pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
 |
| 09/21/2009 8:07 AM |
|
This past weekend we traveled over 7 hours each way to enter a German breed test with Bregon. Being just about 17 months old you never know what will pop into their heads and if they will focus on tasks.
Well, yesterday Bregon showed how well he can focus. We recieved a prize I.
He pointed a pheasant that was not part of our test,did a wonderful job of relocating her and tracked her and brought her back. She was pelleted from another clubs training day so this was a good thing he retrieved her.
During his blind retrieve of a duck in water he did a great job. Conditions were tough but he used his nose.
His 350 meter rabbit drag was also tough. It ran just feet from a pond and I thought for sure he was off the track and going to go for a swim
but when the blood drained from my face the judge told me not to worry, he's on the track.
The rules were changed a bit in Germany and now the dog must make 5 retrieves(4 duck-1 on land,3 in water and 1 rabbit) to pass and Bregon had 6 b/c of his pheasant. It makes for one long,nervous day.
But, we all survived to talk about it.
All the dogs there were good.One dog was real impressive.
Isabella vom Beaver Creeks.She recieved a 4H in field search and 4H in search behind duck.Giving her AZP prize I.
The grounds were top notch along with the judges and all the folks invovled. Preparing a dog for this test is quite the task in itself and all the handlers and dogs deserve an applause.
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
DesertRoseKennel
MH
Posts:1033
|
| 09/21/2009 9:24 AM |
|
Nice work Francine and Bregon! It's so much fun watching the young ones do what they were born to do.
Jean |
|
"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
|
|
Kerplunk105
Bucks County, PA
MH
Posts:713
|
| 09/21/2009 2:00 PM |
|
| That's great! Congrats! |
|
Elizabeth
Leena RIP 11/08-9/17/09
Bliss, the Labrador
Tegan, the Weim/Labrador
|
|
|
snips
n.ga.
MH
Posts:413
|
| 09/21/2009 8:48 PM |
|
Congrats Pixie...I had some friends that went up and tested. I know it is a dificult test...They had been training hard.. |
|
brenda |
|
|
TMerkler
Murfreesboro, TN
MH
Posts:217
|
| 09/21/2009 8:58 PM |
|
| Congrats! Way to go Bregon!! |
|
Terri (Dude's Mom 4ever)
Dude - GSP (RIP 2005)
Tyler - GSP
Charlie - GSP
Zeus - Pit-ador |
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 09/22/2009 5:24 AM |
|
Thank you everyone.
I agree Jean with what you said in your other thread, it's nice to watch them learn, I just wish it wouldn't happen at a test.This was Bregon's first pheasant,ever. He knew enough about chukar I guess and it worked out.
I was sweating it. I thought he was working rabbit,b/c no one had seen the bird he had pointed and no birds were put out there. He was working and working and I'm thinking of excuses to tell the judges. Shame on me for not trusting my dog! It was good he broke point and relocated to produce a bird.
Best part of the test is everyone had a good time and we all got to see good dog work.
Francine
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 09/22/2009 10:07 AM |
|
here is a pic of Bregon re-entering the water after doing a breif bank search
this is him delivery to hand
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
|
| 09/22/2009 6:28 PM |
|
| Congrats, great job!!! I'm not familiar with this testing, can you give a run-down of it please?? |
|
|
|
|
MelB
MH
Posts:1217
|
| 09/22/2009 8:55 PM |
|
| Great job!!!!! It sounds like quite the tough test for BOTH of you! |
|
|
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 09/23/2009 5:42 AM |
|
What is sometimes an overlooked fact is that the dog being tested is really qualifying its parents as breedable,thus possibly making itself a breedable parent.
If that made any sense???
The dog is tested from the moment a judge sees your dog. (and that can be at the parking lot where we ate breakfast!)
Bregon was under judgement for 9 hours straight. As were the other dogs.
The test can begin in any order the judges choose. At one test we started off with drags,now that's where many dogs get pulled and go home,another test began with water,ect. this test began with field.
Field gun sensitivity was first - no birds, then field search - they want to see a dog hunt for the gun, no flushing,handler has to be able to approach dog and flush game,good relocating and pinning skills,checking in and handler awareness,we then went to drags - the duck drag is the easiest as far as distance goes but can be difficult if a dog does not focus,the rabbit drag is the real challenge for handlers and dogs b/c it is 350m with 2 blunt turns - focus and desire is the key - these are obedience tasks and that is what is being judged - desire to please and obey the handler, then we went to water work which is another gun sensitivity test - this can be tricky for some dogs b/c of the gunshot in front of the dog that hits the water and sprays the dog,then a blind retreive of a dead duck - this requires the dog to use it's nose and have confidence in the handler,then is the search behind a live duck - this is the best part of any test,IMO. In the test there is a total of 3 water retrieves and 2 land retrieves and whatever else a dog may find out there that needs to be retrieved as in Bregon's case of his pheasant fun. All retrieves are expected to be delivered to hand with a sit and hold until commanded to release. If a dog drops the duck at the search behind the duck the dog is out,if the dog does not retrieve a dragged game it is out,if the dog disrupts handlers and testing in any way it is out.The test can be taken a maximum of 2 times and is limited by age. I believe it can be no older than 22 months.
I have completed this test with a 15 month old dog and a 17 month old dog, some have completed the test with younger dogs.
Thanks for asking. I enjoy talking about this system.
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
Dirtysailor
Western PA
MH
Posts:134
|
| 09/23/2009 10:19 AM |
|
| Congrats that is a great accomplishment for him and you. |
|
|
|
|
zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
|
| 09/23/2009 5:57 PM |
|
Thanks for the explanation, sounds similar to NAVHDA UT with a fur retrieve. (well, I believe for the drag you can provide a furred animal if you wish)
You said if the dog disrupts handlers it is out, is there more than one dog testing at a time?? Or did you mean if it refuses a command?? |
|
|
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 09/24/2009 5:00 PM |
|
It is similiar b/c NAVHDA is based off the German system and altered to fit the American way of hunting, hence,no fur.
One big difference is that the UT is a finished test and solms is a natural ability for puppies and young dogs. In the German system there is no shot at the water. The dog must search on a command.
A disturbance is a dog barking or whining in the car or while out,tangling leashes with other dog,aggression,ect,anything that may question the temperment.
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
|
| 09/24/2009 7:19 PM |
|
| OK, that makes sense now, I didn't think dogs were run together for this. Thanks for the explanation, it sounds quite interesting, kind of like a combo of NAVHDA UT and the RDX. (in RDX there is no shot at the water for the blind) |
|
|
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 09/25/2009 8:26 AM |
|
It is a very interesting system. The utility test in this system is the VGP. It is a 2 day test of field,forest and water. The dog is evaluated in 27 catagories.
For those who see the benefit of and rely on independent evaluations and for tester fanatics this is a great system.
An aspect of european evaluations that differs from American evaluations is that europeans are more interested in after the shot performance whereas in America what a dog does before the shot is more important. Recovery of game is very important to the european hunters.
I want to encourage all GSPs to check out their local NAVHDA chapter (or FT or HT) and get out there and get involved. This breed is passionate about their inbred abilities and we should be also. Your dog will love you more for it.
Francine
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
singltrak
Las Cruces, NM
MH
Posts:1149
|
| 09/27/2009 11:42 AM |
|
Congratulations Francine and Bregon! Marvelous work for you two!
Phyllis and Tribe |
|
Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
|
|
bruns333
Central Ohio
MH
Posts:383
|
| 09/30/2009 11:42 AM |
|
| Nice job Francine and Bregon! I am glad folks are working and testing at different venues to keep good bloodlines strong. |
|
Where temperament means performance
http://silverbulletshorthairs.com/
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=721 R.I.P Trego 6-1-03 to 10-13-10
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=941
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=3626 |
|
|
Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3155
|
| 10/01/2009 6:46 AM |
|
| Great job! |
|
 |
|
|
pixie bee
MH
Posts:4476
|
| 10/01/2009 9:21 AM |
|
Thanks everyone.
I like training and testing and most of all I like to watch dogs work. And when it's my own dogs doing a good job it makes me all the more pleased.
We live in a country that allows these great freedoms and I will continue to support hunting and hunting dogs.
Francine
|
|
"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
|
|
|
TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
|
| 10/02/2009 3:10 PM |
|
Oh darn, I so totally missed this...need to check this forum more often - congrats Bregon and Francine! But why...am I not surprised?  |
|
To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
 |
|
|