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The Utility Test is one of the ultimate tests in the world of bird dogs. It is designed to test the finished hunting dog. In the field, the dog must, as a team with his handler, search for, find, point game and retrieve the shot birds to hand. He must be steady to wing, shot and fall. Like the UPT dog, he must track and retrieve a dead bird dragged 100-200 yards out of sight of his handler. At the retrieve of duck water sequence, the dog will heel through a serpentine course to a blind and then remain quietly by the blind while the handler leaves, goes out of sight and fires two blank shots. The handler then returns to the blind and the dog must remain steady through a sequence of shots (handler and another "hunter") culminating in a retrieve of a thrown duck from the water about 40 yards out. The search for a live duck across water with cover or vegetation must be independent and show high desire through any circumstances and environment to locate the duck. Though the dog does not have to find the duck, he must actively expand his search until he either finds the duck or is called back by the handler (about 10 minutes). During the entire Utility Test, the dog is scored on use of nose, desire, stamina, cooperation and obedience. |