Hunt Testing is a team sport. In order to do well, you and your dog need to work as a team. This is not always easy, especially when you have an independent Chessie like Freighter who thinks he knows it all.
Freighter is not totally wrong. He is a hunting dog and as a hunting dog, he can usually dig out the birds. All you have to do is point him to where you want him to look for them and say “hunt” and he can do the rest.
Unlike hunting, hunt tests require that the handler take a bit more control, especially when the dog is making a blind retrieve. The dog should not hunt its way to the bird for a blind retrieve, rather the dog must move as his handler directs.
Freighter did not always trust hubby to get him to the bird quicker than he could find it himself. Hubby has spent many hours with Freighter doing hundreds of blinds in all different places and situations to build trust. Hubby also learned how to anticipate when something in the field (a clump of weeds, a point of land in the water), might cause Freighter to go off line. He learned to stop him before he got into trouble and recast him to keep him on line.
Learning to anticipate when to stop the dog can be a difficult thing for a novice handler to learn. The temptation is just to let the dog roll, but sometimes waiting too long to redirect the dog is the difference between going home with a ribbon and going home empty handed. Hubby has been working with a training group the last two summers and this group has really helped him to learn how to read Freighter. As a result, Freighter’s blind work is nice and clean. Freighter follows direction and now trusts hubby to get him to the bird.
They have become a very good team.
Our sports are team sports too, but Mom is the one who has to trust us as she has no clue where smells are at. Hard work as a team will pay off, and it is fun learning to work together and build that trust. Every dog is different, so humans need a special relationship with each dog.
That last picture is so sweet! It looks like they’re definitely in sync! Our trainer has been great at helping me read Barley in agility and figure out which areas are going to provide the most distractions for her, so I can totally relate! Barley also likes to figure things out on her own if I’m not giving her cues fast enough or clearly enough 😉
Yes I think anticipating a distraction during agility is very similar.
Home from the fields! Both handler and Chessie march as if they have accomplished their goals. Little Butt is learning her vocabulary as a service dog.
And, we read an article today which indicates dogs understand words? They also know how to spell! Especially if the notion fits into the daily routine….
I agree we have to trust each other and we have to be a team if we want to win :o) And you have a great human-dog team, BRAVO!!! Mark said he would like to send Easy alone in the show ring, but even there only ca team can make it … but I understand this wish LOL
There is no I in team! Great job jim and freighter
I agree that Hunt testing is a team sport which required a high team spirit and closely co-operation.
By the way, I like the pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Go team! I’ve started the nose works with Luke and it is definitely a team sport. I’m going to have to learn to read him very well – I hope I don’t end up being the weak link on the team! LOL
‘If you want go fast, go alone. If you want go far, go together’. It’s true! Such a meaning story about teamwork no matter what classes in the team. Thanks for sharing!
Can’t agree more. It’s a team work and also time to make memories with our furry friends. I started with my Brian not long ago and this post is really inspired. Thanks a lot for sharing.