Beginner’s Guide to the Grade 1 Gundog Test

(Hunter Retriever)

What is the Grade 1 Gundog Test?

The Gundog Club offers a beginner-appropriate assessment called the Grade 1 Gundog Test. Unlike a field trial where you compete directly against other handlers, a test evaluates your dog purely against a set standard. Achieving a passing score is a fantastic way to benchmark your dog's progress on key foundation behaviours that are equally important for working gundogs and family pets: loose lead walking, a sit-stay, recall, and retrieves.

For hunter-retriever breeds like Spaniels, this test perfectly aligns with their natural working style—hunting close, waiting a short time, and retrieving in rough shooting scenarios. Whether you are actively training for fieldwork or simply looking for a clear framework to improve your dog's obedience and retrieving, Grade 1 adds excellent structure to your daily training.

Why Train for the Grade 1 Test?

As a trainer and handler, I highly recommend the Grade 1 criteria because it takes the guesswork out of your daily routine. It provides a distinct structure so you never find yourself out on a walk wondering, "What am I going to focus on today?"

Training towards Grade 1 offers:

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  A clear progression guide tailored for young or beginner dogs.

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  An objective way to track progress and identify specific areas needing improvement.

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  A manageable, fair expectation of what a developing dog can realistically achieve.

By following this test structure, you build rock-solid foundational skills that benefit both practical gundog work and general day-to-day obedience. When people picture a classic gundog, they think of a well-trained, balanced companion. The test criteria evaluates exactly that:

• Walking nicely on the lead without pulling.

• Sitting promptly when told.

• Staying reliably until released.

• Recalling on the first whistle or command.

• Completing basic, structured retrieves.

It is a brilliant way to mentally stimulate your dog and discover if gundog training is a hobby you might want to pursue further in the future.

What Does the Test Involve?

Below is the standard skill criteria adapted from traditional field standards into an actionable tracker for our pet gundog skills package clients. Use this to audit your current training level.

GRADE 1 by Emma Filby

How to Train for the Grade 1 Test

Set Up Your Training Area

• Use two markers (e.g. a post and a Place Board) 15 yards apart
• Place a third marker 20 yards away for retrieving exercises
  
  
  

Loose Lead Walking

The goal of Grade 1 heelwork is a loose lead without constant pulling or sniffing the ground. When the Gundog Club refers to 15 yards, you can get a simple, practical feel for this distance by using two marker posts spaced exactly 15 big paces apart.

Traditionally, gundog training might use corrections to stop a dog from pulling or breaking a stay. But my ethos is entirely different: telling your dog what NOT to do doesn’t give them a clear picture of what to do instead.

Instead, I use games-based training. This approach makes it highly likely the dog will naturally offer the behaviours we want more of, allowing us to cleanly capture and reward the moments they do.

In my programmes, I like to use these posts to set up a "settling circuit" as a structured warm-up walk:

• Settle: Walk your dog between the two posts on a lead until they are visibly calm. By walking back and forth between fixed points rather than heading over novel ground all the time, you dramatically help the dog settle and succeed.

• Predictable Patterns: Start rewarding your dog with food at these fixed points. Before long, the predictability of the pattern kicks in, and your dog will start checking in with you before you even reach the next post.

• Mark and Reward: Once they are flowing in this rhythm, focus on marking and rewarding for the specific gundog criteria—looking for a completely slack lead and their shoulder cleanly in line with your leg.
  

Continue this pattern on your walk until you have used one handful of food to reinforce the position.

Prompt Sit & 30-Second Stay

For the sit and stay elements, the physical boundaries of a raised dog training platform are invaluable.

When a dog is taught a sit-stay on flat grass, they often begin to "creep" forward slowly as the handler steps away. This happens because the boundary of where they are supposed to remain is invisible to them, and they naturally expect the "good stuff" to come directly from the person.

When you utilise a raised place board, creeping forward becomes physically obvious to the dog. They can feel the distinct edge of the platform beneath their paws, which acts as a brilliant, self-correcting boundary. In foundation training, dogs learn that holding position on the board equals a high-value reward, which heavily encourages them not to break their sit.

• Train in short sessions of 5-8 reps. 
  
• Vary the distance (0-15 steps) before returning to reward
  
• Don’t always recall from a sit-stay to prevent anticipation; instead, reward them in a seated position. 

Even if there isn't a place board in your formal test, practising on one allows your dog to accrue a massive bank account of success, which translates beautifully out onto the field.

The Recall

The Grade 1 Recall requires an immediate response when returning from the line.

• Prevent Guesswork: Mix up your sit-stay repetitions with occasional recalls (about 1 to 3 times per session). If your dog never knows whether you are going to walk back to them or call them in, they will remain focused on you rather than guessing the next move.

• Precise Positioning: The place board is just as valuable here as it is for the stay. Because the dog views the platform as a high-value zone, it helps guide a precise 'front present' position right back to your feet without overshooting.
  
  
  

Grade 1 Retrieve

The retrieval portion of the Grade 1 test requires two successful marked retrieves: one at 15 yards and one at 20 yards. The standard specifies an enthusiastic return and a clean, direct delivery.

How to Set It Up:

1. Start on the Board: Position yourself beside the Place Board (traditionally on your left side). Cue your dog onto it using your command, like "Place." The board acts as a target to encourage steadiness as the dummy is thrown.

2. The Throw: Once your dog is sitting beside you, throw a retrieve article (a lightweight canvas dummy or favourite toy) about 10 yards away.

   • ★ TIP:If they won't sit and stay until released, you can gently hold them by their flat collar instead and work up to this. Not letting them go until it lands improves steadiness and protects their growing joints from unpredictable bounces.

3. The Send: Release your dog while they are looking at the article using your retrieve cue, like "Take it."

4. Change Your Position: As your dog runs out, move from beside the board to directly behind it. The board is now right in front of your feet, forming a target for your dog to return to.

Progression Options

• Gradually increase the distance of your throw up to the required 15 and 20 yards.

• Use a helper to throw the article from a distance while you stay with your dog.
  

Final Thoughts: Is Your Dog Ready for Grade 1?

Ready to put your dog’s skills to the test? Start training today and use the tracking sheet at the top of this guide to map your progress!

Further Resources

🔹 Shop Place Boards & Training Platforms → Anglian Dog Works Store
🔹 In-Person Training → Gundog Trainer near Cambridge