sticky question- how difficult are german tests

[Madonna]

Hello, friends of the DK! I have sticky question- how difficult are german tests like VGP, IKP and Kleemann if you compare with american tests? Greeting and thanks- madonna

[Rick]

My post have been removed from this forum as I no longer seeing it as functioning for the good of the Deutsch Kurzhaar

[recon1]

Hello Madonna

Last month I observed my first VGP and also picked up my first DK puppy "Ares" future VGP. He is a Joy. A few months ago I suddenly lost my just turned 7 year old GSP to cancer. We were working on our AKC MH title and already earned an AKC Utility obedience title, NAVHDA utility, and GSPCA retrieve dog excellent.

I noticed that many obedience exercises are a part of the VGP. I was surprised that birds were not shot and retrieved during the field portion of the test. However I must say that just watching the test, it did not look easy. That is a compliment to the excellent dogs I was watching and their trainers. It also was a very busy couple of days for the judges.

Very difficult, but looks rewarding.

Dick Aronica

[pixie bee]

Here is my assessment of the testing systems:
In DKV you have deby and solms which are puppy/young dog tests,they are limited by age and limited by number of times allowed to run.In derby the dog only needs to show field apptitude. This is easier then VHDF and NAVHDA Natural ability test,where there is swimming and a bird track.
The next level - solms -,only a few months after derby, is where you see the big difference. This is where the limitations mentioned earlier have an impact. In VHDA there is running with a bracemate,need to demonstrate honoring and steadiness and in NAVHDA there is steadiness- solms is a puppy/young dog test - solms is still a natural ability test - where the other systems call their similair test a finished dog test. The rabbit drag and amount of retrieves required of a puppy/young dog in solms, by far sets the testing systems apart.
The VC is the top test for NAVHDA. I believe this test to be more of a training test then a hunting ability test.It does not compare to VGP.
To my knowledge there is no test that can.
In America we also have AKC Hunt tests and field trials. These tests are strickly upland bird, Hunt tests are judged to a standard and field trials are a competition,most run from horseback.

Hope this was helpful,

Francine