Schuylkill Valley GSP Club
German Shorthaired Pointers are bred to hunt. However, modern farming practices, including the loss of many small farms in Pennsylvania, and urban sprawl have decreased the areas open for these dogs to practice their inbred skills. Some owners regularly hunt their dogs on preserves (see links page) while others utilize the PA Game Commission grounds to continue the tradition of an all-around hunting dog.
The American Kennel club instituted Pointing Dog Hunt Testing in 1986 following the success of the Retrieving Dog Hunt Test program. The first test was held in April 1986 by the Nebraska Brittany Club. Since that time, most pointing dog breed clubs have been holding hunt tests. The German Shorthaired Pointer, Russo’s Timberdoodle Jake was the first dog to receive a Junior Hunter title under this program.
These Hunt Tests were designed to simulate a normal day’s hunt and show the talents of the dog and handler. The dogs are measured against a set standard and do not compete against other dogs, as in Field Trials. There are three levels of achievement: Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter and Master Hunter. In 2011, AKC added Advanced to each of these titles, making a total of 6 levels of achievement. For details on what is required under each level and how dogs are judged, consult the Regulations for Hunting Test for Point Breeds and Advanced Hunt Test Titles.
Schuylkill Valley German Shorthaired Pointer Club holds two two-day AKC licensed Pointing Dog Hunt Tests annually. They are normally in April and October on Saturday and Sunday. The location for the tests is Freeland Kennel Club, outside Weatherly, a small town in Carbon County, PA.
See premiums, running orders, results for more information.
Upcoming Dates
- The 2024 Spring Hunt Tests have been approved by the AKC for April 13-14 at Freeland Kennel Club, Weatherly PA.
- The 2024 Fall Hunt Tests have been approved by the AKC for October 12-13 at Freeland Kennel Club, Weatherly PA.