Achievements
AKC HUNT TEST PROGRAM
The first AKC licensed Hunt Test was held in 1985. There were only 13 events in 1985, with a total of 681 entries. The first Master National Hunt Test was held in 1991 and had 94 entries. There were 700+ entries in the Master National Hunt Test alone in 2012 ! This shows the rapid growth and success of our sport in the last 25 years!
The AKC originally offered three titles – Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH) and Master Hunter (MH). The Master National Hunter (MNH) title was approved by the AKC in 2010. These titles are noted at the end of a dog’s registered name.
To read more about the AKC Hunt Test Program. please visit the AKC website.
Some quick and basic information on Hunt Test Requirements
JUNIOR Level Hunt Test
- Two single marks on land
- Two single marks on water
- Dog can be held gently by a flat buckle collar
- Dog must deliver the birds to hand
- Dog shall be steady but may be brought to the line on lead
To gain the JH Title, a dog must pass 4 Junior Level Hunt Tests
SENIOR Level Hunt Test
- One set of double land marks
- One set of double water marks
- One land blind not run between marks
- One water blind not run between marks
- One diversion shot
- A walk up
- Dog must honor a working dog
- Dog be brought to the line off lead and be steady
To gain the SH Title, a dog must pass 5 Senior Level Hunt Tests, unless it has a JH Title and then it must pass 4 Senior Level Hunt Tests
MASTER Level Hunt Test
- One set of land marks
- One set of water marks
- One set of land/water combo marks
- At least one set of marks must be triple marks
- One single blind
- One double blind
- A diversion shot
- A walk up
- Dog must honor a working dog
- Dog must be brought to the line off lead and steady
To gain the MH Title, a dog must pass 6 Master Level Hunt Tests, unless is has a SH title and then it must pass 5 Master Level Hunt Tests
MASTER NATIONAL Hunt Test
The Master National Hunt Test is designed to be the approximate equivalent of 2 weekend Master Level Hunt Tests.
To qualify to participate at the Master National Hunt Test, a dog must pass 6 Master Level Hunt Tests between August 1st and July 31st.
To gain the MNH Title, a dog must pass 3 Master National Hunt Tests.
JUNIOR Level Hunt Test
Our Hunt Test History as of 12/31/2019The AKC Board voted in September of 2013 to add the Master Hunter Lifetime Achievement Title. The title is designated by the letters MH followed by a number indicating the number of times the dog passed a Master Test. MH12 is the minimum level MH Lifetime Achievement Title. The change became effective January 1, 2014 and Master passes back to January 1, 2000 count toward the title. Passing the Master National counts as one pass toward the Lifetime Achievement Title.
Our Hunt Test History as of 12/31/2019
Total Hunt Test Titles: 42
Total Hunt Test Passes: 554
MH Lifetime Achievement Titles: 5
We ran our first AKC Hunt Test on March 2, 2001 with Jessica’s Chocolate Cait at the Chattanooga Retriever Club Hunt Test in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Special Hunt Test Weekends
5 Master Entries = 5 Master Ribbons
2 Junior Entries = 2 Junior Ribbons
Our home Club, Middle Tennessee Amateur Retriever Club, hosted its Fall Hunt Test, October 15 and 16, 2011. We entered 5 Master dogs; Cait and her two sons Jake and Maxx, Abby and her daughter Andi and all 5 passed. We also entered Spicy in the 2 Junior tests, and she passed both of those.
2019 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 1
SH Titles: 0
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 3
MH Passes: 13
SH Passes: 0
JH Passes: 0
2018 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 0
SH Titles: 1
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 3
MH Passes: 25
SH Passes: 9
JH Passes: 0
2017 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 0
SH Titles: 1
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 3
MH Passes: 25
SH Passes: 9
JH Passes: 0
2016 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 1
SH Titles: 1
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 2
MH Passes: 46
SH Passes: 0
JH Passes: 0
2015 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 1
SH Titles: 0
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 2
MH Passes: 24
SH Passes: 0
JH Passes: 1
2014 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 0
MH Titles: 1
SH Titles: 2
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 2
MH Passes: 69
SH Passes: 7
JH Passes: 0
2013 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 1
MH Titles: 0
SH Titles: 1
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 4
MH Passes: 48
SH Passes: 7
JH Passes: 0
2012 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 0
MH Titles: 3
SH Titles: 3
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 3
MH Passes: 43
SH Passes: 11
JH Passes: 0
2011 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 0
MH Titles: 0
SH Titles: 0
JH Titles: 2
MNH Passes: 1
MH Passes: 27
SH Passes: 2
JH Passes: 0
2010 Hunt Tests
MNH Titles: 0
MH Titles: 1
SH Titles: 0
JH Titles: 0
MNH Passes: 0
MH Passes: 30
SH Passes: 0
JH Passes: 0
