Three days spent hunt testing can produce some mischief.

The first series of Masters was a land triple with the marks in close.  The first bird down was a shot flyer.  There was also a land blind with a diversion shot to signal the blind.

First up was Storm.  She was so excited to be back testing that she couldn’t keep her fanny to the ground.  She broke right off the bat.  Sure the shot flyer was in her face, but no excuse.  Storm will be getting lessons on “sit”.

Storm was out before she started.
Storm was out before she started.

Thunder was absolutely clean on the triple.  He was even giving up his birds.  But he would not take his handler’s direction for the blind and kept trying to go back to the flyer.  The heat index was 103 and Thunder had already blown the test, so his handler called him in without finishing the blind.

How can you see with that bird over your eyes Thunder.
How can you see with that bird over your eyes Thunder?

It was all up to Freighter to save the hunt test weekend.  He did a fantastic job retrieving all of the marks.  He was great bringing the birds back and giving them up, except for the second water mark each day.  He got within 5 feet or so of his handler and then made a game of not delivering the bird to hand which he must do to earn a qualifying score.

Freighter decided to prolong his time with the duck.
Freighter decided to prolong his time with the duck.
Haha its my duck, just try to get it.
Haha its my duck, just try to get it from me.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally delivered the bird to hand.   We will be working to clean up that last 5 feet and his line manners which need a lot of work.

Despite Freighter’s attempt at mischief, he earned a pass each day which means that he now has his Junior Hunter title.

He is SRR’s Northern Gales Of November JH.

Freighter New Junior Hunter
Freighter New Junior Hunter

Congrats to his handler and thank you to Darrin for doing such a great job with his training.

Tomorrow: more about Freighter’s tests.  It was tough to get pictures, but I did get a few that I liked.

Thanks to  Alfie’s BlogSnoopy’s Dog Blog and My Brown Newfies for hosting the Monday Mischief blog hop.

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37 thoughts on “Monday Mischief–Hunt Test Mischief

  1. Are you sure Freighter wasn’t just trying to look like he was playing with the duck… in order to stay in the water?! That’s some wicked heat!

  2. What is that human expression? The third one is the charm…good you have three dogs and big congratulations to Freighter!

  3. Congrats, Freighter! I love his “Look at me and my bad self!” expression in the last photo!

    By stopping the test, will Thunder feel rewarded or punished for his mischief? Or does it just seem to be all in a day’s work to stop where you are?

    1. Thunder did not get his bird so I think he understood it was not a reward. But also, it was very hot and no sense in chancing heat stroke to prove a point at that moment. Sometimes at a test you pick your battles. More on that this week in regard to Freighter.

      1. I totally guarantee that it’s not worth risking heat stroke, especially since he had already blown the test. I just wondered, given his immense brain and working drive, if he would think “I didn’t get my bird! I better listen next time!”

  4. Nice job Freighter,Linda & Jim on the new title!!!!!

    Sent from Windows Mail

  5. Congratulations to Freighter. It’s gotta be tuff to work in that heat. I think I would want to just stay in the water to cool off.
    Blessings,
    Goose

    1. I think if it was dangerous, they would and of course you have the option to scratch which some people did on Friday. What they usually do is pull the marks in close and put them close together which can make the dogs break, (cough–Storm–cough).

  6. Storm and Thunder…..You guys! I’ve been there with ya! So Storm couldn’t be called back and have it as a controlled break? Way to go Freighter to save the day! Congrats on your Junior Hunter title. The picture of you is fabulous! Now maybe Glory will take notes from you this weekend and get her title!

    1. No controlled breaks in Masters. Hopefully we can give her a refresher on steady. We will be cheering for Glory!

  7. Great job Freighter- way to save the weekend. I know it’s tough to ‘work’ when its so hot, but swimming after ducks isn’t really work is it? Love his pose in that last picture – so proud of himself!

  8. Oh poor Storm, I can just imagine her excitement after so long without the tests. You can’t blame a gal for being excited!

    Good job Freighter and to all of you who worked with him. It must have been horrible out in all that heat!

  9. Huh. Your dogs are remarkable. I hope the heat clears out for y’all.

  10. Congratulations to Freighter!

    Tsk, tsk to the other two; I’m sure you’ll get it straightened out though. Poor Storm was just too excited!

  11. Yay Freighter! Congrats! That sounds like something Shiner would do lol. She would have never given up that duck though probably.

  12. Hey Freighter

    I’m just thinking, if you got a pass and you included some mischief, the testers must have liked it?! Tee Hee – Maybe they’d like you to take the mischief to the next level next time? 🙂

    Have fun

    Your pal Snoopy 🙂

  13. Congrats Freighter! Looks like you had fun with that duck!

    Your pal, Pip

  14. Yay, congrats to Freighter! Doesn’t he look so proud and handsome in that photo!

  15. Congratulations to Freighter! Isn’t it ironic (probably not really funny) how dogs behave in hunt tests? At the hunt test earlier this spring, no dog passed the Senior Hunt Test the first day (don’t know about day 2. An English Pointer that’s rock-solid both in training and while hunting, refused to honor and in one test took off chasing the birds out of the bird field.

  16. Hi Y’all!

    Hey Freighter! Way to go! Ah, you better straighten up on the delivery. When I try that mischief it always mean DAYS back on the check cord! And I’m not doing a hunt test or bringing anything like a real bird.

    Y’all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

  17. LOL! He had some great mischief, and still got his title. Nicely done little man!

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