In the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) tests, dogs are judged to specific standards and do not compete for placements with other dogs. NAVHDA tests evaluate versatility in the hunting dog, as many hunters hunt a wide variety of game with one dog. NAVHDA tests are conducted annually in all parts of North America.

NAVHDA offers several different levels of noncompetitive gundog testing. Natural Ability Tests (NA) evaluate inherent characteristics of abilities (instincts) for dogs up to 16 months: the Utility Preparatory Test (UPT) is a mid-level test in which training and obedience are evaluated; and the Utility Test (UT) measures a dog's usefulness in all phases of hunting as a completely finished gundog. The Invitational Test measures the advanced skills of a fully trained dog of championship caliber and is only available to those dogs recieving a a Prize 1 in a Utility test. The versatile dog is expected to work both upland game and waterfowl at all levels of testing.

During field work, dogs are evaluated on pointing, standing steady to wing,shot and fall, retrieving upon command, and tracking. During water work, dogs are evaluated on steadiness, marking ability, locating, and retrieving game in typical duck hunting situations.

Dogs are given a total score for their work in Natural Ability and Utility. A perfect score in Natural Ability is 112 points. A perfect score in Utility is 204 points. Dogs also receive a Prize I, Prize II, or Prize III only if they qualify. Dogs not qualifying receive no prize.

Be sure to evaluate the dogs that we are breeding at Cedarwood Kennels on our "Breeding Stock" page and notice the pedigrees of our dogs have primarily all NAVHDA Prize I Natural Ability titles in their backgrounds. It has taken years of dedication to develope pedigrees with this much concentration of Prize I performers and only dogs of this caliber can produce dogs expected to match the demands of todays sportsmen. In Tom Goodings evaluation of the pudelpointer's Natural Ability and Utility prospectus, never did parents that recieved <105 points in natural ability produce litters that averaged >100 points in Natural Ability testing. Only those parents which recieved >105 points in Natural Ability were able to produce litters with a Natural Ability average >100 points. It is from this 30 year study that we selected 105 points as a minimum score for our breeding stock. Milan Novak's studies show a straight line regression curve, also supporting our conclusions and use of this breeding standard. Just testing dogs in NAVHDA isnt enough to maintain a concrete breeding program and any breeder taking this approach isnt paying due respect to this wonderful breed as there must be a standard in place that supports a mission statement.

Since all dogs at Cedarwood Kennels are NAVHDA tested we strongly believe in the NAVHDA breeding approach. The NAVHDA system is based on a testing system under which many of the versatile breeds are maintained; one which in rooted in the science of animal breeding and selection. Under this evaluation system, Cedarwood Pudelpointers have maintained their versatile qualities which they have proved on Idaho's upland gamebirds and waterfowl. We put a strong emphasis on a dogs ability to work wild birds before any breeding determinations are made.  Our dogs are requested by the hunting community, seeking the best available versatile gun dog they can own, which will also charm their family as a permanent family member.

After having over 200 dogs tested in NAVHDA's Natural Ability Test, our Cedarwood Pudelpointers have earned an average(mean) score of 104 points over the past 15 years; earning our kennel 12 NAVHDA Breeders Awards. The improvements made by our breeding standard are obvious as the last 103 dogs tested during the last 5 years have earned an average (mean) score of 107 points. We have,also, trained and tested 32 dogs at the NAVHDA Utility level; prizing all 32 dogs with 13 recieving a UT Prize I. Very few breeders have trained/handled more than one or two dogs in their lives at the Utility level; let alone 32. There currently are 4 Versatile Champion pudelpointers in North America and all 4 dogs were produced by Cedarwood stud dogs, which clearly supports the prominance seen in our strain at Cedarwood Kennels.

NAVHDA testing results for the year 2007 has found 21 Cedarwood dogs tested in NAVHDA Natural Ability with an average (mean) score of 107 points. 15 of these 21 dogs also earned a Prize I. There were also 9 Cedarwood dogs tested in Utility with 4 earning a Utility Prize I with an average (mean) score of 198 points. At the 2007 NAVHDA Invitational 2 Cedarwood dogs earned Versatile championship status.

NAVHDA testing results for the year 2006 found 25 Cedarwood pudelpointers tested in Natural Ability. The average (mean) score of those 25 dogs was 105 points. 18 of those 25 dogs tested recieved a Prize I.

NAVHDA testing results for the year 2005 found 20 Cedarwood pudelpointers tested in Natural Ability by our kennel or our clients with an average (mean) score of 106 points. 12 of the 20 dogs recieved a Prize I with all 20 prizing.

NAVHDA testing results for the year 2004 found 19 Cedarwood pudelpointers tested in Natural Ability tests by our kennel or our clients with an average (mean) score of 106 points. All 19 dogs prized with 8 recieving Prize I status.

NAVHDA testing results for 2003 found 18 Cedarwood pudelpointers tested by our kennel or clients in Natural Ability testing. The average(mean) score of these 18 dogs was 108 points out of a maximumun possible score of 112 points. All 18 dogs prized with 11 recieving a Prize I (60%)

It is with great pride that we boast of the past 5 years of NAVHDA testing: 103 pudelpointers from our kennel were tested in NAVHDA Natural Ability tests with an average score of 107 points for those 103 dogs. >60% of the 103 dogs tested recieved a Prize I. For anyone understanding NAVHDA testing and able to evaluate testing data, our breeding program is clearly at the cutting edge of excellance and these results support it.

We have also won First Place trophies in National Shoot to Retrieve (NSTRA field trials) with 4 different Cedarwood stud dogs. We are finding the NSTRA field trials to be an excellent way to evaluate our breeding stock in a head to head competion with the best from the other major pointing breeds. These NSTRA accomplishments are what we feel gives our kennel a higher level of merit, when compared to any other kennel in North America producing versatile gundogs; as we have merely raised the bar of excellence at our kennel to a significantly higher level. VC Cedarwoods Man O War is the only NSTRA Champion pudelpointer. He is also a HC Champion (Hunting Retriver), earning this title while competing with labs and other retrievers.

Our current stud dogs have also produced remarkable NAVHDA statistics, but Cedarwoods First Offense (aka Tukr) certainly leads all pudelpointer sires. He has had 90 progeny tested in NAVHDA Natural Ability tests with an average score of 104 points for those 90 plus dogs. Currently, he has sired 2 Versatile Champions. Tukr has been instrumental in the success of 5 other Pudelpointer Kennels as we have allowed some his sevices as a stud dog. Examination of his pedigree shows 27 out of 28 dogs in his background to be NAVHDA Natural Ability Prize I performers making it obvious as to his potency as the breed's top producer.

The above evaluating summation should help you make a sounder decision when seeking your new hunting companion. Remember to ask breeders to supply you with data supporting their breeding decisions and make it be in the form of test scores, not their own personal evaluation. Available data on the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents test scores should be a must for those seeking a top versatile hunting dog regardless of the breed selected. If your seeking a hunting dog, look only at breeders that hunt wild birds. Some kennel's expectations are very limited and this will invariably show up in their breeding stock's NAVHDA test scores. It is still amazing, with all the infromation available for today's sportsmen, how many neglect to research their next hunting companion and merely assume all dogs from the same breed are alike, especially when it's to be a 12-14 year commitment. Anyone seeking a new dog should also expect to recieve a favorable guarantee with many references that are current and several should be NAVHDA judges that are familiar with all the available kennel's dogs. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard given was from an elder dog enthusiast with years of experience behind gundogs. He said: "potential dog owners need to pick 3 things, rather than just a puppy. First, pick the breed best suited for your individual needs. Second, pick the breeder producing what you expect to own. Third, pick a puppy that seems to like you the most from the breed and breeder that you like the most".