:'( :'(
This is cross-posted in Hunting, but a couple of people had asked what the results of our first try were . Not good.
It was very disappointing. We ran Sat and Sunday at the hunt test in D'Hanis. Sat it was heavy cover, but he went out straight as an arrow. I think I blew the come back too soon. I couldn't tell when he had his mouth on the duck because the grass was so high. Next thing I know here he comes without it. Gets almost back, realized he doesn't have what he's supposed to, goes back and gets it. Still too bad. Auto disqualify.
Sunday morning the conditions were slightly worse. Still very tall cover (for me!) About 1.5 feet high. Still wet with dew, and absolutely no wind. His manners coming to the line were beautiful, no wiggling in the holding blind, beautiful marking, went to get it straight, back in perfectly, heeled up, delivered to hand. No sticking, no grabbing at it, no nothing wrong. I turn for the second mark. Send him. He stops short, and smells the girl dog pee that the previous contestant had so thoughtfully left. Then he can't find the bird, and since he doesn't handle there is nothing I can do. He hunts for a while and then comes back in. I was so disappointed. I saw dogs who threw their handlers all over getting to the line, who romped all over the field before stumbling on the duck, who played keep away with it when they got back! But I understand that at this level the object is get out there, get it, and get back. We didn't manage to do that.
We may try again on the 28th in Giddings, if not then, then on May 5 in Buckholtz.
Frances
This is cross-posted in Hunting, but a couple of people had asked what the results of our first try were . Not good.
It was very disappointing. We ran Sat and Sunday at the hunt test in D'Hanis. Sat it was heavy cover, but he went out straight as an arrow. I think I blew the come back too soon. I couldn't tell when he had his mouth on the duck because the grass was so high. Next thing I know here he comes without it. Gets almost back, realized he doesn't have what he's supposed to, goes back and gets it. Still too bad. Auto disqualify.
Sunday morning the conditions were slightly worse. Still very tall cover (for me!) About 1.5 feet high. Still wet with dew, and absolutely no wind. His manners coming to the line were beautiful, no wiggling in the holding blind, beautiful marking, went to get it straight, back in perfectly, heeled up, delivered to hand. No sticking, no grabbing at it, no nothing wrong. I turn for the second mark. Send him. He stops short, and smells the girl dog pee that the previous contestant had so thoughtfully left. Then he can't find the bird, and since he doesn't handle there is nothing I can do. He hunts for a while and then comes back in. I was so disappointed. I saw dogs who threw their handlers all over getting to the line, who romped all over the field before stumbling on the duck, who played keep away with it when they got back! But I understand that at this level the object is get out there, get it, and get back. We didn't manage to do that.
We may try again on the 28th in Giddings, if not then, then on May 5 in Buckholtz.
Frances
