Competing With Your Dog

[agilityk9trainer]

I wish I could see the trophy better. I thought it looked like one that was very important! How sad that your husband couldn't go to handle her. My dogs wouldn't work that well for another handler, but perhaps field is different from agility in that respect.

Thanks for the story. Dee sounds like a fantastic dog. I knew you had won several highly coveted top honors. I don't remember seeing Dee's picture. Have you ever posted it?

[applesmom]

I wish I could see the trophy better. I thought it looked like one that was very important! How sad that your husband couldn't go to handle her. My dogs wouldn't work that well for another handler, but perhaps field is different from agility in that respect.

Thanks for the story. Dee sounds like a fantastic dog. I knew you had won several highly coveted top honors. I don't remember seeing Dee's picture. Have you ever posted it?

We trained together often and Dee had known Bill from the day she was born. Field trials are quite different from agility, especially with the pointing breeds. Field trial grounds can cover hundreds of acres.

For the most part the dog works independently and often out of sight of the handler. Each handler has a scout who rides ahead to keep track of where the dogs are if they range out of sight. The scouts have no interaction with the dog--they're just spotters. Of course, the handlers, scouts and judges don't have any idea where the birds are; it's strictly up to the dogs and their abilities to find them.

The dog is sparingly guided by the handlers whistle when necessary (mostly to keep them on course) until the dog actually makes contact with a bird(s). At that point the handler will dismount and flush the bird or have the dog relocate if necessary. The handler does not carry a shotgun. If the birds are to be shot; they are shot by official "gunners" and the dog must remain steady until it is sent for the retrieve. Once the bird is delivered "softly and tenderly to hand" the dog is sent off to continue hunting.

Compared to other competitive venues, there isn't a whole lot to "handling" a pointing dog once they have been properly trained.


I haven't posted any photo's of Dee because I couldn't find any. No digital cameras in those days! I did come across an an 8X10 the other day but haven't had time to sit down and scan it and reduce the size yet.

Here is a closer look at the artwork.

[agilityk9trainer]

It is beautiful artwork.

You'll need to get that pic of Dee put into a more durable format (ie. a CD), and then post a pic of her for us to see. Either her or on the other forum./ Also, what titles did she wind up with? In other words, ad death what was her formal name with all the initials, etc.?