October 30, 2025 Bastrop, Texas
AKC Retriever Hunting Test Advisory Committee (RHTAC) Report
Master National Retriever Club’s Annual Event October 30, 2025
Submitted by Jack Combs, Chair RHTAC
On behalf of this committee, I express our thanks to the MNRC Board and the American Kennel Club for the opportunity to make this report. There are copies of the charge, responsibility and authority for the committee, its membership and this report available online at the Master National web site. It is not designed to be a ‘gripe’ session but rather tries to look at the overall benefits of any potential change to the entire program. The committee has operated mostly by e-mail and conference calls this year and has received an abundance of submissions. I know this info is “old hat” to some of you but it is included here for new participants in the sport that might be here for the first time.
At this time, I’m honored to introduce the committee members who are here today. I’m asking each of those in attendance to stand. (Introduce each as listed on the July, 2025 Roster)
You’ll note this committee is annually appointed by the AKC’s Executive Vice President for Sports & Events, Mr. Doug Ljungren in consultation with AKC Field Director, Retrievers Sporting Group, Mr. Russ Reavis. .
The committee will address submissions by any individual involved in the retriever hunting test program, any club that holds licensed AKC events or from the AKC. Only written submissions to the committee are accepted to reduce the chance of misinterpretations.
The submissions are discussed in detail and a committee decision is reached. The decision may be by ‘consensus’ (all five agree) or by ‘majority’ (4-1, or 3-2 vote). Once the committee has agreed on a recommendation, it is sent to AKC. AKC can accept, reject, or modify the recommendations. Additionally, the AKC can implement changes in the regulations and guidelines without consulting the committee. The committee has operated openly and sincerely appreciated each submission.
I know our time on the program is limited, so if you have questions, any member of the committee will be happy to discuss them with you later.
Since our report last year, the Committee has reviewed multiple submissions.
NOTE: It is expected the regulations will be used in good faith, good sportsmanship, with the intent of the regulation fulfilled and not abused or used as not intended.
Since our last report (September 26, 2024) the committee has reviewed or is reviewing many issues submitted that requested the regulations be reviewed and/or revised. Samplings of issues include:
- Allow clubs to use thawed frozen never used birds in AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers. An example would be extra birds from a previous test are killed and frozen and never used until a future test.
(Committee unanimously recommended this suggestion to the AKC.) - Chapter 1, Section 6. Judges’ Eligibility; Maintaining One’s Ability to Judge:(4) Must Remain an Active Handler: An individual must have handled a qualifying dog at the level to be judged or higher within seven (7) years of the date of the event. (Club’s responsibility to monitor.)
“Any judge over the age of 70 does not have to qualify a dog but would be required to attend a seminar every two years.” (Committee will not recommend this suggestion to the AKC.) - At the option of the host club, the timing of when qualifying ribbons are awarded can be changed to following a dog’s run, so long as it is clear from the judges, the dog qualified. Clubs utilizing this option should let their judges know in advance of the event and it must be stated clearly in the premium list. (Committee recommended this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Chapter 1, Section 6. Judges’ Eligibility; Maintaining One’s Ability to Judge: Require any judge, at any level, own and handle their own dog to a pass at whatever level they are judging a minimum of once per year. (Committee will not recommend this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Chapter 1, Section 6. Judges’ Eligibility; Maintaining One’s Ability to Judge: Require any judge, at any level, own and handle their own dog to a pass at whatever level they are judging a minimum of once every 4 years. (Committee unanimously recommended this suggestion to the AKC.)
- New Hunt Test Title, Beginning Senior; Same test requirements as Senior except no blinds. Steady on the line, Honor, Double marks, Walk up, Flyer, Diversion shot or mark. To be run on the same marks with the same judges as the Senior Test but before the Senior Contestants with no blind. Dogs cannot be entered in Beginner Senior and Senior at the same event. This format would not take any more land, water, equipment, judges or workers. It would create more paperwork but nothing else. (Committee will not recommend this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Implementing a universal limit on the number of dogs any individual can enter at a time. For example, participants could be allowed to enter five dogs initially, with a 24-hour interval before they can enter another five, and so on. (Committee will not recommend this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Honoring. Suggested wording change, Chapter 3, Section 6, 1 st paragraph, add to first sentence “ while the working dog is sent for a marked fall.” (Committee unanimously recommended this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Concern over excessive passing rates & quality of judging on master dogs at hunting tests (Committee concurs & is working on it as is AKC)
- A MH dog should have one clean series (not handled on a mark). (Committee recommended this suggestion to the AKC.)
- A MH dog must make continuous progress towards a blind retrieve. Occurrences that would warrant a dog being brought back toward the handler are, a dog going beyond the blind, a dog being brought back to be seen and a dog being brought back to go over, around or through an obstacle announced by the judges. (Committee unanimously recommended this suggestion to the AKC.)
- Charge handlers with more than three dogs in a Master test a higher entry fee. (Committee will not recommend this suggestion to the AKC.)
Please note that with the exceptions noted above, these are samples of issues submitted to the committee, so please don’t leave here saying they are new regulations. Each is being reviewed and is being discussed but they are not rule changes at this time!
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of my colleagues on the committee. They have diligently addressed each submission with the goal of improving the retriever hunting test program, and I’m honored to serve with them.
I would like to thank each of the submitters for their interest in improving the retriever hunting test program; the vast majority were well thought out and presented well. We also express our deep appreciation to Doug Ljungren, Caroline Murphy and Russ Reavis at AKC for their superb collaboration on difficult challenges. Without exception, each has been open minded, progressive in their thoughts and strongly supportive of changes that will improve the program.
The AKC notifies the Club ‘secretary of record’ of AKC decisions on new/revised regulations via e-mail. Please insure your club’s records are updated with the AKC. Please insure the AKC has current contact info on your club secretary. The committee reminds you that any regulation change implemented will be carefully monitored and, if deemed appropriate, additional recommendations will be made.Thank you again for listening and we wish you and your dog the very best in the week ahead.
Members of the RHTAC:
Robert (Bob) Montler, Eastern Time Zone
Alan Bruhin, Central Time Zone
Rex Gibson, Mountain Time Zone
Julie Cairns, Pacific Time Zone
Jack Combs, Chairman, North Carolina
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the RHTAC by Jack Combs