunt Test identifies the propensity for an individual dog to instinctively hunt, find, and point a bird. Vivian is an English Setter.

As we waited our turn and watched the activities in the field, I noticed that there were not a lot of gunshots. The Chair of the Hunt Test came by to introduce himself and brought up the fact that not many birds had been pointed so far – as if to say that I should not be disappointed if Vivi should not find a bird. The Viv had other plans.

Vivian was in the final morning brace and did not have a bracemate, so a substitute was found to run with her. That also meant that the two judges plus a judge trainee paid no attention to the substitute while following us around the entire time.

Upon release, Vivi proceeded to course every inch of the bird field, bounding and running and putting on a show of physical prowess. The substitute was chased and called constantly by his handler, while I only called for Viv to stay out of the woods and stay in front of me – which she responded to obediently (mostly).

Then she came upon the dead tree. As she plowed through the grass around it she flushed a bird, hardly qualifying as a point. But then she circled the tree a couple more times and then stopped in a stone cold point. I have to say, I was initially overwhelmed by her point which rivaled any photo or painting - it was majestic. As the judging trio arrived I heard a voice behind me shout in absolute awe: “WHAT A POINT”. I kicked to find the bird, but with no luck. Then, another voice behind me said: “She might just be pointing the smell of the bird she flushed”. I kept kicking for another 10 seconds or so and found that there was indeed another bird. The bird flew, I fired my gun, and The Viv took off for a victory lap. I turned and looked at the judges and echoed the words I had heard and never forgot from renowned dog trainer, hunter, and AKC judge Dave Branik some twelve years earlier when he was judging my boy, Truman: “I trust my dog”.

Vivian was bred by Laurie Engel & Rose Miller out of Ch. Aerden’s Red Hot Mama (Cinnamon), and by Ch Editions House Of Blues (Ike) who was owned by Conny Helms & Karen Corey. Vivi is smart, faithful, dedicated, affable, and a love bug. She is the Empress-in-Waiting to Begonia. She is also big sister to Emmaline – who claims credit as her personal trainer.

And me? Well, I'm just an old Coot, grateful to be here, trying to keep up with young bird dogs, trotting around an open field on a magnificent and cool North Carolina day in November. To God be the Glory!!!