Just was reading over the NA and UT Prep Test information. Much of the items to be worked on are items that need to be done outside. With about 2.5 feet of snow on the ground that is a hard thing to do right now here in Michigan.

For those of you who have done the NAVDHA testing what are some things I can work on in the house and back yard to help my dog be ready for these tests?

Right now on a daily basis I am working on sit/stay , down/stay, whoa and stacking (not really needed for NAVDHA), Once the wind chill surpresses we are going to really start working on recall work outside but right now I wistle anytime I want my dog to my side.

In April our NAVDHA starts doing weekly training sessions and I plan on going to those as well. I really want to pass the NA test on the first try. It isn't cheap so don't want to have to go back for that multiple times.

Any advice on what to work on during these cold nasty days indoors would be great! Thanks!

I am also in MI and preparing my GSP pup (welped 4/28) for his NA test this spring.

Other than the water confidence you can prepare for all aspects of the test to a good degree in the house.

To prepare your dog for a gun shot, or sound sensitivity.  As he is eating his meals begin to make sounds (i banged pots and pans) over him.  Every few days get a little closer and a littler louder.  Depending on your dogs exposure to sound already in a week or two you will be able to bang them sucks LOUD and it won't phase him.  Take him outside and pop off a shot while he is about 30 yards away.  Most likely it won't phase him.

As for the tracking.  Begin to make small drag lines in your house.....5 feet long with a command, "find it" or "track".   Work to keep the dogs concentration by holding him back a bit with a leash.   Do that 2-3 times a week and work to using generic scent or a real wing with a reward of a treat at the end.  Soon your dog will understand the concept.

Your dogs ability to point and swim are obviously best done outside unless you have access to a big ass pool or a barn.

Also your dog must cooperate with you in the field to some degree.

As the test time nears i run my dog through a simulated test once a week for about the last month; prior to that its just exposure to birds, obedience, fun swimming, etc.   None of this is real training, just exposure to the dog is aware of what the task at hand is.

What chapter do you belong to?

Yeap, no commands allowed.  You are not even allowed to point in a direction to cast your dog to hunt with you.  The dog must cue off your shoulders or walking direction alone.

The worst part of the NA test is not being allowed to whoa the dog even after a viable point can be identified.  My Brittany found 6 birds......and ultimately snatched up 6 birds.  None the less he lost his staunch point and was trying to grab birds for 2 months after the test.

For this springs test I am preparing by exposing my GSP to a lot of birds (red quail) and launching them with a launcher.  If he even blinks his eye the bird will be launched.  This "should" firm him up to allow me to approach and grab the little quail before he tries to.

I was a bit upset during my first test because the judge told me, "yea once we see he is on point and a point established you can whoa or whatever to keep him from moving"  3 minutes later during the test he recanted that and did not allow it.

Most of the test is just to see if the dog has desire to hunt, cooperate with you and his nose is keen to what a bird is.  No real formal training needed as was said; unless you are trying to avoid something such as I am.  I hope to have my dog 3/4 of the way ready for the UT when he does his NA.

Formal training: example when a handler runs his young charge on NA test on a Sat. and Runs same dog on UT test the next day being Sunday. A dog that has been trained steady to wing shoot and fall has been threw formal training . A dog that requires a head tap at the water for NA test has been threw formal training.
You can expose a dog to tracks, water, gun fire and such for NA but if the dog has gone threw more formal training , the judges have to wade threw the formal training to see the natural abilitys of the dog. Every one wants a prize one for there dog. But masking the test scores defeats the pupose of the Na test. I hope this makes sense to all.
I would like to see the judges not change there minds about the pointing comments and a caution of whoa after a point or two with no words from the handler. However all judges try to give handler and dog every chance they can to pass the test portion at hand. I hope this above statement helps everyone understand the diferences between formal training and Na exposure.