--- title: Your First Hunt Test: How to Enter | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/guides/first-hunt-test/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [Guides](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/) - Your first hunt test: entering and what to bring # How do I enter my first retriever hunt test? Start at the Junior Hunter level with an AKC-registered dog that is at least six months old. Find a test on AKC Event Search, read the host club's premium list, and enter before the closing date. Key points - The dog must be AKC registered, an eligible breed, and at least six months old - Find tests and premium lists on AKC Event Search - Junior tests use single marked retrieves; handlers may lightly restrain the dog at the line - Watch a test first and find a mentor A hunt test is a friendly way to find out how your retriever stacks up against a standard, with no ranking against other dogs. Beginners often feel lost the first day. Here is how entering works and what to expect. ## What a hunt test is The AKC describes hunting tests as events that evaluate a retriever's hunting abilities. Dogs are not ranked against each other. Each is judged on its own merit, and there are three title levels: Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter and Master Hunter. Ducks Unlimited says dogs are judged on a pass or fail basis against a standard. The Junior test uses single marked retrieves on land and water. Dogs may be lightly restrained at the line. Senior and Master add more demanding retrieves and require honoring. The [Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/) page has more detail. ## Who can enter The AKC says beginners should start at the Junior level. The dog must be of an eligible breed, AKC registered, and at least six months old. If your dog is not registered yet, sort that out before you plan. ## How to enter, step by step The AKC lists these steps: Open AKC Event Search and choose your state, then Performance Events, then Hunt Tests, then Retrievers. Enter a date range. Open the host club's premium list. It gives the location, date, times, judges and entry information. Submit your entry and fee per dog before the closing deadline. Watch the club's updates for changes, and ask the club if you have a question. ## What judges score The AKC says judges score natural abilities such as marking, remembering a fall, hunting style, perseverance and courage. They also score learned skills such as steadiness, control, response and delivery. Ducks Unlimited explains the scoring: judges give each dog a score from 1 to 10 in categories such as marking, style, perseverance and trainability. To pass, no score can be lower than 5, and the average has to be at least 7. ## What to bring The AKC leaves the packing list to the host club, so read the premium list and ask the club what is allowed. A common set for any outdoor test day: - Your dog's AKC registration information and the entry confirmation - A lead, a whistle and any equipment the club allows - Water for your dog and yourself, and a towel - Weather gear and footwear you can walk in - A chair, a cooler and sun or rain protection ## Before the day The experienced handler quoted by Ducks Unlimited advises attending several events first to learn the format, and finding a mentor, since going alone is a painful way to learn. The AKC also recommends reading the rules and attending a Hunting Test Seminar. Richard runs dogs and assists clients at local weekend AKC retriever hunt tests. If you want help getting a dog ready, see the [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/), [lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) and the [hunt test day guide](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/test-day-guide/). For finding events near you, see the [California hunt test calendar](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/california-calendar/). ### Sources (4) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/](https://www.akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/history/](https://www.akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/history/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/](https://www.akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Ducks Unlimited : [ducks.org/hunting/retriever-training/retrievers-a-beginners-guide-to-hunt-tests](https://www.ducks.org/hunting/retriever-training/retrievers-a-beginners-guide-to-hunt-tests) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Keep reading - [AKC Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/) - [Hunt test day: what to expect and bring](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/test-day-guide/) - [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) - [California hunt test calendar](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/california-calendar/) - [AKC vs HRC hunt tests](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-vs-hrc/) ## Questions owners ask [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Do I need a purebred dog? The dog must be AKC registered and of an eligible breed. Check the AKC eligible breeds list for your dog. ### What is the entry cost? Entry requires a fee per dog; the amount is set by each host club and listed in the premium list. ### Can I get help from the AKC? The AKC Performance Events Department lists a phone number and email on its hunt test page. Your host club can answer test-day questions. ### How do I know my dog is ready? Watch a test, compare the Junior requirements to what your dog does, and ask a trainer to look at your dog.