This is a short video of Kimmax Ayscha (the first ever UK bred VDD registered Deutsch Drahthaar) performing a furred game drag of a hare whilst in training for her HZP at the International Hegewald 2009. Ayscha is 15 months old in this video, about 3 weeks before the Hegewald.

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The ‘Haarwild Schleppe’ or furred game drag, is a one of the critical tests in an HZP. No commands are permitted to help the dog after it is cast off and you have 10-20m to get the dog started on the drag. You may only restart the dog 3 times before it fails the test.

The dog is expected to show its tracking ability and keeness by its pace and accuracy following a 300m drag with two acute angles in it. Once the dog encounters the furred game (a rabbit or hare) placed at the end of the drag it must immediately pick it up and return to the handler with it without any commands from the handler. It is important the handler does not command or whistle once the game is in the dog’s mouth as that would constitute a failure.

The final part of the test is when the dog comes into the handler. Now carriage and presentation of game are paramount. Again the handler may not speak until the dog has sat and the judge has allowed the handler to command the dog to release the game. If the dog puts down the game at any stage, as long as it is only to improve its grip and does not require commands from the handler, then that can be overlooked. If the dog leaves the retrieve or the handler has to command it then it will be heavily penalised or fail the test.

Training for this test assumes you have first taught the dog to hold and present game correctly. Then you start with relatively short retrieves always in a straight line. Gradually as the dog gains in confidence, gentle and then acute angles are introduced to teach the dog to realise when it has come off the track and to learn to backtrack and relocate the scent. Gradually distance is increased until the dog does the required distance and angles right every time.

This is a basic competence test which starts with rabbits and hares in the field but then moves on in the later VGP test to greater distances and tracking of foxes and hares through woodland as well. It is also a fundamental starting point for teaching blood tracking of deer later.

Once a dog has learnt this skill, it will never have any problem tracking any wounded game in the field and will require minimal handling to get the job done, leaving the hunter free to concentrate on shooting.