A good day (for the most part) in the hunt field

**imported_Belles mom** · 05-20-2007, 10:59 AM

We went to the GLHRC Hunt test yesterday near Ionia. I took Belle, Kodi and Hoss at the Started level.

Because Belle has the title, I handled the gun and tried putting Seasoned expectations on her at the Started level. The Land portion was first, with both ducks landing about 40 yards away in shin high grass at the crest of hills. Belle broke on the second duck just as I got the "FFFFFF" of "Fetch it!" out. The judges gave me a warning and said they'd be particularily critical on the water portion. On the water, I added an "ACK!" just after the shot which nailed her little hinny to the ground and she performed flawlessly. The water portion a a nice straight forward first bird, and the second landed just beyond a penninsula, and I think every dog ran the "bank" on the way back (which was actually tall hummocks and water inbetween)

Kodi, happily "put a cork in it" and remained out of heat for the day. I think she'll be in season by next Sunday (next hunt test) but we'll see. They had a vet do the "Bitch Check" and she asked the Kodi go last. She said her stud would sniff her out she was so close. That was fine with me, but it made for a long day with Hoss running #4, Belle #12 and Kodi #35 (last)! Kodi nailed all marks, but just had to tweek it a bit and on the first land mark went right to it, nosed it and then do a "victory lap" to check for anything else that might be interesting and then picked up the duck and return. The water went well.

Hoss, was the best, and went straight out and back on all retrieves. On the second water retrieve, there was a goose family about thirty yards beyond where the duck was landing. (Hoss at this point was the #3 dog), and the geese came out to see what was going on...just for him! Fortunately, this is exactly what we work on in practice becasue there are so many goose families at work, and we have to "train around" them so to speak.

Red (my co-own) did not pass however. He went right to the land marks but would not bring them back. Joe (his owner) however does little to no training with him, and just thinks that Red will do it. "Maybe" he'll learn something from this and work on it this week. I have tried to show Joe what to do, and how to work on things, but short of my actually training Red, I am not sure it will happen. Very frustrating, because Red has the potential to go incredably far especially in the hunt test world.

Over all a very good day though. In the raffle, I won 6 decoys, two knives and a $50.00 gift certificate for a winger! Joe won 12 decoys, a starter's pistol, a knife, and something else I can not remember!

I was SOOOO tired when I got home, and still had to go to work and "do babies" (hatching pheasants and ducks)!

**Dani** · 05-20-2007, 11:05 AM

Wow..congrats!!! Sounds like you had a pretty good day!

**georgie** · 05-20-2007, 11:18 AM

Congratulations. What a great day for you & your labs.

It's funny people think just because they are "retrievers" they will do the hunt test without any training. It's very hard work. There is alot of hours of training put in to make the dogs "look" like it is effortless.

**BrucesMom** · 05-20-2007, 11:46 AM

Congrats sounds like an awesome day.

**Adorablelabs** · 05-20-2007, 01:47 PM

Congratulations. Sounds like a great day. Bet you slept well when you came home after work!!!

**WeHeartLabs** · 05-20-2007, 02:01 PM

I bet youre still asleep! I'm tired just reading about that day.

Congrats on your great day! Well done Team Belle, Kodi and Hoss

Emma's mother finished her MH this past weekend