rec.pets.dogs: Organizations: NAHRA FAQ
Ron Mandsager
URL: http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/~ACVA/nahra/nahrafaq.htm
Last-modified: 23 Oct 1995
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_________________________________________________________________
THE NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING RETRIEVER ASSOCIATION
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright, 1995, The North American Hunting Retriever Association,
Inc., all rights reserved, used with permission.
This FAQ is maintained by Ron Mandsager, DVM
(aer...@okway.okstate.edu)
The North American Hunting Retriever Association is a not-for-profit
corporation with headquarters at:
NAHRA
P.O. Box 1590
Stafford, VA 22555
1-800-421-4026
1-703-221-4911
Fax: 1-703-659-6586
_________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Introduction
NAHRA Facts
Eligible Breeds
Testing Categories
* Beginner
* Started
* Intermediate
* Senior
Points, Awards, Titles and Certificates
How to join NAHRA
_________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) was created
in 1983 to preserve the hunting instincts of our retriever breeds.
In general our breeds of hunting retrievers need improvement. Many
hunters have never seen good retriever work and do not know the
potential of their dogs. Hunters need a structure in which they can
learn to train and evaluate their dogs off season. They also need a
system of formal tests so that their dog's working accomplishments can
be demonstrated and recorded. A public record has been created to
provide a gene pool of working retrievers for hunters.
NAHRA helps clubs organize throughout North America with the purpose
of educating the public in the use of purebred hunting retrievers as
conservation animals and to promote the field testing of retrievers in
simulated hunting situations, for upland birds and waterfowl.
Dogs are tested in four categories based on ability, not age:
Beginner, Started, Intermediate, and Senior. Dogs do not compete
against one another for placements, but rather their performances are
judged individually against a "hunting standard". Dogs that pass the
standard at Licensed Hunting Retriever Field Tests and earn the
necessary points are awarded titles and certificates by NAHRA.
NAHRA publishes a quarterly magazine, the NAHRA NEWS, with
informative information on training and testing retrievers.
We must always remember that hunters go afield to hunt and a trained
dog is a valuable conservation tool. NAHRA's goal is to educate these
hunters and reward dogs that fulfill this need.
Please show your support by helping to insure working retrievers for
the generations to come.
JOIN NAHRA TODAY! YOU OWE IT TO YOUR DOG.
_________________________________________________________________
NAHRA Facts:
* The originator of the national hunting retriever concept
* Largest Hunting Retriever association in the world - dedicated
solely to the hunting retriever and conservation of game
* Provides clubs throughout the US and Canada
* Provides technical assistance to clubs and individuals
* Publishes a quarterly magazine with test results, articles on
training and testing retrievers
* Membership advertising available in quarterly publication
* Conducts retriever training clinics and seminars for judging NAHRA
Field Tests
* Provides a rule book with a structure to test and reward the
hunting retriever under simulated hunting conditions for both
upland birds and waterfowl
* Provides a list of certified judges
* Awards titles and certificates to purebred retrievers that meet
the standard
* Offers recognition certificates to dogs that have earned a show or
field championship and a NAHRA working title
* Conducts the national "Invitational Field Test" annually for the
top Senior dogs
* Conducts 8 Regional Field Tests for the top Started and
Intermediate dogs
_________________________________________________________________
Eligible Breeds*:
* Labrador Retrievers
* Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
* Golden Retrievers
* Curly-Coated Retrievers
* Flat-Coated Retrievers
* Irish Water Spaniels
* Boykin Spaniels
* American Water Spaniels
* English Springer Spaniels
* Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
* Poodles
Approved Registries*:
* American Kennel Club
* Canadian Kennel Club
* Boykin Spaniel Society
* American Field Dog Stud Book
*FIELD TEST NUMBERS
If a dog is unregistered, registered with an unapproved registry, or
is from an ineligible breed, they may participate in Approved or
Licensed NAHRA Hunting Retriever Field Tests following issuance of a
Field Test Number (FTN) by the NAHRA Board of Directors. Dogs with
FTNs are not eligible for NAHRA titles, but are eligible for the Brass
Band program and may participate in Regional Field Tests. Call NAHRA
at 1-800-421-4026 for more information on issuance of an FTN.
_________________________________________________________________
Beginner Tests
Beginner tests are informal tests offered by clubs to encourage
participation by individuals with young or inexperienced dogs. No
formal rules have been developed, nor are any titles awarded. Ribbons
or certificates of award may be offered to participants. The emphasis
is on the handler and dog having fun, and familiarizing both with the
hunt test environment.
_________________________________________________________________
Started Tests
A NAHRA Started Hunting Retriever Test consists of five single marks.
* Two single marks on land
* Two single marks on water
* A fifth mark on either land or water, at the discretion of the
judges
Maximum allowable distances:
* 75 yards on land
* 50 yards on water
A leash, line or slip cord may be used to assist in achieving
steadiness at the line. (However, no dog shall be permitted to make a
retrieve wearing a collar, leash , line or similar device.)
Delivery to hand is not required. The dog must only deliver the bird
to within a reasonable radius of the point of origin.
_________________________________________________________________
Intermediate Hunting Retriever Field Tests
An Intermediate Hunting Retriever Field Test consists of five parts:
* an upland hunting test
* a blind retrieve on water
* a double marked land retrieve
* a double marked water retrieve
* a trailing test
Maximum allowable distances:
* 100 yards on land marks
* 75 yards on water marks
* 50 yards for the water blind
Steadiness at the point of origin is required.
Delivery to hand is required.
The upland hunting test will not have a flushed bird.
The water blind is not incorporated with the marks - a different point
of origin must be used.
_________________________________________________________________
Senior Hunting Retriever Field Test
A Senior Hunting Retriever Field Test consists of six parts:
* an upland hunting test
* a blind retrieve on land
* a blind retrieve on water
* a triple marked land retrieve
* a triple marked water retrieve
* a trailing test
Maximum allowable distances:
* 100 yards on land marks
* 100 yards on water marks
* 100 yards for the blind retrieves
Steadiness at the point of origin is required.
Delivery to hand is required.
The upland hunting test will have a flushed bird; steadiness to shot
and fall is required.
At least one of the blind retrieves must be incorporated with one of
the required triple marked retrieves.
_________________________________________________________________
Points, Awards, Titles and Certificates
To attain a Qualifying Score in any testing category, a dog must:
* pass all tests in that category
* attain a final average score of not less than 80%
A dog earns points for each Qualifying Score:
* Started = 2.5 points
* Intermediate = 5 points
* Senior = 20 points
NAHRA offers four titles and certificates:
* "Started Retriever" (SR): awarded to a dog that earns 10 points (4
qualifications) in the Started testing category.
* "Working Retriever" (WR): awarded to a dog that earns 20 points (4
qualifications) in the Intermediate testing category.
* "Master Hunting Retriever" (MHR): awarded to a dog that either
earns 100 points (5 qualifications) in the Senior testing
category, or has already earned its WR and then earns 80 points (4
qualifications) in the Senior testing category.
* "Grand Master Hunting Retriever" (GMHR): awarded to a dog that
earns 300 points (15 qualifications) in the Senior testing
category.
* NAHRA titles are placed before the dog's name.
"Brass Band Program"
* If a dog qualifies in either 4 Started or 4 Intermediate tests
within a calendar year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) they will receive a
Started or Intermediate Brass Band Award. This qualifies that dog
to participate in the Regional Invitational Field Test Program for
that year at the appropriate testing level.
Richard A. Wolters/NAHRA Invitational Field Test:
* A dog qualifies for the RAW/NAHRA Inivtational Field Test either
by earning 100 Senior points within a calendar year or by earning
the MHR title.
_________________________________________________________________
Join NAHRA today!
Call 1-800-421-4026 and ask for a new membership packet. All
memberships include a NAHRA wallet identification card, a NAHRA decal,
and a one year subscription to the quarterly magazine, NAHRA NEWS.
Yearly membership rates:
* Individual: $30.00 per year ($37.00 for 1st class postage)
* Family: $35.00 per year ($42.00 for 1st class postage)
* Sponsor: $200.00 per year (New Sponsor members receive a Trebark.
jacket with an embroidered Sponsor patch)
* Club: $40.00 per year
* Add $10.00 per membership outside of North America
Please make check or money order payable to NAHRA and mail
application, consisting of your full name, address, and telephone
number, to:
NAHRA
PO Box 1590
Stafford, VA 22555
NAHRA also keeps a page on the web with more information, including
the complete rulebook and a listing of NAHRA affiliated retriever
clubs, at http://www.wsnet.com/~djw/rem/nahra.html
_________________________________________________________________