the red & white project

The AKC opened the Spaniel Hunt Test (now called the Upland Hunt Test) to curly-coated and flat-coated retrievers in 2012.  Goldens and Labs were permitted in 2013.

The change is driven by the numbers.  In 2012, Spaniels accounted for about 2,800 (2%) of all AKC Hunt Test entries.  Retrievers accounted for about 70,000 (53%) of the AKC's entries (in Retriever tests) and pointers about 60,000 (45%).

Joe D. argues that the AKC's retriever have become overrun with trial washouts.  The trialing world is quite competitive, and those that leave trialing for the AKC tests have distorted the original purpose of the AKC test, which is to provide a venue for the ordinary hunter to prove in his or her dog as a hunting companion.  Even a small percentage of retrievers leaving the retrieving tests in favor of the upland tests can distort the nature of the Upland/Spaniel test and turn it into a new type of retriever test (with a focus on long water work and complex hunt deads).  Retriever judges in the upland test would cause great changes as well.

 Source: AKC Springer Hunt Test Judging Seminar, June 2, 2012.