Prepare for Test Day
Be Prepared
"Owners should not fall into the trap of telling themselves that because the Natural Ability Test emphasizes inherited abilities, preparation of the dog is not necessary because it will stand or fall on “doing what comes naturally.” Such a mistake would be grossly unfair to the dog. It would indeed be a most unusual specimen that could make the transition from elping box to an acceptable performance in the Natural Ability Test without proper exposure. As a very minimum, it is desirable that the dog should already have been exposed to water and to game in the field. Conversely, over-training a dog with the mistaken idea that the Judges are looking for a finished versatile hunting dog in this test is also an injustice to the dog. Remember we are dealing with young dogs in a formative stage and, by and large, they are not yet equipped to handle the pressures of intensive training without possible suppression of desirable characteristics."
If you are new to NAVHDA and/or possibly this is your first test, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the AIMS Programs Test Rules booklet, which is available in the NAVHDA International website: AIMS & Rules Test Booklet
Plan Ahead
You never know what the weather will exactly be until test day, so plan to come prepared for anything! We always plan to keep the day moving as quickly as possible, however there are several things you can do to prevent suffering on test day. We suggest bringing:
- PLENTY of water for both you and your dog
- a battery-powered fan (and backup batteries) to keep air flowing on your dog while crated
- an EZ up (or canopy) to shade your vehicle, or keep you dry from rain
- a chair
- towel/s to dry your dog
- rain jacket
- appropriate footwear and muck boots (for water portion)...and extra (dry) socks!