Sep 29, 2009 - Sky’s first master hunter leg

Sky and I attended the hunt test this weekend.  Yes, it was quite obvious that judges do play a role in whether you qualify!!!!   Sat, the judges wanted a big running dog--- I do not have that!!

 Sky is a close working hunting dog; I can see her at all times and know what is up! Both dogs on Sat worked basically the same, except that the English setter ran big and was not able to be seen all the time!  Both dogs did the same bird actions.  Sky had to honor three times (Sky’s mother, Aries, would have never done that!!!).   After the event the gunner asked my name and the other handler both said congratulation on your leg!!   I received my score and noticed that she did not meet the overall average and received an NQ. I told the trial secretary that the judges would never see my face again!

I heard that comment from several others that ran under them.  Yes - listed as test hunt judges, but these two run in field trials!!! 

We got ourselves back in line and faced the guns again!

 We were braced with a female GSP Sunday. Sky hunted the same all the way to the bird field! Both dogs were bird-less in the bird field and cross over the road into the distant field.  The other dog found a bird, which flew toward a little tree where Sky was moving.  Sky stopped to flush, and watched me try to flush the bird running around the base of tree.   From my experience with Aries, I tried to out think the bird’s intentions!   The bird was moving clockwise, with Sky at 7 o'clock.  The bird stopped at 1 o'clock, I have now gone around the back of Sky to cut it off.  I used my left leg around the base of the tree to prevent it from traveling counterclockwise back to Sky.  It worked! The bird flew wide counterclockwise.   A shot came from the cap gun; we were off back to the bird field with the wind now in our face.   Sky found a bird, which I saw and set my strategies.  Didn't that bird fly up a foot and land; I tried to pick it up but it flew toward the other dog on honor!

 I warned the owner that I would try to push bird away from his dog; didn't that bird go right at that dog’s mouth!!!!   I felt bad-- it is such a game!   Now, we still had to retrieve and honor!!  It was now least half an hour that we had been working.  The other dog found a bird along the wooded brush and was very difficult to see due to color of dog!  The judge was very fair to tell me to keep my dog back since they could not have a shot and would be a difficult honor.  Each of the next several birds Sky located - popped up and landed just as she located them!   Finally, we located one that the judge said to pick up and throw.  I did. The bird went up and then straight down!!   The judge yelled “Shoot the bird!”.  Sky was sent to a smoking bird!!!   Straight to and straight back!!!  

 Now Sky had to come in for the honor.  Another set up; I could see that Sky was confused to this next task, as to the way it was handled.  As the other dog was being set up for the find; I tried to line up Sky.  At first she was trying to search for another bird, but as she soon realized all persons in the field are staying still.  She was able to locate the dog (dark roan) ahead of her- an honor is established.  Now for the flush!   The other handler tried to pick up the bird, but it flew.  The dog broke and went thru a thicket of cover to grab the bird.  The entire way back to the handler the dog was chewing the bird!  I have been there with Aries!!!   It has been an hour of field work with these two dogs!!!    Yes, we did qualify under these two judges!!!  What an experience – unlike any other I have had!!!

 Sky's first Master Hunter Leg!!!   YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

We traveled to a beautiful farm in Chester Springs, PA  where the English Cocker Club of America was holding a flushing hunt test!

Caprice was able to successfully complete the last two legs of her JH title (4 legs or qualifying scores).   The flushing dogs have to do so much more for the JH than the Pointing JH test.   Caprice had three flushes the first day with no birds hit by the gunners.  A bird was thrown for a retrieve; Caprice was able to use her nose and wind to locate the bird for a great retrieve (I could hear the judge say comments as to where the bird was thrown and Caprice's marking ability as she traveled across the field- "OH NO!", but she used the skills that she had learned ). 

 The second day was totally different, due to frost and shade of trees.  Caprice worked close to me until she moved to the sunny section of the field.  A bird went up and was shot landing outside the field cover on the other side of a wire fence.  Caprice took a direct line to the bird and searched where the feathers fell; With all the practice this past summer, she was able to go beyond the field cover to the fence and much lower cover for a long retrieve back to me.  I set her up again and realized that I was standing on her foot- a cry came out of Caprice as she started to take off in the direction that I set her!  I told her I was sorry!   As I sent her again- a quick flush; the bird flew behind us, the "NO BIRD" command came into play.  We have been training for that very scenario. Caprice returned to my side in quick fashion.

 The judges told us,  “We have seen enough - thank you!".

This girl has come along way with all the practice sessions this past summer with the home raised chukkar chicks and then hatched eggs from the wintered over adult chukkars.

Both days, the water retrieves were prefect - straight out and back to hand!!  The first day was interesting, due to a branch floating in the lake where the chukkar had been thrown.  Caprice had to maneuver around this obstacle for the water retrieve!  It was interesting to watch how determined she was to reach the bird!   We all remember just a short time ago how she rather swim, than retrieve the bird to me!

Sky, Aries' daughter, had a fantastic year in the fields!   We started in June with the Senior Hunt test and ended in August with the heat playing a big part of whether we succeeded in finding birds.   Sky was such a change from Aries; she listened and used her skills to qualify at 4 of the 5 attempts in Seniors.  I became much more confident at the start line to being able to handle my dog to meet the judge’s requirements at this level of the hunt test.

I decided to go directly into the Master Hunt test the next opportunity. The first time out in September, Sky had three finds, three honors, and two non productive finds (feathers) but the judges did not Q her due to hunting ability- a 5!   Even the gunners congratulated her on her first attempt in Master in the field.  The next day we had a marathon of a run - an hour in the field- but we had our first Q!  The skills were better the first day, but go figure . .

 I waited several weeks until clubs in Ohio were offering tests.  The first weekend at the Keeton's,  Sky double Q'd in Masters!!!   Wow, what a weekend that was.  I was very slow due to a sprained ankle that was wrapped several ways to brace it.   My two running mates really sided with me; they slowed down in the back course to reach the bird field in plenty of time for all to Q.  Oh, was I hurting!!

I decided to enter the following weekend, but all failed in the two braces I ran with.  The first day the gunners missed my birds for the third time, the judges decided to throw me a dead bird (another dog's dead bird) with no gun fire.  Sky went for the bird, picked it up, and half way back spit it out.  I gave a second command "take it" and received a 3 for this.  I know she questioned the taste of another dog on her bird- OH WELL! 

On the first day, both handlers ran to the bird field and left me behind hobbling slowly.  The second day I did not even reach the woods, Sky  interfered with a honor just inside the woods for a Non Q ( I did not see this).  I decided to leave the course.   I was so upset due to my ankle hurting! Little did I know that my ankle was not sprained but the long bone in my left leg was broken (not dog related but a slip at home!)

The following weekend a one day test was offered at the Keeton's. I now had a new brace, and a walking shoe. The Hunt test challenged Sky with a similar retrieve. I said nothing to Sky after the initial command.  Sky did her usual drop, roll bird in mouth, and pick up to hand with a score of 8 and another Q- our 4th Q.

We need just one more pass!  I entered the Ohio German Shorthaired Club of America.  Sky's brace mate was a Viszula- DC MH.  My original brace-mate pulled; the other four dogs in Masters could not run due the running order.  Sky had a blast!!   Honoring is her favorite; with that out of the way, we were in the field by ourselves for the retrieve.  The first find the gunner missed and off we went again.  The time ran out and a bird was planted for the retrieve.  Sky located the bird and I flushed it.  The gunner shot it straight away.   I sent Sky who found the feathers and was set on the bird being where the feather fell.  I could not count the numerous circles in the attempt she made to locate the bird.  She finally gave up and went one more square to find the bird and retrieve it to my feet. I did make her pick it up, to retrieve to my hand!

We passed - a new Master Hunter!

It sure was a fun year; thankful that Sky can now hunt for wild birds and show us some real hunting fun!!

2004 News Page

2005 News Page

2006-07 News Page

2008 News Page

End of News