I'm wondering if there is any easy way for a non-hunter to assess whether a dog would be any usefor hunting. The new GSP has settled in well and I am torn between training him for SAR and finding him a hunting home.he vet put him at approx. 8 months old. He needs work on basic obedience, willthis make it harder to judge? All I know is he needs some kind of gainful employment...that and neutering ASAP!

A Hunt Test is a pass or fail type event I would not call it a dog trial.
Although most dogs will have to go through alot of training and hunting before this can happen.
As Fardepriving your dog of their ability to reproduce.
Some things even people should not be allowed to reproduce offspring that carry bad traits. Maybe you should seek a good home for this animal if you don't intend to useit for what it was bred for.

I think you are missing my point, or my post was confusing. The dog was unlucky enough to end up in the pound at around 4 months old, after being found running loose. I don't know anything more about his background, other than he was there from November until I bailed him out a couple of weeks ago. What I was trying to ask was whether there is any fairly simple way of assessing his natural ability as a bird dog, not whether I could enter him for any kind of formal testing. I want to ascertain whether he will be better off as a gun dog or a search dog like the rest of mine; like you I believe most dogs are happiest doing what they were bred for, but obviously if he won't hunt this would not be the case.

As for neutering, I am legally obliged to have him fixed and would do it anyway if this wasn't the case. I don't see the point in saving one dog only to add to the problem, and since I know nothing of his background it would not benefit the breed. His surgery is already scheduled for next week.

I would try to find a breeder near you that breeds hunting dogs and seek his/her advice. A few points of reference that may lead you to the right person would be:

www.navhda.org
www.vdd-gna.org
www.versatiledog.com

All these sites will have sections that talk about breeders. You should be able to find someone there that can help you qualify your pup.

Good luck