Hills Ferry Senior HT

[TuMicks]

I just got back from being with my mother and assisting her through some minor surgery. I'd not had a chance to describe what many people feel was a very solid Senior Test. A Senior is not easy to put together and these judges did a great job.

I thought this this big swing would be more challenging than it was. On the blind, I was very afraid RD would get loose on the end and duck behind the row of cover to hunt in the flier scent, so I kept her very, very tight and didn't let her get any momentum. Only one dog out of 16 failed it. There was one controlled break on the flier. Nice little dog. Maybe more wired, even than RD, which is hard to do.

The judges felt that there were control issues and poor gun handling on the first series, so they added more of that to their second series. I got dinged for not shouldering the gun on the second bird down. (I was probably transfixed by my dog creeping to the water's edge.)

So it was a good test.

[Anna Scott]

They both look like good fair tests but boy those short distances would have my hair on fire, if not "M" . We are working really hard on these concepts right now in order to do the working certificates and SH. In Canada the marks can be up to 80 yds and no less than 20 yds in an SH. What are the max distances in the AKC?
Playing back and forth from FT to HT I find that it is nice to have some delineation in the HT as you never know what is going to be thrown at you in a FT. It becomes a game of know your judges, which ones like to throw the distance and which ones are more into strategic shorter marks. Hope this weekends will be the moderate type.
I also appreciate that your judges put an emphasis on shouldering the gun and controlling it. I get myself into trouble with my big mouth at times. After witnessing poor gun handling at test one time I stepped out of the holding blind and said, "Are we playing rifleman this weekend and shooting from the hip"? The handler before me had use the gun to push her dog's head towards each mark and had never raised the gun above hip level. It drove me nuts! This was a master test!

[TuMicks]

In AKC HT's, Junior and Senior distances "should not normally exceed 100 yards." For Master "should not normally exceed 150 yards". This means that as the dog progresses to the Master, they'll see more and more stuff but not in that much greater distances. So things get complex and crowded. Instead of a double with a blind outside of the marks, you get a triple (or more) with a double blind in between the marks (and often under the arc.) A judge can get really devious such that any sort of big hunt and the dog is immediately in trouble. By that I mean, the AOF sort of explains itself... if the dog over-runs or under-shoots, or takes a bad line... he'll get into serious suction or some other problem and eliminate themselves. And naturally, the gunners are supposed to be concealed.

I know this has caused one of those never-ending debates about which dogs (FT or HT) are the best markers. It's a stupid argument, really. HT dogs get HT concepts in training and learn to deal with those. FT dogs get the same concepts, but are taught to look WAAAaaaay far out there. It's in the training. (But I'll stick with getting predominantly FT titles in a pedigree any day.)

You can really tell which of us HT-"housewife" types have ever hunted and which just love doing dogs. I've found that the old boys who are big time hunters are very kind to people like me and always willing to give me tips.

[Anna Scott]

The flier in AKC tests is the one gigantic difference in our test. Here in Canada there are strict laws governing the use of live birds. I am judging a master with a fellow I know quite well from my HRC days. I am really looking forward to it. We will probably use live pigeons on the sit to flush in master but they will not be shot. The released birds will end up flying back home. A live flush and a missed shot simulates my day of hunting.
In our SH the blind is not supposed to be run between the marks, they should be run on grounds separate from the marks but this is not always possible. The blind(s) can be no longer than 80yds and as open as possible. They can be a land water combination. Master blinds are to the discretion of the judges. Just can't be over 100yds.

[TuMicks]

Back in the 70's and early 80's I ran FT in Western NY. There were a lot of Canadian dogs/handlers/pros that ran in our trials. They never seemed to have a problem with the live fliers. Not sure that is a handicap for you guys.

[TuMicks]

Back in the 70's and early 80's I ran FT in Western NY. There were a lot of Canadian dogs/handlers/pros that ran in our trials. They never seemed to have a problem with the live fliers. Not sure that is a handicap for you guys.

[Anna Scott]

We try to train live fliers but need someone who is a good shot to help. The dogs really love them. Right now we have a fellow having problems with his dog blinking the birds so are going to get some chukar to see if they won't turn on the jets. The pros all use fliers especially when they winter in the States.

[TuMicks]

Anna... there has been a prohibition on live fliers forever in Canada. Is that a CKC rule or is it a law/regulation of the state (province, municipalities, etc.)? Was it the result of popular opinion?

[Anna Scott]

The use of live birds must comply with the provisions of The Criminal Code (Federal ) relating to Cruelty to Animals - Causing unnecessary suffering. No live birds can be released from a trap or mechanical device during tests. This applies mainly to upland test. Judges up here are always there to take the bird from the handler and then hand it to a marshal to hang. I have been to one test where the judge was not quick enough to take the bird and the handler dropped it on the ground behind him. The judges very quickly told him to pick it up and he was warned not to "commit indignities to the birds". That really stuck with me.
We also have to abide by local and provincial laws. The provincial hunting regulations sets out a provision for the number of dead wild ducks that a retriever training club can have in their possess for training and trials. Each bird has to be identified ( I think they clip a toe). Our western clubs often use ducks their members have harvested. One club in Northern Ontario always gave handlers a treat as you never knew what kind of birds were going to show up, some of them were even breasted and taped. This club is a one man operation and bless his soul he has kept it running for years. Even has hosted a couple of Nationals. It is held in a beautiful area.`

[TuMicks]

I am squeamish about not-quite-dead ducks when I'm working the line as a marshal. I hate it when the gunners don't hit them square. I've learned how to quickly and unobtrusively dispatch them, but I really don't like it.