NAVHDA

​The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds in North America; to conserve game by using well trained reliable hunting dogs on both land and water; and to aid in the prevention of cruelty to animals by discouraging nonselective and uncontrolled breeding, which produces unwanted and uncared for dogs.
In 1969, NAVHDA established a system of comprehensive tests that truly measure all aspects of work for the versatile hunting dog breeds. The trialing systems in use in North America before this time were established for specialists. The NAVHDA system provides for testing at various stages of maturity. Performance records are kept and made available on this website since they provide invaluable information for both breeder and buyer alike.

​NAVHDA chapters sponsor four kinds of tests:

​The Natural Ability Test (NA)

The Natural Ability Test is designed to evaluate the inherent natural abilities of young dogs and gain insight into their possible usefulness as versatile gun dogs. It rates seven important inherited abilities: nose, search, tracking, pointing, water, desire and cooperation. Dogs are eligible for a Natural Ability Test up until, and including, the day they reach 16 months of age. Dogs over 16 months may be run for evaluation only. Dogs over 16 months may only be run if space is available. No prize classification can be awarded the dog run for evaluation.

1) Field Phase – Each dog is hunted for a minimum of 20 minutes and is evaluated on:

• Use of Nose
• Search
• Pointing
• Desire
• Cooperation
• Gun Shyness

---

The NAVHDA Natural Ability Test is organized into four main segments:

​2) Tracking Phase – The dog is given an opportunity to track a flightless running pheasant or chukar.

3) Water Phase – The dog is tested for its willingness to swim.

4) Judgment of Physical Characteristics.

The following are judged throughout the Natural Ability Test:

• Use of Nose
• Desire to Work
• Cooperation
• Physical Attributes

No game is shot, and no retrieves are required during the Natural Ability Test.

---

​The NAVHDA Utility Preparatory Test (UPT)

The Utility Preparatory Test measures the dogs’ development midway through their training toward the Utility Test. No previous testing required.

The Utility Preparatory Test is divided into three main segments

1) Field Group – Each dog is hunted for a minimum of 25 minutes and is evaluated on:

• Search
• Pointing
• Steadiness on Game
• Retrieve of Shot Bird
• Retrieve of Dragged Game

2) Water Group

• Water Search
• Walking at Heel
• Steadiness by Blind
• Retrieve of a Duck

3) Judgment of Physical Characteristics
 
​The following are judged throughout the Utility Preparatory Test:

• Use of Nose
• Desire to Work
• Cooperation
• Obedience

---

​The NAVHDA Utility Test (UT)

The NAVHDA Utility Test evaluates trained dogs in water and field, before and after the shot, as finished versatile hunting companions as well as many other specific tasks. No previous testing required.
The Utility Test is divided into three main segments:
1) Field Group – Each dog is hunted for a minimum of 30 minutes and is evaluated on:

• Search
• Pointing
• Steadiness on Game
• Retrieve of Shot Bird
• Retrieve of Dragged Game

2) Water Group

• Search for a Duck
• Walking at Heel
• Remaining by Blind
• Steadiness by Blind
• Retrieve of a Duck

---

3) Judgment of Physical Characteristics.
The following are judged throughout the Utility Test:

• Use of Nose
• Desire to Work
• Cooperation
• Stamina
• Obedience
• Physical Attributes

---

​The NAVHDA Invitational Test

The Invitational Test is NAVHDA’s highest level of testing. Only those dogs that have achieved a Prize I in the Utility Test are eligible. This limits the entry to exceptional animals who have demonstrated a high level of training and tests their skills in the advanced work.The test is divided into two groups: Field and Water.

• Field work consists of a search, pointing, steadiness, backing and retrieving with the dogs being run in braces.
• Water work consists of a blind retrieve, double-marked retrieve and honoring a retrieve.

The following are judged throughout the Utility Test:

• Use of Nose
• Desire to Work
• Cooperation
• Obedience

---

​NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award:

The requirements for the NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award are as follows:

1. Breeder must be a paid member of NAVHDA. The breeder is defined as the primary owner of the dam at time of whelping.
2. Producing dam must be NAVHDA registered.
3. The litter and puppy registration must occur before the dogs are tested.
4. The puppies must be registered under the litter number issued at time of litter registration.
5. At least four pups from one litter must qualify (Prize I, II, III) with a minimum point total of 360 points (90 point average per dog) in NAVHDA Natural Ability test (not necessarily in the same calendar year). Dogs must have been tested on or before they reach 16 months of age.
6. To be eligible for the Natural Ability Breeder’s Award the dogs may not be judged as being temperament “sensitive”, temperament “shy” or noted as “aggressive” in their qualifying NAVHDA Natural Ability test.
7. A Natural Ability Breeder’s Award can be awarded for each successful litter. Breeders are not limited to one award per calendar year. No fixed duration of time shall exist for this accomplishment. It is the breeder’s responsibility to apply for the award by December 31 in order for the award to be presented at the Annual Meeting the following January, although application may be made at any time during the year. The Registrar will verify the information and a parchment certificate will be awarded. The breeder will also receive an application for ordering a “Breeder’s Award Plaque” at their cost. Any application made after that date will not be denied but will be awarded the following year.