DEUTSCH DRAHTHAAR UK
The home of the Deutsch Drahthaar in the UK » The Verbands Gebrauchsprufung (VGP)

The VGP is the third of the formal German hunt test assessments used to confirm the abilities of Drahthaars in the field. Like all such competitions, it is run to be natural as possible and follows a strict set of rules for judges and competitors laid down by the JGHV (the worldwide association for the hunt tests).

Whilst this test has no age limit, the majority of the dogs taking part had only completed their HZP a couple of months before and still between 18 months and two years old.

I joined the Hamburg Group for their VGP on 27-28th October 2006, so this description of the test is based on my observations of the dogs I saw on that day.

The first day saw all the groups meet in a huge wood for the Waldarbeit tests (Working in the woods).

Test 1 - Buschieren (Free hunting in wood)
For this test each dog is called up and run on its own with the 4 judges following at a discrete distance. The dog hunts through the wood in a normal quartering pattern into the wind. The handler is instructed to fire his shotgun into the air on two occasions and the dog is observed.

The judges watch carefully and look for the handler to use minimal noise and commands (no whistles) and to see that the dog works steadily, a reasonable distance from the handler, quartering through the dense wood but keeping in contact with handler of its own accord.

All the dogs passed this test, although one dog ranged too far from the handler and lost marks.

Test 2 - Schleppe mit Fuchs (Drag of Fox)
This is the first of the tests of the dogs ability to handle fox hunting. The first test consists of a dead fox being dragged, unseen to dog and handler, through the woods for at least 300m with a couple of sharp angles.

The handler is called up by the judge and shown the start point of the drag. He has 20m to set the dog on the track and may command ‘Apport’ once. No further commands to be given. As normal for drags, the dog must follow the track, pick up the fox on first making contact with the fox and return to the handler by a direct route.

The handler is not permitted to give the dog any assistance (other than to restart the dog two further times if necessary) and the dog must return with the fox and sit and present the fox, without commands from the handler. All the dogs I watched managed this test with ease, very impressive.

Test 3 - Bringen Fuchs uber Hindernis (Retrieve of Fox over obstacle)
Although this is a very simple test, it is designed to show the keenness and drive of the dog and is marked strictly. The handler places the dog in a down about 10 metres from an enclosure (sides about 1m - 1.5m high and walks forward and throws a dead fox into the pen watched by the dog, who should not move.

The handler then returns to the dog and is allowed a single command to send the dog to jump into the pen, retrieve the fox, jump back out with the fox and return, sit and present the fox to the handler. Every extra command generally loses 1 point and failure to complete the test is 0 points.

A couple of dogs needed encouragement and one failed the test, but again the best dogs did this with ease. One of the issues with the fox work is that they must weigh at least 3.5 kg which is hard work for a small bitch. Dropping of the fox whilst jumping is forgiven, providing the dog immediately and independantly picks up the fox again. That seems very sensible in the circumstances.

Test 4 - Haarwild Schleppe (Fur Drag - Rabbit/Hare)
This is an interesting variant of what these dogs would have done when qualifying for the previous grading, the HZP. Rather than in the open, in this test a rabbit or hare is dragged long drag through the woods for a distance of at least 300m, with two obtuse angles to try and throw the dog off the scent.

The handler is called up following the familiar pattern, shown the start point and has 20m to set the dog on the track and may command ‘Apport’ once. As usual no further commands to be given and the dog must follow the track, pick up the rabbit/hare on first making contact with the rabbit/hare and return to the handler by a direct route. The dog must sit and present the rabbit/hare and the handler cannot command the dog at all. This is a test of training and instinct, not obedience.

All the dogs performed this test, but a couple took unnecessary routes back to their handlers which cost them marks.

Test 5 - Stobern (Stationary Hunt)
This proved to be a really interesting test and one I went straight out on returning home to try with my dog, Kira (and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was no problem to her at all).

An large area of ground is allocated in the woods and each judge is positioned in a corner, several hundred metres apart. The handler is told to send the dog to hunt the area but must remain stationary. This is a real test of the dog’s hunt drive as the temptation would be to return to the handler after a short while.

What is expected is that the dog should hunt this area in a good pattern, making use of the wind and cover the whole area of its own initiative and drive.

Each judge, when he is satisfied the dog has covered his own area will call out, when all 4 judges have called out, the handler is told to recall the dog and the test ends.

There is an absolute maximum time of about 10 minutes for the dog to complete the test. Points are lost for each area not covered (roughly 1 point per area) or for a lack of drive in the dog.

Test 6 - Leinumfurigkeit (Co-operation on Lead)
By now it was about 1pm and the focus for our group moved to some of the exercises for assessing the dog’s co-operation and obedience to its handler. This first test appears to be a simple heelwork/obedience test, but there is more to it than that.

The dog is put on a lead and the handler puts the lead over his shoulder in the traditional manner. He then weaves through the woods, around trees and over fallen branches and has to deliberately pass close to, step over and go around branches and bushes until the judges are satisfied.

The dog is expected stay by his side throughout, not pull on the lead nor go the wrong side of the trees, with marks lost if the dog got tangled or distracted the handler. No commands were evident and all dogs completed the exercise well.

Test 7 (1.15 - 1.30) - Folgen frei bei Fuss und Ablegen (Walk freely to heel and down)
This is a much more complex heelwork/obedience test and very strictly scored. The dog is taken off the lead and walks alongside the handler on a path for about 75m. The handler stops twice during this walk and the dog should immediately sit without command.

The handler then commands the dog into a ‘down’ and continues to walk for another 75m, then turning and disappearing into the woods out of sight. He is gone for about 2 minutes during which time he fires two shots, at least 10 seconds apart. The dog must remain in its down, unconcerned, until the handler returns. The dog should no sit up or move and if it leaves its place it will fail the test.

When the handler returns he then places the dog on the lead and returns to the start point. All the dogs performed this test with ease, very impressive given the keenness of the dogs to hunt and retrieve.

At the end of this test all the dogs are checked, their mouths and teeth rechecked and their tattoo number on their ear matched against their birth registration number. We then waited for our allocated time for the final and most important phase of the tests in the wood, the blood tracks.

Test 8 (2.45 - 4.10) - Reimenarbeit (Tagfurte) (Blood track - laid same day)
This is the normal blood track option (worth less points than if the handler has opted for the overnight blood track, where it is laid the day before).

The dog is placed in a down near the start of a blood track (laid several hours earlier) whilst the judge explains the general direction of the start of the track. The handler then places the mandatory special track collar on the dog and long lead (usually 10 m or so).

The handler sets the dog off on the track and the dog is expected to use the full length of the lead and lead the handler through the woods. The other competitors and all the judges follow. If the dog stops and investigates areas where the game has left a wound bed then the handler indicates this. Eventually the dog must find the game (usually a deer) to be successful. The dog is left near the deer and handler and judges retreat and hid out of sight for a short while.

The dog should remain in a down near the game and not make any attempt to pick up or eat the game. This test was a joy to watch, with all dogs taking us through the twists and turns of the track for over 400m. Even better, one of our group had opted for the option to grade as a Totverweiser (worth extra points).

Test 8 with Totverweisen option (Blood Track with Bringsel)
This test follows the same pattern as the test above but the track ends at a second wound bed. The judges then instruct the handler to go to a point with the dog where they cannot see. One of the judges then lays a fresh blood track for 200m to a dead deer.

The handler is shown the start of the track and releases the dog with a special ‘bringsel’ on its collar (usually made of horn or leather). The dog follows the track alone and the handler remains. The dog, on locating the game flicks the bringsel into its mouth and returns to the handler. The handler then have previously explained to the judge how he will know that the dog has found the deer and having decided it has located the deer, follows the dog. The dog runs from handler to the deer and back, encouraging the handler to follow and eventually leads the handler to the deer and the exercise is complete. Again the dog is left at the game and observed to ensure it will not attempt to chew at or eat the game.

Another variant of this test exists where the dog remains with the deer on locating it and bays to call the handler, rather than reurning to the handler. This technique, known as Totverbellen, is very hard, the dog expected to call constantly for 10-20 minutes. None of the dogs on our day had applied for this variant.

At the end of every track, the handler is awarded a couple of small sprigs, usually of an oak tree - one for his hat and one for his dogs collar. It is so typical of the German pride for hunting and tradition that makes the event so special.

Test 9 - Verhalten auf dem Stand (Down in the shooting line)
The last test is again an obedience exercise, with all the dogs being tested at once for the first time, observed closely by their respective judges.

The dogs are lined out along a track in the woods, each in a down at the feet of their handler (observed by half the judges). They may be on the lead or off the lead, but for maximum marks the dog must be off the lead.

The remaining judges and any helpers form a beating line and walk through the woods past the line of dogs, shouting, beating and firing shotguns as if it is a traditional UK driven shoot. Each handler is also instructed to fire their shotgun at least twice. The dogs must remain in their down and not sit up (for top points they should not even raise their heads off the ground). Only one dog sat up, all the others were absolutely staunch.

That completed the Waldarbeit section and ended the first day.

The second day started with the water test section (Wasserarbeit) for our group and unfortunately eliminated one of our group of dogs from further competition, a great shame as it had gone so well on the first day.

Test 1 - Wasserarbeit (Working in water)
This series of tests were run consecutively with each dog, before moving on to the next dog. They are very similar to the water tests in the HZP except that there is no live duck search as the dogs are only permitted to do that test a limited number of times.

Each dog is called up in turn and has to perform a three part test in sequence. Failure on the second test is an elimination from any further competition, which one dog unfortunately failed as it would not enter water.

• Part 1 - Stobern (standing hunt) - This is a test of the dogs ability to search independently of the handler in dense reeds. The handler gives the dog a command to search and points in a general direction and the dog is expected to then hunt in that direction using the wind correctly and ranging a good distance from the handler 50-80m at least. The handler may walk along the bank only when told to do so by the judges. The judges are looking for the independent drive and instincts of the dog to range and hunt.
• Part 2 - Stobern mit Ente (standing retrieve) - This is a simple seen retrieve in water to test the keenness, gunshot soundness and carrying of a dead duck. With the dog off the lead, a duck is thrown by one of the judges 25m or so into the water, seen by the dog. The handler is then allowed a single ‘apport’ command to send the dog for the retrieve. As the dog swims out a shot is fired by the handler into the water, over the dog into the water ahead of the dog. The dog must not change direction, should ignore this shot and complete the retrieve with no further commands. The dog must return, sit and present the duck to the handler with no commands from the handler.
• Part 3 - Verlorensuche (blind retrieve) - A duck is placed at least 100m away from the dog in dense reeds across a stretch of water, unseen by the dog. The dog and handler are placed backwind to the duck (so that the dog cannot scent the duck) and the handler commands the dog to perform a blind search ‘verlorensuche apport’. The handler must remain in place unless told to move forward by the judges but may assist the dog by pointing and a few directional commands, the fewer the better. The dog must hunt for the duck persistently and should find the duck and return to the handler, sit and present the duck with no further commands allowed once the dog has found the duck. The dog may not always fail if it cannot find the duck, but points will be low.

The Germans have exacting standards for waterwork and place great emphasis on the abilities and willingness of the dogs to enter water and hunt through reed beds for lost game with minimal need for handler intervention. The good dogs are truely impressive by any standard.

Having completed the wood and water sections, it wa now time to test the dogs hunting abilities in the open on more traditional formas of game, mainly rabbits, hares and birds.

Test 2 - Feldarbeit (Working in field)
This section follows the same pattern as a UK field trial, except that the game is not actually shot. Each dog is called up in turn and given a large area of open ground to hunt using a variety of winds so that the judges can check the ability of the dog and handler to adapt their pattern and style.

The aim is to demonstrate that the dog can work wide of the handler (50m+ best), work at an appropriate pace (faster is preferred) and acknowledge scent. Once the dog locates game it is expected to point (’vorstehen’) and hold the point. The handler then walks forward encouraging the dog to gradually close on the game. When the game flushes there are two aims;

• Haarwild/Reywild (furred game/deer) - When the game flushes the handler is commanded to fire a shot into the air. The dog must remain stationary and it is preferred that the handler does not need to give a command to halt the dog. Points are scored as the dogs obedience for ’standing to flushed furred game’.
• Federwild (feathered game) - When the bird flies the handler is commanded to fire a shot into the air. The dog must remain stationary and the handler may NOT give a command to halt the dog (if he does then major points are lost). Points are scored as as the dogs obedience to ’standing to flushed feathered game’.

This exercise continues with all dogs rotating until the judges are satisfied they have seen enough to grade each dog on its hunting, steadiness on point, steadiness to shot, steadiness to flush and nose. All the dogs demonstrated their steadiness, with the best dog ranging far and wide with breathtaking pace. She found a pheasant on the edge of the field from 30m out and closed in and flushed on command.

Test 3 - Frei velorensuche (Free lost game search)
A duck or pheasant (handlers choice) is placed in a field, unseen by the dog, so that there is no foot scent between the start point for the dog and the game. The dog and handler are placed about 80-100m from the game, downwind, and the handler allowed to command the dog to seach for lost game ‘velorensuche’, but must not instruct the dog to retrieve ‘apport’.

The handler remains in place ideally but may follow the dog, who should independently search the area, locate the game, pick the game on first contact and return to the handler, sit and present the game with no commands from the handler. All the dogs completed this exercise with the best dog, simply hunting from the handler without the handler moving from the spot and no commands.

Test 4 - Federwild Schleppe (Drag of feathered game)
A duck or pheasant (handlers choice) is dragged across a field for 300m or so with 2 obtuse bends in the drag. The handler puts his dog in a down and walks forward to the point shown by the judge.

The handler returns to his dog and takes the dog forward to the point indicated by the judge. He is allowed 20m to track with the dog and then must release the dog. From there no further commands may be given. The dog should follow the drag, locate the game, pick the game on first contact, return directly to the handler and sit and present the game. All the dogs completed this exercise with ease, as expected.

Test 5 - Haarwild/Reywild Halt (Steadiness to furred game/deer)
This would normally be assessed on test 2 but in our case there was no furred game or deer present on the ground, so we went to a second ground where the dogs were hunted in turn as in test 2. This time the dogs located deer and on flushing the deer flush both remaining dogs in our group were steady to the flush.

At the end of a long two days, we saw a number of really good prizes, including full marks right the way through for one of the dogs in the group I observed, a solid liver bitch.

My greatful thanks to Henning Bergmann for organising my visit to his group and to the judges who allowed me to take part in their judging deliberations and understand the more subtle elements of the tests and the scoring.