The VGP — Verlorene Gebrauchsprüfung, or Utility Field Test — is the highest-level hunting dog test in the German versatile hunting dog tradition. The most versatile huning dog test on the planet. If the HZP is where a young dog proves its potential, the VGP is where a finished dog proves it can do it all.

It is not a test for the faint of heart. The VGP evaluates a dog across a full range of hunting disciplines — upland bird work, waterfowl, tracking, and more — over the course of a demanding test day. A dog that earns a strong VGP score is a dog that can handle real hunting situations, in real terrain, under real pressure.

What Does the VGP Test?

The VGP covers a broad range of skills that a finished versatile hunting dog must demonstrate in the field:

• Search and pointing on upland birds
• Steadiness to wing and shot
• Retrieve of feathered and furred game
• Water work — retrieve from water, swimming ability
• Drag track — feather and fur, at distance
• Obedience and cooperation with the handler
• Blind retrieve and advanced field skills (depending on organization)

Each element is scored, and the total score determines the dog's rating. A dog must meet minimum thresholds across all categories — there's no hiding a weakness.

Who Is the VGP For?

The VGP is designed for serious hunters and breeders who want to prove their dog is a complete hunting partner. It's the standard used by VDD-GNA, NAJGV, and other German breed organizations to evaluate dogs for breeding eligibility.

If you're running a Deutsch Drahthaar, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Pudelpointer, or another versatile breed under a German testing organization, the VGP is the test your dog is ultimately being built toward.

How to Prepare

Preparation for the VGP takes years, not months. A dog entering the VGP should already have a solid HZP behind it and consistent field experience across multiple seasons. The VGP rewards dogs that have been hunted hard and trained consistently — not dogs that have been drilled for a test. We put a guide together that you can download below.

Download the DRAHT CO VGP Guide

We put together a comprehensive VGP Guide to help handlers understand the test structure, scoring, and preparation requirements. Download it, print it, and use it.

Download the VGP Guide PDF

Also available: VGP Checklist — printable training tracker