Aptitude test preparation
Help your dog feel confident
in the water test!
Practise here through play!
The aptitude test is a prerequisite for a dog to be approved for breeding. For retrievers – and often for vizslas and other hunting dogs – the exam tasks include a water test as well.
Don't let your dog lose confidence at the sight of open water during the exam!
At Vizsla-Tó swimming is relaxation and work at the same time.
Here you can safely let your dog off the lead. The area is just the right size to keep them in sight at all times, yet big enough for them to run in the grass between swims, sniff around in the reeds or have a little go on the agility course to unwind!
Getting used to water in a safe environment
Vizsla-Tó is closed private property. Book a private slot and you can be sure that only the people you want will be at the lake.
- An enclosed area where your dog can run free.
- Yet you can see the whole area, so your dog won't get lost and you can practise recall too.
- Private slots available on request.
- After swimming, a few laps around the lake and they're dry already! :)
- Discounts for regulars!
- On request, we help with training and can recommend a professional.
Some examples of the water part of aptitude tests
Below we quote a few lines from the regulations of the relevant Hungarian dog tests (our translation):
"For water work: an open body of water where the dog has to swim at least 5–6 metres in deep water, with a suitable free, gently sloping stretch of shore so that the dog can clearly see the retrieve object being thrown in, and can enter and leave the water without difficulty."
"The dog does not need to be steady, but it is expected to enter the water on its own, swim at least 10 metres and bring the retrieve object back to the shore. Delivery to hand is not required. If the dog refuses to enter the water or does not bring out the retrieve object, the task is not completed and the dog is graded FAILED."
"Labradors basically love water – after all, their ancestors, the St. John's water dogs, were fishermen's helpers. Even so, there are Labradors that won't go into the water, or if they do, can't carry out the task there. That is why, in the water test, the judges throw a dummy into open water, which the Labrador has to set off for on its own, swim at least 10 metres for, and then bring out."
"The pointer is a breed developed specifically for work before the shot; for more than 200 years, field work has always been the basis of its breeding selection. From a practical point of view, however, we want to know which lines and individuals are also suitable for everyday hunting, which is why we also test retrieving ability and love of water."
"Dachshunds can also be used to retrieve game from water – in fact, this is an exam task in the combined trial. When hunting fields and forests with a dachshund, shot game may fall into water, so a real hunting dog must be able to handle this task reliably too. Dogs generally like to swim, but to complete the task successfully this instinctive curiosity has to be combined with the retrieving exercise, which again takes repeated practice with the dog."