Saturday, November 24, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Practice update
Larsen and I spent an hour or so with Tim Pullian going through steadying drills. I spent some time heeling him and sitting him. I also let him run the field and sat him. A lot of sitting drills that can be transferred to yard work and walks. I need to sharpen his obedience so that Larsen sits without thinking.
Larsen was steady with live, fluttering pigeons tossed at him and around him.
He broke immediately upon flushing his lone chukar. Tim was pretty sure that he was ready for a flush, but it turned out to be premature. Those chukar still provide too much temptation to a wild and uncontrolled flush.
My takeaway for the weekend was to be vigilant on our walks to peeps on the whistle for a quick sit.
Larsen was steady with live, fluttering pigeons tossed at him and around him.
He broke immediately upon flushing his lone chukar. Tim was pretty sure that he was ready for a flush, but it turned out to be premature. Those chukar still provide too much temptation to a wild and uncontrolled flush.
My takeaway for the weekend was to be vigilant on our walks to peeps on the whistle for a quick sit.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Stake out
A stake can be useful during the warmer months. I hesitate to pop Larsen into the station wagon right after a run. I'd like to let him stay in a shady spot on some thick grass where some air can circulate.
The stake (or tie out) is handy for that. You can pound in the stake with a small sledge (which I happen to have) and then just loop the British lead over the stake. I've found that Larsen, like many spaniels, does not test the robustness of the stake even if he keens to get back onto the field. In the one pictured below, I pound it in about to the wings. Not much more.
I find that the straight stake and a small sledge is better than the screw-type tie out (also pictured below) due to the hard Georgia clay. The benefit of the screw type (which I also have somewhere in the basement) is that you don't need to tote a sledge.
The one pictured below is about $5 at gundogsupply.
Just pound this in and loop the lead over the top.
This stake is handy where the soil is soft.
The stake (or tie out) is handy for that. You can pound in the stake with a small sledge (which I happen to have) and then just loop the British lead over the stake. I've found that Larsen, like many spaniels, does not test the robustness of the stake even if he keens to get back onto the field. In the one pictured below, I pound it in about to the wings. Not much more.
I find that the straight stake and a small sledge is better than the screw-type tie out (also pictured below) due to the hard Georgia clay. The benefit of the screw type (which I also have somewhere in the basement) is that you don't need to tote a sledge.
The one pictured below is about $5 at gundogsupply.
Just pound this in and loop the lead over the top.
Monday, November 12, 2012
The master tap
Your dog flushes the bird and the gunners shoot it. The judge is satisfied that your dog is steady to wing and shot. The judge taps your shoulder indicating that you may send your dog for the retrieve.
Judge Susan Willingham tells Marilyn Burke that it is ok to send Graham.
Larsen's WSSCA Hunt Test results
For Larsen and me, the results were discouraging. Larsen broke through the bird with nary a care in the world on both days, basically erasing from his mind any thought of steadiness to wing and shot. That was monumentally disappointing, and the reality of a summer of work going up in an instant is only now starting to sink in.
I'll have to revise my methods, somehow. My immediate thought is to sit him at every opportunity near and far and any time I toss a bumper, even in the most mindless game.
On the positive side, Larsen's delivery to hand of the fetched bird were very good. He hunted with enthusiasm and with intelligence, using the wind and terrain and responding to quiet whistles.
Also on the positive side, participants seemed to have a good time generally, winners and losers a like.
I'll have to revise my methods, somehow. My immediate thought is to sit him at every opportunity near and far and any time I toss a bumper, even in the most mindless game.
On the positive side, Larsen's delivery to hand of the fetched bird were very good. He hunted with enthusiasm and with intelligence, using the wind and terrain and responding to quiet whistles.
Also on the positive side, participants seemed to have a good time generally, winners and losers a like.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Steady, boy
This weekend is our first go for a Master Hunter leg.
The little dog has the pieces. He has flashes where everything is there. But it is not consistent. He has not assembled the pieces into a coherent whole, and, as a result, he can explode at any time. He'll sit on pigeon. But, sitting to a flushed chukar is another bird altogether. That difference may be because I've trained him for years on chukar while letting him have is head. In contrast, he didn't like, and we didn't use, pigeon much at all when he was a pup.
The weekend looks to be bright, sunny, and cool in northeastern Alabama. Perfect for spectators and participants. Maybe a little warm for dogs, so we'll have a lot of water around.
Larsen and I look forward to stepping onto the field.
The little dog has the pieces. He has flashes where everything is there. But it is not consistent. He has not assembled the pieces into a coherent whole, and, as a result, he can explode at any time. He'll sit on pigeon. But, sitting to a flushed chukar is another bird altogether. That difference may be because I've trained him for years on chukar while letting him have is head. In contrast, he didn't like, and we didn't use, pigeon much at all when he was a pup.
The weekend looks to be bright, sunny, and cool in northeastern Alabama. Perfect for spectators and participants. Maybe a little warm for dogs, so we'll have a lot of water around.
Larsen and I look forward to stepping onto the field.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Burge blast
Larsen and I joined other spaniel lovers for a weekend at Burge Plantation in middle Georgia. Trainer Joe Demarkis was there to help people prepare for the WSSCA test on November 10-11. As always, the hospitality from hosts Amy and Dave made the event memorable.
Larsen enoys the view.
Plenty of field work for these dogs.
Frank M. and Ryder consider their options.
Larsen says thanks for bringing me here.
Plenty of field work for these dogs.
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