Gun fire

[Runningwild]

At the natural ability when do they fire the gun to test for gun shyness. At the beginning, end, or while they chase the bird, in field search portion. How many shots and what's the timing of the shots and the gauge of the shotgun. Also how far was the shot from them was it a person in field with them or someone hiding behind a tree

[jlw034]

At my test, the dogs were in the first couple minutes of the field search when the two shots were fired.

[Misskiwi67]

Usually early in the search. If your dog has been hunted, it usually amps them up to improve their search in a field typically low in game scent.

[gwp4me2]

12 ga poppers. They can be loud. The judge will watch the pup and try to time the shots while the pup is out searching and not too close. If you know the pup has noise issues the test is the least of your worries. If you havent already introduced the gun the test is the wrong time.

[JASmith]

In our chapter it was a gunner around 25-50 yards behind the judges/handler. The Judge would put his arm in the air to signal the gunner to be ready to fire, and when he brought his arm down gunner fires the poppers (2) in another direction from the hunting party.

[gwp4me2]

Right JA. I didnt mean to imply that the judge fired the shots. Designated gunner and a mi ute or two between shots.

[JASmith]

Right JA. I didnt mean to imply that the judge fired the shots. Designated gunner and a mi ute or two between shots.

No problem! I wasn't trying to call you out or anything, just describing my recollection of what I remember from helping with NA testing this fall.

From the discussions preparing for the test, how it is done precisely may vary by chapter, location, or judge as well. There are quite a few variables that go into the test.