The North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) was created in 1983 as a not-for-profit organization to preserve the hunting instincts of our retriever breeds.

In general our breeds of hunting retrievers need improvement. Many hunters have never seen good retriever work and do not know the potential of their dogs. Hunters need a structure in which they can learn to train and evaluate their dogs off season. T hey also need a system of formal tests so that their dog's working accomplishments can be demonstrated and recorded. A public record has been created to provide a gene pool of working retrievers for hunters.

NAHRA helps clubs organize throughout North America to educate the public in the use of purebred hunting retrievers as conservation animals and to promote the field testing of retrievers in simulated hunting situations.

Dogs do not compete against one another for placements, but rather their performances are judged individually against a "hunting standard" defined in the following categories of Field Tests:
A dog earns points by passing a Started, Intermediate, or Senior NAHRA Field Test (80% score is passing). Titles and certificates are awarded to dogs who earn enough points.

... Check for one near you

More about NAHRA:

2003 Field Test Schedule - 2003 NAHRA Field Tests (US and Canada)

Clubs - NAHRA-member retriever clubs and links

Around NAHRA - Member-submitted photos of NAHRA events

Mid Atlantic Region Clinic - Rappahannock River Retriever Club Judges and Handlers Clinic of February 21, 22, 2003

Region News - NAHRA Region News

Awards, Certifica tes, and Titles - The requirements to get them

Field Test Judge - How to become one; clinc handbook

Forms & Applications - Download NAHRA forms - New editable forms

Rule Book - How a NAHRA Field Test works

Board of Directors - NAHRA's Leadership

REGIONS - A listing of NAHRA REGIONS, States, and Liaisons

"Vision in Dogs" - An informative article about dog sight

Links - To other sites

Join NAHRA - Membership information

2001 RAW/NAHRA Invitational - Coverage and Qualifiers

2000 RAW/NAHRA Invitational - Coverage and Qualifiers

1999 RAW/NAHRA Invitational - Qualifiers

TRAINING TIPS - Member-submitted tips may help with your retriever training

NAHRA PUP - Bulletin Board for Retriever dog Classified Ads (Retrievers only)

NAHRA NET - Bulletin Board for Retriever dog training discussion (Retrievers only) Please observe the new rules.

FAQs - Your answer may be here

... find your words

    NAHRA Facts:

• The originator of the national hunting retriever concept
• Largest Hunting Retriever association in the world - dedicated solely to the hunting retriever and conservation of g ame
• Promotes consistent non-competitive Field Test standards for clubs throughout the US and Canada
• Provides technical assistance to clubs and individuals
• Publishes a quarterly news with test results, articles on training and testing retrievers
• Membership advertising available in quarterly publication
• Conducts retriever training clinics and seminars for judging NAHRA Field Tests
• Provides a rule book with a structure to test and reward the hunting retriever under simulated hunting conditions for both upland birds and waterfowl
• Provides a list of certified judges
• Awards titles and certificates to dogs that meet test standards
• Offers recognition certificates to dogs that have earned a show or field championship and a NAHRA working title
• Conducts the national "Invitational Field Test" annually for qualified Senior dogs
• Conducts 8 Regional Field Tests for qualified Started and Intermediate dogs

A trained dog is a valuable game conservation tool. NAHRA's purpos e is to educate the public in the use of purebred hunting retrievers as conservation animals and to promote non-competitive field testing in simulated hunting conditions. Please show your support by helping to ensure working retrievers for the generation s to come.

... You owe it to your dog

The North American Hunting Retriever Association is a not-for-profit corporation with headquarters at:

NAHRA
P.O. Box 5159
Fredericksburg, VA 22403