Utility Test
Steady at the Blind Test. Judge Fires. Handler Fires, Judge throws duck. Dog must remain steady until commanded to fetch; then retreive duck to hand.
Anna Artz Handles Belle of Cattail Storm in Utility Field Test at Rocky Mountain Spring 2016 Test.
Utility Field Test (UFT)
The Utility Field Test (UFT) is designed to test a hunting dog’s usefulness for the on-foot hunter in all phases of hunting both before and after the shot, in field, forest, & marsh, and on different species of game. In this respect, cooperation and control are essential ingredients of the overall performance. The entire test should, as nearly as possible, simulate actual hunting conditions.
Versatile hunting dogs will be eligible for the Utility Field Test from the age of 18 months onward.
In UFT, dogs are evaluated in 4 categories:
Water Work
- Tracking Duck in Water
- Click here for revised Tracking Duck in Water: 2023 Changes to Water Search
- Search Without a Duck
- Blind Retrieve of Duck from Heavy Reeds
- Steadiness At The Blind
- Retrieve of Marked Fall from Deep Water
Field Work
- Searching
- Pointing
- Steadiness To Wing and Shot
- Retrieve Of Shot Bird
- Whoa or Down At A Distance
- Tracking Live Pheasant And Retrieve
Woods Work
- Search In Woods
- Walk At Heel
- Retrieve of Dragged Game, 200 yards
- Finding and Bringing Dead Game Without Command-(Optional)
- Blood Track On Line, 400 Yards-(Optional)
Judged Throughout
- Nose And Use Of Nose
- Attitude Toward Working
- Cooperation
- Obedience
All dogs will be evaluated for faults of coat and conformation and all griffons will be given a score on both coat and conformation. Temperament will also be evaluated and noted on the score card.
