NAHRA bans the use of DFTs !

Doc E · 01-22-2004, 07:36 AM

The NAHRA Board of Directors have voted to ban the use of DFTs in their Field Tests.

Because of the allowance for DFTs to be used and a few other reasons, I cancelled my membership in NAHRA -- now with the new President, new Board of Directors, the ability for members to vote, and getting rid of DFTs, etc etc, I will send in my check today in order to once again be a member.

deerhunter34 · 01-23-2004, 09:38 PM

This may sound stupid but, what is NAHRA and what are DFT's?

Doc E · 01-24-2004, 09:55 AM

NAHRA = North American Hunting Retriever Association (a Field Test/Hunt Test organization).

DFT = Dead Fowl Trainer -- i.e. a Dokken (simulated bird).

deerhunter34 · 01-24-2004, 02:08 PM

Are they bad for some reason? Do they put a disadvantage on dogs not using the dft's? I am just getting in to hunting hounds so I don't really know anything, thanks for the explanation.

Doc E · 01-25-2004, 10:27 AM

DFTs are fine to train with (dog's love 'em) - BUT, when it comes to a Hunt Test that is supposed to simulate 'real hunting', and when passing some of those tests leads to a title, they have no place being used. I certainly wouldn't want to buy a pup out of parents that have titles, but earned those titles with 'fancy bumpers' instead of real birds.

DrakeDawgs · 01-25-2004, 06:24 PM

Doc.....I have been holding onto my check as well. It went out in the mail today......

Deerhunter.....adding to Doc's statement, you can not give a dog a title that retrieves rubber ducks! To many times, I have seen show type labs that are great DFT retrievers run up to a duck in a test ...smell it...and want nothing to do with it.

The premise of NAHRA is to simulate hunting conditions and to test the dogs and handlers in those situations. Retrieving a rubber ducky does not simulate true hunting conditons in my opinion.

Good Training!

deerhunter34 · 01-25-2004, 06:25 PM

Oh I see did'nt realized you used real birds. I agree with you they shouldn't be used.