NA test at Highland > GSP Forum

Unanswered Active Topics

Forums Search

Forums > General > Performance Events

Subject: NA test at Highland

Prev Next

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

dgrracing

SE Michigan

SH
Posts:59

09/15/2008 10:22 AM
Well in the spirit of helping others and not everytime do we have "sucess" along the bumpy road of training our dogs... Niki and I didn't have the best results at her NA test.. She failed to "prize" as for whatever reason refused to point a bird. Frustrating to say the least as I expected to easily walk away with a prize 1.. I guess overconfidence has a way to come back and bite you.. She "aced" the tracking part which is what I was concerned with, as well she aced the swimming portion. She just wouldn't point a bird.. It could have been partly due to the day long of pouring down rain as the other participants all had issues as well. The only other thing was that she had never seen or smelled a Chukar before. Not sure if that would have any bearing or not.. Below is a comment that I received from one of the judges.. I give credit to all of the judges as they gave her every possible chance and they tried to set her up for sucess but she just chose to wander on in and chase versus point. I'm disappointed in the results but it was just not "her day"... I still had fun even though I was soaked to the bone like everyone else. I met some nice people and learned a lot from my first time ever experience with NAVHDA.. "Hi Dennis, I'm glad you had a good time and you have a very nice dog. I didn't realize she hadn't been on chucker before and I would bet that's why she didn't point them. They need to be exposed to the different types of game to become familiar with the different scents. I feel pretty confident that if you took her out on as little as 2 training sessions on chucker, she's be pointing them as you expected to see. Keep working with her and have a great hunting season. Lisa"

Rugergundog User is Offline

Saginaw Michigan USA

MH
Posts:395

01/09/2009 7:49 PM
Little late but i just read this thread. I would beg to bet that the different bird did not have as much of as impact on your pup not pointing as the weather, scent polluted field and overall maturity level. How many months old was your pup at the time of the test? General belief in the scientific field is that game birds that feed on similiar foods (i.e. grain) give off the same scent signature. Birds like ducks and woodcock that feast on a lot of vegitation and worms give off another. Might be a bit late being this is a september thread but if your pup was young maybe you could test again this spring.

Saginaw Michigan Brittany- Ruger GSP- Kilian

dgrracing

SE Michigan

SH
Posts:59

01/10/2009 7:03 PM
She was 11 months old at the time of the test and is 15 months now.... The test was fun but I did it primarily at the request of the breeder.. Over the fall she did just fine, pointing well on pheasant, grouse and woodcock, all native birds of Michigan.. At the test it poured monoon type rain all day long. She'd find the birds just wouldn't point them she'd just go in after the bird.. At the test I found out that I couldn't "whoa" her (no verbal commands are allowed) So my lack of knowledge attributed to what happened as well. I was disappointed and frustrated at the time but that was my ego and selfish pride. Now the test seems like a small issue. Having 1 season under her belt she's doing just fine.. I'm a "lone" foot hunter and not a competition handler. In the end being with my dog on a beautiful fall day in the woods is better than any high score at a competiton.

Rugergundog User is Offline

Saginaw Michigan USA

MH
Posts:395

01/11/2009 5:19 PM
I agree with you 100%...right on brotha!!!!!! Indeed tests and letters after the dogs name on paper do not make better hunters. NA test is just a good indicator of a pups potential...........but on a day as you described its unrealistic to expect a pup to show its full possible potential...heck seasoned dogs struggle some when conditions go bad.

Saginaw Michigan Brittany- Ruger GSP- Kilian

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

01/12/2009 6:21 AM
As a hunter, a dog should not point a bird that can not fly. It should pick it up and bring it to the hunter. There are several rules that I would not expect my dogs to follow in a hunting situation.When running games tho, the dog must follow the rules. The rules, sometimes, have nothing to do with reality. Unfortunatly, to many people see test scores as the value of a dog. Many breeders will only breed dogs that have titles. It's what sells the litter. I know for a fact that test scores do not show the entire picture of a dog, handler or circumstances. Go to enough "games" and it is obvious what is missing in many dogs. At tests I would like to see more nose,drive and intelligence. I know you fulfilled your obligation to the breeder but due to the score maybe you would want to consider running UPT. Just to be fair to the breeder and their hard work in producing a dog you enjoy so much. 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

Rugergundog User is Offline

Saginaw Michigan USA

MH
Posts:395

01/13/2009 6:04 AM
Unno about my dogs being able to tell the birds can not fly....but they will not point a dead bird. For instance a bird in a launcher obviously can not fly....in fact the dog can not ( or at least shouldn't) even be able to see the bird to visualy tell if it can fly. But indeed a dead bird or any animal gives off a different scent than living. I do agree titles are what sell litters as they are a form way to judge the sire and dam to a standard.

Saginaw Michigan Brittany- Ruger GSP- Kilian

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

01/13/2009 6:25 AM
A bird in a launcher is able to fly,it is being restrained by unnatural forces. A wet bird,wounded bird and dead bird give off a different scent. A dog should know the difference,experience teaches this. Yes, testing is an excellent way of begining to know which litters are worth looking at. It does not tell you however how the ability,temperment and health of each pup.Truth is, depending on the testing sysytem, you don't know the health and temperment of the dog tested,anyway.

"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

04/01/2009 2:11 PM
In her trial run for the upcoming NA Tessa (9 months) finally found one of three quail and went into a brief point, froze up for a second before the bird flew up and was chased by my dog. It was a very short and not too convincing point but enough for everyone to notice. Not sure how she will do on Saturday. That will be her weak spot, due to lack of exposure to game birds mostly. But we are not there for prizes. Of course, I want her to pass, but if not, like Francine says, we will go straight for the UPT. Overall, given both mine and my dog's inexperience, I look at the test as a training session, the test fee is not that bad considering it includes the birds and constructive input from a lot of knowledgable people.

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

04/02/2009 5:13 AM
Going into a test a handler should already know the natural ability of the dog. No one should rely on a test to put a value on their dog. This is something, as an owner,trainer,handler, that ought to be known well before test day,thru training and just knowing your dog.Tests would be better handled by some individuals of they went into it with the attitude of using the test as a guage of progress, instead of a personal pride issue. A first dog is just that, a first dog. Each dog teaches the trainer to be better and more experienced.A first dog, a second dog teach the trainer/handler where their shortcomings are as a trainer and how to read dogs better. When I see a pro trainer stuggle or worry thru a test I know the dog does not have what it takes and if it gets by it was due to the trainer and not any ability of the dog.

"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

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Forums > General > Performance Events > NA test at Highland

ActiveForums 3.7