A duck search is not the same as retrieving ducks at a duck hunt.

A duck search is about a duck (or scent of a duck) not seen by the dog. I train with no gun shot.My dogs have to trust me when I send them that there is something out there.

Independence,cooperation,boldness,intelligence,prey drive,stamina, endurance,nose and confidence.In essence, it is the heart of a dog.

I have immense pleasure training our young dog in this type of hunt.

This is some cover that is easy to loose a dog in. Haiko is a big boy and it was just over his head. I have said prays more then once but the truth is, he knows where I am and does come back. I worry b/c of roads and well, i'm a mother, if I can't see you, you're to far away. Drives my kids nuts, too.

"Erroneous"?  Exactly where have I erred?  I attended German Tests in Germany over 25 years ago and I know what they are about. 

As for the Duck search, no we're not just picking up floaters.  We have far more dry land than water and more often than not the dogs end up having to spend more time searching the land than the water. 

Admittedly though I never bring a lawn chair.  We are there to recover game not to see if our dogs will wonder around aimlessly for two hours searching for ducks that don't exist.

My point was, and remains that you could learn a great deal, broaden your horizons, and have a lot of fun if you'd get out and attend/ enter some field trials.

I have spent two pages being patient, answering your questions and trying to be completely professional and informative.

Nonetheless, you have demonstrated that you have no desire to learn anything about field trialing, nor the dogs or people involved in the sport so obviously your only reason to participate in this thread was to denigrate the dogs and the game.

That being the case I'm through, I will no longer participate in derailing this thread.

You don't participate in AKC trials or hunt tests, and refuse to consider doing so, so obviously this thread, or the outcome of the decision doesn't affect you.

Once again Pixie you are demonstrating your lack of even a basic understanding of field trial rules and proceedures.

The rule for trackers is that once you call for the tracker your dog is finished and out of contention.  Had  you read the proposed rules for the Garmin the same holds true.

Rick posted this link in his original post.  I'll post it again in case anyone else missed it.

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/events/field_trials/pointing_breeds/GPS_tracking_collars_0409.pdf

Again, you need to get out to and even participate in some trials and learn what actually goes on before criticizing.

I find this discussion quite interesting.  Admittedly pixiebee doesn't AKC field trial her dogs, neither do I.  Like me, her dog(s) do for her what she wants them to do, and I am certain that they do it with great poise, tradition and well bred instinct no doubt a product of her great training. 

What I don't understand is why she takes to task an issue that really doesn't pertain to her situation.  It makes for an interesting read and does inspire some good conversation that may be better utilized in a different thread, but gets way off point to the intent of the original post.  Stop picking non-sensical fights , it cheapens shorthairs.net.   

Quote from Francine:

I am looking at this from a foot hunter's,versatile tester's,breeding point of view.

EXACTLY. Your perspective is not the same as those who run field trials, myself included. Your definition of a desirable dog is different than that of field trials. It does not make either perspective wrong. The problem here is your assertion that anything other than your desired traits in a dog is bad. Your dog would fail miserably at field trials. Therefore, he isn't the type of dog a field trialer would want. That doesn't, however, diminish his value to you. Similarly, you wouldn't necessarily think the skills our field trial dogs have are desirable. Live and let live. If you aren't interested in seeing what trials dogs are and can do, don't presume to judge.

Jean