Field Tests & Trials
Proving a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: A Complete, Honest Guide
There are more ways to test and title a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon than most owners realize — and they are not interchangeable. Some measure your dog against a written standard; others pit it head-to-head against every dog that showed up. Some are built for a close-working foot-hunter like the Griffon; others quietly favor a different kind of dog entirely.
This guide maps all of them. Each program below has its own in-depth article with the real scoring tables, disqualifications, and title requirements drawn straight from the governing bodies’ own rules — no fluff, just what you actually need to plan a season. If you are new to all of this, start with Field Trials vs. Hunt Tests, then come back here and work down the roadmap.
Field Trials vs. Hunt Tests
The one distinction the whole bird-dog world turns on: a test measures your dog against a written standard; a trial pits it against every other dog entered. Read this first.
Read the full guide »Pass/fail vs. standardNAVHDA
The versatile-dog system built for Continental breeds like the Griffon. Natural Ability, the Gun Dog Test, Utility, and the Versatile Champion title — the breed's true home.
Read the full guide »Pass/fail vs. standardAKC Hunt Tests
Junior, Senior, Master, and the new Master Excellent. An upland-only ladder with a strict five-point scoring floor — the natural AKC companion to NAVHDA.
Read the full guide »Fully competitiveAKC Field Trials
Puppy, Derby, Gun Dog, and All-Age stakes; points scaled to the number of starters; the FC and AFC titles. Honest fit: the Gun Dog stake suits a Griffon; All-Age does not.
Read the full guide »HybridUKC Pointing Dog Program
A walking program that blends test and trial. From the entry-level TAN and Water Retrieve Test up through the Gun Class and the Champion of the Field titles.
Read the full guide »Fully competitiveNSTRA
The walking trial that feels like a real hunt — handlers shoot their own birds over their own dogs. The most natural competitive game for a Griffon.
Read the full guide »Fully competitiveAKC Conformation
The bench show measures structure and breed type, not hunting ability. How CH and GCH points work — and why the breed's top award demands both the ring and the field.
Read the full guide »Easiest to Hardest
The Griffon Owner’s Roadmap
Starting from scratch with a new puppy, this is the order most owners climb. Ages are approximate; you can run several programs in parallel.
Tier 1 — Entry Level
Dog age ~6–16 monthsRaw natural ability with zero training expectations — the ideal starting point for any Griffon puppy.
| Program | Test / Level | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAVHDA | Natural Ability (NA) | Pass/fail | Must run by 16 months. The single best entry point for a Griffon. |
| UKC | TAN | Pass/fail | Hunt, point 3 seconds, no gun shyness. Age 6 mo. to under 3 yr. |
| UKC | WRT | Pass/fail | Willingly enter water, retrieve a bird to shore. No upper age limit. |
| AKC | Junior Hunter (JH) | Pass/fail | Hunt, find, point, hold. 4 legs to title. No retrieve required. |
| NSTRA | Local trial | Competitive | Walking format — entry-level competition in a Griffon's style. |
| AKC Conformation | Puppy classes | Competitive | Breed-standard structure. Separate from field; intact dogs only. |
Tier 2 — Intermediate
Dog age ~1–3 years, trainedDogs that have completed basic gun dog training: quartering, steady to wing and shot, reliable retrieves.
| Program | Test / Level | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAVHDA | Gun Dog Test (GDT/UPT) | Pass/fail | Trained polish on land and water; duck work, drag, obedience. |
| AKC | Senior Hunter (SH) | Pass/fail | Steady to wing, retrieve, honor (command OK). 4–5 legs. |
| UKC | Gun Class / GUN | Hybrid | Point, retrieve within 15 ft., steady to wing only. 3 pass awards. |
| AKC | Champion (CH) | Competitive | 15 conformation points with 2 majors. Bench-only title. |
Tier 3 — Advanced / Finished
Dog age 2–5+ yearsFully trained, consistent field dogs. These titles represent significant time and expert-level handling.
| Program | Test / Level | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAVHDA | Utility Test (UT) | Pass/fail | The full versatile package, scored to 204. The most Griffon-aligned test. |
| AKC | Master Hunter (MH) | Pass/fail | Steady always, retrieve to hand, honor on own. 5–6 legs. |
| NSTRA | Champion | Competitive | 18 points (9 first-place) plus demonstrated backing. |
| UKC | Open Class / CHF | Competitive | Steady to flush/shot/fall; retrieve to hand. 3 CAC wins. |
| AKC | Grand Champion (GCH) | Competitive | 25 GCH points with 3 majors under 4+ judges. |
Tier 4 — Pinnacle
Rare achievementThe highest possible honor in each system. Very few dogs in any given year complete them.
| Program | Test / Level | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAVHDA | Versatile Champion (VC) | Pass/fail | UT Prize I the same year + pass the Invitational. The ultimate Griffon title. |
| AKC | Master Hunter Excellent (MHX) | Pass/fail | MH title + 3 two-series tests averaging 8.0. New in 2024. |
| AKC | Field Champion (FC/AFC) | Competitive | 10 points in open stakes at 3+ trials. Achievable for a Griffon in Gun Dog stakes. |
| NSTRA | Multiple Championships | Competitive | Additional 18-point championships; regional and national qualifying. |
| UKC | Grand Champion of the Field (GRCHF) | Competitive | 5 CAC in Open Class from multiple judges. Highest UKC pointing title. |
At a glance: test or trial?
- Pass/fail against a standard: NAVHDA (NA, GDT, UT, Invitational), AKC hunt tests (JH, SH, MH, MHX), UKC TAN & WRT.
- Competitive (placement): AKC field trials, NSTRA, AKC conformation, and the UKC Gun/Open classes (though those title via accumulated pass credits).
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