Summary: Test of the DKV are designed to assess the natural, physical and mental attributes of the versatile hunting Deutsch Kurzhaar at various stages of development in order to determine the outcome of past breeding and the dog's potential benefit for future breeding purposes. The exact purpose of each DKV test is described below and each of the descriptions was taken directly from the “General Regulations of the Deutsch Kurzhaar Verband”. (“General Regulation of the DKV”)
Derby Test : Equivalent JGHV Test: VJP
The Derby Test is a breed test along with a natural ability test. It is used to determine the puppy’s inclination in the most important field categories and to assess the breeding values of the puppy’s parents. This test serves its purpose best when on one hand the training and preparation of the puppy are sufficiently advanced to show his natural abilities, but on the other hand, the handlers influence does not overly cover or mask the puppy’s natural ability. From past experience, testing on the spring field best shows the dogs natural abilities regarding the acuity of nose, finding ability, a systematic scent-oriented and keen search, as well as pointing and relocation of feathered game.
The Derby training will be most successful when the puppy’s passion for rabbits and their tracks has been sufficiently restrained during winter and early spring so that its attention can be introduced to game birds when they start pairing in spring before nesting. Therefore, Derby does not require work on the rabbits track. However, an occasionally-shown manner of hunting and occasional very good work on rabbit track will be noted. Requirements for a Derby are large fields, containing a sufficient number of game birds. The parents' breeding values are easier to recognize by testing as many littermates as possible. Clubs and judges must be equally concerned with setting high, but reasonable, standards for th puppy’s work – in order to ensure the continued significance of the Derby prizes, ensure the Derby test will remain a valuable breeding instrument.
Solms Test : Equivalent JGHV Test: HZP
The Solms Test is a breeding test, an addition to and expansion of the spring Derby test. The purpose of the test, similar to the Derby, is to establish the level of the dog’s natural abilities in regards to suitability and future use in versatile hunting and breeding, as well as determination of the parents' breeding value. Particular attention is paid to mental stability. The young dog's training for practical use in hunting in field and water must be essentially completed by this time. The judges must be particularly careful to determine natural abilities that often are masked by the completed training.
Required for proper execution of the test are: large fields, containing a sufficient number of game birds and rabbits, and containing sufficiently large water area with ample reed growth. The recognition of the parents breeding value and that of the contesting dog is facilitated by testing as man littermates as possible.
AZP Test
Any dog that was prevented from participating in a Solms Test because of sickness, heat or other reasons can have an opportunity to be tested in the Older Dog Breeding Test (AZP) to prove their hunting usefulness and suitability for a breeding. Also, the Older Dog Breeding Test (AZP) serves a maturity test for those dogs that have been presented at previous tests. Especially important is the determination of the dog and its parents' breeding value. The test regulations are the same for the Solms. Consideration is given to the dog's age, particularly in obedience. The dogs should not be over 6 years old.
VGP Test: JGHV Utility test
The Verbands-Gebrauchs-Prüfung (VGP) is the JGHV Utility test. This two-day test is a comprehensive evaluation of the performance and capabilities of a fully trained versatile hunting dog. Rubrics include work in the field, water and woods. In addition obedience and cooperation are of utmost importance. Blood tracking is also an important part of this test. Dogs successfully completing this test are highly revered by hunters that hunt with versatile hunting breeds. VCDKK Kurzhaar Handlers are encouraged to make their dog’s successful completion of the VGP a personal goal. It should be noted that all JGHV judges must have trained and handled a dog thru successful completion of the VGP in order to become a Verbandsrichter (VR) (Association Judge).
IKP: INTERNATIONALE KURZHAAR PRUEFUNG
(INTERNATIONAL KURZHAAR TEST)
The DEUTSCH KURZHAAR VERBAND (DKV) conducts an annual International Field and Water test for the purpose of giving the domestic and foreign friends of the DEUTSCH KURZHAAR the opportunity to see for themselves the results of the breeding standards and performance based breeding system of the DKV. The test is also meant to encourage breeders to higher breeding performance and initiate and foster an understanding of fine field and water work amongst hunter and handlers. Such tests can only fulfill their task.
If they require a high standard. Therefore only thoroughly trained dogs that have a history of successfully passing previous tests and have sufficient hunting experience should be entered. As a rule the IKP test are held each year in Germany.
Additional Important Information You Should Know
It should be noted that some JGHV test though equivalent in purpose, may not require that identical tasks be performed by the dog. For example in a Solms Test a dog is required to follow a 400 meter rabbit drag and in the equivalent HZP a dog is only required to follow a 300 meter rabbit drag. Those planning to participate in DKV tests or equivalent JGHV tests should take care to consult the proper test rule book for the test for which they plan to participate.
For more specific information regarding the DKV tests described above refer to the “General Regulations of the Deutsch Kurzhaar Verband” located in the Members Section of this website. For more specific information regarding equivalent Jagdgebrauchshundverband e.V. (JGHV) test requirements consult the JGHV Regulations for Association Breed Tests (VZPO). Information regarding the purchase of either manual is available in the Member section.
Zuchtschau (Breed Show)
DKV breeding regulations specify that a Zuchtschau (Breed Show) be conducted on a regular basis. The purpose of the Zuchtschau is to evaluate the success of past breeding by assessing the attributes of the offspring produced.
A Zuchtshau is not a competition or contest in which dogs are compared to each other and a winner is selected but rather a survey performed to determine the level of each dog’s conformation. After careful study the Formwertricher (Form Judge) assigns each dog a predicate that corresponds to the Formwertricher’s perception of the dogs attributes. Possible predicates are listed below:
V: Excellent (Vorzueglich)
SG: Very Good (Sehr Gut)
G : Good (Gut)
Gen.: Acceptable (Genuegend)
Unge.: Not Acceptable (Ungenuegend)
Only dogs that have successfully passed a breed test, i.e. Solms, HZP or AZP and have been assigned a predicate of “Good” or better in a Zuchtshau (Breed Show) are allowed to be used for breeding. Additionally, both male and female dogs must have been determined to be Hip Dysplasia free (HD free). Only when all of the appropriate requirements are met is a dog considered Zuchttauglich (Fit for Breeding).
