Welcome to the This ‘N That Thursday blog hop!
A little of this and a little of that and everything in between…
I am still trying to catch up from my weekend of working at the hunt test. The week before we were dressed in winter clothes but for the hunt test it was hot and sunny with temperatures in the 80’s.
I was working as the Marshall. The Marshall’s main job is to organize the running order so that the test keeps moving. Sometimes handlers are at other stakes or may be running multiple dogs at your stake. Even though there is a set running order, you usually have to adjust it. You also may have to call around to other stakes to see if a handler can break away to come and run their dog at your stake. The Rules state that the Master test takes priority so you can request those handlers come over, but you cannot make them if they are waiting over at the Master stake to run their dogs. Most people are very helpful and work with you so that the test doesn’t have to stop and wait for too long a time. The pros at this test were very good at anticipating when they might need to run a dog and usually showed up just as I was starting to look for them.
I worked the Junior stake on Saturday and the Senior stake on Sunday. The judges setting up these tests set up a super long walk from the parking to the test and from my Marshall station to the line. I must have walked 100 miles over the course of the weekend. Not really, but I was pooped.
I wanted to take some pictures of the running dogs but every time I thought to get my camera out, the judges wanted something. The only picture that I took was the one I posted of Thunder yesterday. The judges had asked for a “set-up” dog. A “set-up” dog is used to retrieve practice marks. Sometime the judges want to check where the mark is going to fall or to check the equipment. I figured I could finally get a couple of pictures of a dog working.
Thunder’s handler took him all the way down to the line and the judges decided they did not need a “set-up” dog after all. In the end all he did was eat a few blades of grass and I only got the one picture.
I was able to watch Freighter’s sister Sunny run the Junior test on Saturday. It was a very difficult Junior test. The first land mark was a hand thrown dead bird. The bird was thrown in cover and in front of a pond. Many many dogs ended up in the pond when they blew over the mark which was in the deep cover. The second land mark was a shot flyer and landed in a cut corn field on the other side of a road. The dogs had to cross the road to get the bird. Sometimes roads can be a problem for young dogs because the road may seem like a wall to them. Most dogs seemed to have less of a problem with the second mark than they did with the first mark.
The water was also very challenging. The wind was quite gusty. The first water mark was a dead bird which fell behind a little island and in a dead tree. Many dogs missed the bird and got up on the bank and ended up in the field behind the pond. The second water mark was another dead bird. It was thrown so that it fell at the edge of the pond. The dogs had to exit the water, cross a little land peninsula, and re-enter the pond. There were decoys in front of the peninsula and behind it. Many dogs looked at that second set of decoys which took the dog’s eyes off the mark.
Sunny got so close to that last mark, but couldn’t come up with it. She used her handle on the first mark of the day because she ended up in the pond. Bummer. Still for a tough test, she did OK. I was glad we did not enter Freighter. I am not sure how he would have done on that test. 🙂
I did not get to see it, but the next day Sunny earned her first Junior pass. Woohoo! Congrats to Sunny and her trainer Darrin! Three more to go!
We are bringing Freighter home today. We want to work on his marking which has slid a bit as he has been learning handling. Plus my husband would like to run him at tests, so they need to start working together. I’ll let you know how it goes.
With three dogs to train we are going to be quite busy. Long time readers probably remember that this time of year, I am always behind in reading your blogs. 🙂
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Hi Y’all!
Off for my pre-dawn walk. Glad it’s finally warming up there. It’s mid summer heat here. Glad you survived your weekend duties!
Looking forward to seeing more of Freighters adventures and Storm back in action! Why you have enough for a hunt test all by yourselves!
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Sounds like it is the busy season for you. At least you are not out in the cold now the weather is better. No worries we see you when we see you. Have a terrific Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
Oh yes, busy season! Can’t wait to see how your husband working with Freighter goes too, please keep us updated! Have a great Thursday.
Mom says that it is super frustrating when you want to take photos but can’t because something comes up! By the way, that is one massive Canadian Goose in the second to the last pic 🙂 Scary! Enjoy the 3 dogs…I’m sure it will be lots of work, but fun as well.
Congrats to Darren and sunny. Sounds like a tough test for a junior. Yeah you get to bring Freighter home, your family will be whole again. I hear you about busy this time of the year!
you work so hard with your dogs…we are in awe! Barks and licks and love, Dakota and Caren
I hear ya about busy 😉
Congrats to Darrin and Sunny 🙂 Working the hunt tests are tiring but so much fun, I love watching the dogs work.
I bet you guys will be glad to have everyone home again.
Great post, I imagine you were quite exhausted. I think this time of year people usually see a slight decline in posting and reading, with the nicer weather more people spend time outdoors doing other things they can’t do all year long. I know my husband would like me to be outside raking but bump that, I don’t think so. 🙂
Sounds like a great weekend for you guys! And also sounds like lots of busy times to come,
Have fun,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
I was also a little distracted by the giant goose. Look out, Sunny, there’s a giant goose behind you.
Off topic – that fake goose – is it life size or bigger than life? Because oh my dog! It’s huge! I’m hoping my little Ryan doesn’t get THAT big!
Well, have tons of fun being so busy with those special dogs of yours!
You brought back some great memories today of Hunt Tests past and Marshalling (which is really a huge amount of work) On a funny note…my German Shepherd dog Cecil got so good at retrieving that she was used as the “set up dog” for Juniors at a number of hunt tests, theory being that if the GSD could do it that Retirievers should have no problems 🙂
Perhaps there were days when your GSD was better at it than the retrievers? lol
Is there a spot on site to wash your dog off after done with the tests?
Hi. Soooo sorry I just completely forgot about This ‘N That Thursday with all that’s been going on – sorry :(. Wow it looks like the pups will be keeping you guys real busy!!! Those temps are crazy! Have a great week!
What a busy weekend! Glad to that the handlers are so cooperative when you need help…what goes around comes around right, so it’s good to help others when they need it. Too funny that Thunder got drafted and then fired….at least he got to enjoy a salad.
That’s very cool that your husband is going to start working with Freighter now…and I bet even cooler that he’s coming home! Hope you enjoy the holiday weekend. 🙂
Busy brown dogs! At least the one action shot was great. I know that busy with three dogs to train feeling…
What a super busy, but exciting weekend! Sounds like it’s a great a community to be apart of. I would love to see a master hunting test! I might have to look into and see if any of the Chicago suburbs have anything like this.
Can’t wait to see Freighter compete. I know he’s going to be a rockstar and give you some awesome photo opportunities! Glad everyone is going to be home. It will be a full house once again! 🙂
Congrats to Sunny!! Sounds like being the Marshall would be a tough job. But you got plenty of exersize 🙂
Congratulations to Sunny and thanks for helping with the hunt test, volunteers are sometimes hard to come by.