North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association: A Comprehensive Guide

The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) is a fantastic resource for hunters and dog owners alike. The organization is dedicated to promoting and preserving the versatility of hunting breeds.

NAVHDA was founded in 1966 by a group of dedicated hunters who wanted to create a standardized testing program for hunting dogs. This program would evaluate a dog's abilities in various aspects of hunting, such as tracking, pointing, and retrieving.

The NAVHDA testing program is designed to assess a dog's natural abilities in a controlled environment. Dogs are evaluated on their instincts, trainability, and overall performance in a variety of hunting scenarios.

Navhda is a non-profit organization that promotes the development of versatile hunting dogs.

The association was founded in 1966 by a group of hunters who wanted to create a breed of dog that excelled in multiple areas, including tracking, pointing, and retrieving.

The name "Navhda" is an acronym that stands for North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association.

Navhda is a training method that focuses on developing a dog's natural instinct to follow a nose, with the goal of creating a strong bond between dog and handler.

The method emphasizes the importance of a calm and clear-minded dog, which is achieved through a slow and deliberate training process.

Dogs trained using the Navhda method are often described as having a strong prey drive, which is essential for their ability to follow a nose.

This strong prey drive is developed through the use of specific exercises and games that challenge the dog's natural instincts.

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The Texas Chapter of NAVHDA is a great example of how the organization brings its aims to the local level. They host monthly training sessions where members can hone their skills and work with their dogs to achieve their goals.

The Texas Chapter hosts bi-annual NAVHDA sanctioned tests in the North Texas area, allowing members from across the country to have their dogs evaluated. These tests are conducted under the Natural Ability, Utility Prep, and Utility Test formats.

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The Texas Chapter also periodically hosts Aims and Rules Clinics, which are educational sessions that provide a comprehensive overview of the NAVHDA testing and scoring system. This clinic is a great resource for aspiring judges, handlers, and NAVHDA members who want to learn more about the organization's rules and aims.

Here are some of the programs and services offered by the Texas Chapter of NAVHDA:

The Association is structured in a way that allows for both global and local involvement. NAVHDA International operates under its own bylaws, which provide for officers elected by popular vote and an Executive Council that guides the organization's programs.

NAVHDA International works in conjunction with local chapters, which are the backbone of the organization. These local chapters are responsible for sponsoring training and testing programs.

These chapters can be found throughout the United States and Canada, giving hunters and dog enthusiasts a range of opportunities to get involved with NAVHDA.

NAVHDA was founded in Canada in 1969 by Sigbot “Bodo” Winterhelt and Ed Bailey, two bird dog enthusiasts who saw the need for a standardized means by which to evaluate the skills of versatile hunting dogs.

Their goal was to improve bird dog breeds through performance testing, and they drew inspiration from the German testing system that Winterhelt grew up with, which was cooperative and non-competitive.

In 1974, Winterhelt and Bailey published The Training and Care of the Versatile Hunting Dog, a book that remains an authoritative source of versatile dog training and is affectionately referred to as “The Green Book”.

The Association recognizes 30 breeds of versatile hunting dogs, all known and tested for their abilities in both upland and waterfowl hunting.

These breeds are listed in alphabetical order, providing a comprehensive guide for those interested in learning more about the individual breeds.

The list includes the Blue Picardy Spaniel, Bracco Italiano, and Braque d'Auvergne, to name a few.

Some breeds, like the German Longhair Pointer and the German Shorthaired Pointer, are well-known for their hunting abilities.

Others, such as the Perdiguero de Burgos and the Picardy Spaniel, may be less familiar to some.

Here is the full list of breeds recognized by the Association:

The Association is organized in a way that makes sense for its members. It operates on two levels, which allows for both global direction and local involvement.

The first level is NAVHDA International, which has bylaws that outline its structure and decision-making process. These bylaws provide for elected officers and appointed directors who make up the Executive Council.

The Executive Council gives direction and guidance to NAVHDA programs, ensuring they stay on track. They work together to make big decisions for the organization as a whole.

Local chapters of NAVHDA, which are the second level, are the heart of the organization. They sponsor training and testing programs, bringing the Association's mission to life in their communities.

There are sanctioned chapters throughout the United States and Canada, which means there's likely one near you.

NAVHDA testing is a series of evaluations designed to assess a dog's natural abilities and trained skills in hunting scenarios.

Each test scenario replicates an actual hunting situation that you could expect to encounter with your hunting dog, making it a valuable way to prepare for real-world hunting.

The tests offered by NAVHDA include the Natural Ability, the Utility Preparatory Test, the Utility Test, and the Invitational, each designed to evaluate a dog's nose work and cooperation with the handler.

As a hunter, I can attest to the effectiveness of these tests in preparing my young dog for real-world hunting scenarios, such as searching for ducks around a pond.

NAVHDA sponsors several hundred noncompetitive "tests" each year, where dogs are judged to a set of standards in situations designed to simulate real-world upland and waterfowl hunting scenarios.

Big Sky NAVHDA provides hands on training opportunities with Mentors, Special Training Clinics, regular testing, and other resources to support your dog's development and your training program.

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NAVHDA has chapters all over the country, so you're likely to find one near you. I'm fortunate to live within 20 minutes of where our chapter meets to train.

The organization has a do-it-yourself mentality, which means new folks learn from the more experienced members. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and eager to help.

You don't need to have a specific breed of dog to join NAVHDA, but it can be a great resource if you do have a rare breed like I do. I'm able to get together with other Deutsch Langhaars once a year, but that requires extensive travel.

Joining NAVHDA can be a great way to cut down on the amount of training equipment and birds that you need to procure. Everyone contributes something, whether it's connections for getting birds, a set of launchers, or an extra set of hands to set up and run drills.

NAVHDA tests provide an opportunity to evaluate your dog against a standard set of criteria and receive a score that reflects your dog's performance that day. This is a great way to get feedback on your dog's natural hunting skills and make informed decisions about their training.

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The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) is a nonprofit corporation with a clear purpose: to foster, promote, and improve versatile hunting dog breeds in North America.

NAVHDA aims to conserve game by using well-trained, reliable hunting dogs before and after the shot. This approach helps prevent cruelty to animals by discouraging non-selective and uncontrolled breeding.

NAVHDA's goals are centered around serving the interests of game conservation, preventing animal cruelty, and aiding the gun dog hunter. By helping hunters train their dogs to work before and after the shot, on land and in water, NAVHDA provides a valuable service.

NAVHDA is an excellent complement to sporting dog breed clubs and field trial organizations. It was created to provide a proven, standard method of evaluating the performance of all versatile hunting dogs, consistent with North American hunting practices.

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