ࡱ > } | )` p bjbj { { p , j ( ( ( ( ( L N N N N N N $ 7 h z r O @ r ( ( ' . ( ( L L 8 ( . : P @ 0 X , 0 r r ' z $ Korthals Griffon Association Dedicated to the Global Promotion and Protection of the true Korthals Griffon GRIFFON GROOMING SEMINAR With Carol Ptak MAY 13th 2017 Please join the KGA for a Natural Ability Training day with Carol Ptak. The day is designed to prepare the handler and dog for a North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) Natural Ability (NA) and German Versatile Hunting Dog Association (JGHV) Spring Breeding test (VJP) both of which form the basis of the scheduled Korthals Griffon Association NA test to be offered in the Spring of 2018. NAVHDA explains: The Natural Ability Test is designed to evaluate young dogs on their inherent natural abilities with a view to gaining an insight into their possible future value as versatile gun dogs always keeping in mind that the versatile dog was not developed to replace or improve upon any other hunting breed. Rather, it was developed to provide the on-foot hunter who, for one reason or another, chooses not to maintain a kennel of specialists, with a dog that will serve as a dependable hunting companion in the pursuit of a variety of game in a variety of environments. The natural, inherited abilities of a hunting dog usually manifest themselves at an early age, and it is desirable to take advantage of this fact by testing dogs while they are still young. By so doing, the owner or trainer gets an impartial evaluation of the dogs strengths and weaknesses and thus is better able to map out a future training program for the animal. 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 whelping 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, overtraining 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 really intensive training without possible suppression of desirable characteristics. Here are the aspects of each phase of testing: Field Phase: The dog is hunted in cover where the presence of game has been assured by the releasing of game birds. Each dog is hunted for a minimum of 20 minutes and is scored or evaluated on: Use of Nose Search Pointing Desire Cooperation Gun Shyness Tracking Phase: The dog is given an opportunity to track a flightless running Pheasant, partridge or quail Each dog is judged on the following items: Use of Nose Tracking Desire to Work Cooperation Water Phase: The dog is tested for its willingness to swim. The following items are judged during the water test: Water Entry Desire to Work Cooperation Judgment of Physical Characteristics: The dogs physical attributes are evaluated in the context of how they will help or hinder the dog in the hunting environment. X ] m n q ƴucQ?u/ h`D' B*CJ OJ QJ aJ ph "h`D' 5B*CJ OJ QJ aJ ph "hC 5B*CJ OJ QJ aJ ph "hxe 5B*CJ OJ QJ aJ ph "hb 5B*CJ OJ QJ aJ ph hb 56CJ OJ QJ aJ h 56CJ OJ QJ aJ hJ 56CJ OJ QJ aJ "hy h 56CJ OJ QJ aJ h OJ QJ "h