Upholding Standards: The Role of NAVHDA Testing in Our Breeding Program

At Shiok Ridge Kennel, our mission extends far beyond simply raising Wirehaired Pointing Griffons; we are dedicated to producing bird dogs whose abilities are self-evident in the field. We believe that a dog's performance should speak for itself, revealing not only the strengths of the individual animal but also the effectiveness of our breeding philosophy.

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For this reason, we require that all our puppy buyers enter their young dogs in the NAVHDA Natural Ability Test. This assessment provides us with an unbiased and comprehensive report card on each litter, allowing us to gather invaluable feedback that shapes our future breeding decisions. It is not merely a formality, but a cornerstone of our commitment to continuous improvement and breed preservation.

For those less familiar, NAVHDA stands for the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association—the largest organization dedicated exclusively to versatile hunting breeds. We have chosen NAVHDA as our primary testing organization because its programs are designed specifically for versatile gun dogs, encompassing upland work, waterfowl retrieval, and tracking. Unlike other organizations, such as the AKC, which focus their pointing dog tests solely on upland hunting, NAVHDA's approach is holistic and comprehensive, mirroring the original intent of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

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As preservation breeders, we see it as our duty to maintain the full range of abilities for which the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was developed. Ensuring that our dogs excel across all hunting modalities—whether in the marsh, the field, or on a track—honors the breed’s storied history and robust versatility. Through NAVHDA’s rigorous evaluations, we not only validate our breeding practices but also contribute to the ongoing legacy of this remarkable breed.

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To learn more about NAVHDA and the Natural Ability Test visit https://www.navhda.org/about-the-navhda-testing-system/