Hunting

Because the Spinone is a hunting breed, we felt it was important to give Tullia the opportunity to work in the field. For us (nonhunters), the best way to do this was by joining a local NAVHDA chapter (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) and also entering AKC hunt tests to achieve a Junior Hunter title. We have taken Tullia hunting to get her on wild birds, and we hope to do more of this with her... she has wonderful drive and instinct, and she is never happier than when she is hunting. A Spinone working in the field is a beautiful thing to see.

Earning the Junior Hunter title is a fun challenge that can be a great way to get your dog in the field without actually hunting. The people involved in the tests are very encouraging and helpful, and can be an excellent resource if you want to get more experience and training in the field. Joining a local hunting breed club can also be very useful and fun. You can find upcoming hunt tests in your area by looking at the Hunting Tests section of the AKC website.
Another very helpful hunt training organization is NAVHDA. You can find a local chapter by looking at the NAVHDA website and using the Chapter Locator Map. NAVHDA is geared toward training the dog to help put game on the table and providing beginners with help and resources. Chapters hold training days and tests to score dogs at different levels and assess where additional training is needed in pointing and retrieving, as well as tracking. It's a lot of fun, especially for the dogs!
We were happy to make good friends in our hunt test adventures. Thanks to these wonderful people who are avid and responsible hunters, we were able to get some experience in the field. The photos at right and below were taken on a chukar hunt in southwest Oregon, in October of 2005.
Winning a leg toward the JH (Junior Hunter) title. Happy Faces!
Tullia's hunting buddies: Midge the GSP, Breeze the GWP, and John the human who brings down birds from the sky for his beloved dogs.