It's trial weekend

[Anna Scott]

This is the first of the 3 events we hold on our property. It's the field trial, the next is WC's and the 3rd is a hunt test. I picked M up and brought her home on Tuesday. Since then it has been hard trying to squeeze in some time with her. I entered her in the junior (derby ) so she needs to get reacquainted with me as her handler. Yesterday we worked in a field they won't be using. She was a little quick off the mark so I knew she needed a steadying drill. This morning we went to Tiny Marsh. It is one of my favourite places even without the dogs. The marsh is huge and has two dykes built by Ducks Unlimited. You need a canoe to take proper advantage of the water so a friend did the throwing from his canoe and my sister ran his young dog for him. We started with a water blind for the older dogs. It was about 200yds of some clear water and some lily pads and then into rice grass. It angled off the dyke. Keith threw us three marks each getting progressively longer. M had some difficulty with the long mark so I had to handler her. I put her up and then after the other dogs ran I reran her. I don't often rerun a mark but I felt that I had done something to distract her. She had no trouble with it. Tonight I took her to a friend's property and we did a steadying exercise. Tomorrow morning we will sneak over to Tiny while the Open is running and throw a few more marks and do a long entry cheating single. It is going to be busy weekend.

[windycanyon]

Post photos! Sounds like a great event.

[ZEKESMAN]

Best of luck! You and the dogs have fun.

[POPTOP]

Good luck! Sounds like fun for all.

[Maxx&Emma]

Good luck!!

[TuMicks]

Give us the run down when you get back to your computer.

[Anna Scott]

Well the last of the club members left at noon today. We just have one pro left. He and his wife are staying until Thursday so we will get some training in. They are going north to judge an Amateur next weekend.
It was a busy weekend. I got to run my sister's dog as test dog for Open. Something I have never done before. It was a triple with 2 retired guns. The long retired memory bird was about 375 yds through all kinds of factors ( angle up hill, choose the right opening, cross 2 roads, pass rock piles and shrubs) into shadow at that time of the morning. The middle bird was a retired indent at about 150 yd and the standout go bird was on the left at 250 yds. Neither of us had ever run a setup quite like that. He got the 2 left birds but needed some help with the long retired. The judges saw what they wanted but a pro who was to run dog one was late and had missed so they let him run a test dog. I didn't feel too bad when he had to handle his dog on 2 of the marks.
On Saturday I ran M in junior (derby). I was a little disappointed in her performance but then I had a reality check. I had only had her home 2 days for training before the trial and she needs to get used to me handling her again. My sister also told me I sent her on my other dog's name and that is why she checked up. Oh the nerves. I also ran Eden's dog in Amateur ( a first for him ) Again a fairly long triple with 2 retired guns. He had no problem with bird one, took a terrific line to bird two and started a short hunt I hit him with the whistle and in one cast he picked up the bird. I don't know what happened on the third mark he took a good line to it and then blinked it.
Sunday he broke my heart. I ran him in Qualifying His marks were excellent, he one whistled the double land blind and then we went to the water blind. It was a concept that we have done many times and it was on our own pond only run in the opposite direction to what we normally run. Over a point, past a point and then pick up the bird just before a narrow channel into open water. He would not give me a cast! He wanted to head out into open water, so after many whistles I got him over the point, then he wouldn't cast out to go by the second point and got up on it. By then he was totally ignoring any whistle I blew and put his feet on the island across from the blind. He could have winded it but I had had enough. I blew a sit whistle and then picked him up. I was not going to let him have the reward of that bird after he had behaved like a real you know what. My excuse for his rotten behaviour is that both my old girls are in season. What a juggling act to get them up and out and off the property each morning, then again in the afternoon and once more in the evening. They were not very happy being locked up in the basement for the weekend.
Oh well we get to have more fun in 2 weeks when the WC and JH/SH group are here. Only get to run M in the WC as Eden and I are judging the I and the X and I am judging the JH/SH.
Sorry no pictures as we are the last bastion of dial up on the fast of the Earth and posting takes forever.

[TuMicks]

It was a concept that we have done many times and it was on our own pond only run in the opposite direction to what we normally run. Over a point, past a point and then pick up the bird just before a narrow channel into open water.

Was the bird on a rat trap? Just curious. It sure sounds like he was in a sweat about getting in trouble for beaching. Then having gotten out, then gotten in again... dude! I better hit the beach for sure this time.

Who knows what they are really thinking. I was training with a pro once and my dog did something I wasn't expecting. I asked the pro... "Why do they do that?" He just looked at me and said "'cause they're dogs".

[Anna Scott]

You are right they're dogs. I can't get all bent out of shape when they do something contrary. You just have to work on it the next time. Levy and I are just getting into forming a partnership. Things my sister lets him away with I don't so he is learning my way of handling. Yesterday we did a long angle entry blind and he really wanted to cheat the shore. it took a few whistles and some attrition but once I got him on the line and into the water I didn't have to blow another whistle. Initial lines are something he and I need. to come to terms with.
Spent 3 days training with the pro and his wife that were staying here. He has been in the game for a long time. I like the way he worked with his young dogs.

[TuMicks]

Yep. Get the initial line right and you're 80% there!