Saturday we did some training HRC style.  In AKC hunt tests, all of the gunfire is out in the field.  But in HRC tests, there is no gunfire in the field.  Handlers use a gun loaded with poppers to “shoot” the marks while standing or sitting next to the dog.

Both Thunder and Storm have their HRC Seasoned Hunter titles so they have run some HRC tests.  Thunder even has one HRC Finished pass.  Last year we did not have any time to run HRC tests so Freighter has not run any HRC tests.  Firing a gun from the line in a test-like setting was brand new to him.

Experienced or not, once our dogs saw the gun and heard the gun fire, they kind of lost their minds.

Storm Found It Hard To Keep Her Fanny To The Ground
Storm Found It Hard To Keep Her Fanny To The Ground

Storm was so busy hopping around that she did not mark the fall and had to be handled to it.  Geez Storm, this should have been easy for you.

Freighter Was Hoping Around Too
Freighter Was Hopping Around Too

Freighter did not mark the fall either.  There was no sound in the field and the gunner was concealed.  Freighter did not watch where the gun was pointed, so he was lost in space.

Even Thunder Was A Bit Excited, But At Least He Marked the Fall
Only Thunder Did A Good Job With This One

The second series the trainer sat out in front of the dogs and shot the mark.  At tests this is called a “Bubba gun”.  No idea why.  We have seen this set up at a Master test, but it can also happen at the Senior level.  It can throw the dogs off because they are used to things happening out in the field.  When the gun is right out in front of them, it can make the dog less steady or draw their attention from the marks.

Thunder Is Normally Very Steady, But That Gun Right In Front Of Him Was Driving Him Nuts
Thunder Is Normally Very Steady, But That Gun Right In Front Of Him Was Driving Him Nuts
He Even Did Some Creeping Which He Never Does
He Did Some Creeping Which He Never Does
Running Past The "Bubba" Gunner
Running Past The “Bubba” Gunner
Retuning With The Mark
Returning With The Mark

Storm did better with this and kept her fanny to the ground which allowed her to mark the fall.  I guess she just needed a refresher as to why it a good idea not to jump around on the line and sit and watch.

Storm Watching The Mark Fall
Storm Watching The Mark Fall

And then there was Freighter.

He Couldn't Contain Himself
He Couldn’t Contain Himself
And Crept Way Out Front
And Crept Way Out Front
And Didn't Mark This Fall Either
And Didn’t Mark This Fall Either

Creeping is a problem because usually the dog does not get a good look at the marks falling.  Also, creeping is just one step away from breaking which you don’t want because it can cost you the test.

So after Freighter hunted around a bit and found the bumper, he re-ran this and this time was corrected with “sit”.

He Was Steadier The Second Time Around
He Was Steadier The Second Time Around

Ever since we started running tests, we have been trying to figure out a way to duplicate the excitement of tests during training.  We always thought it was the birds that made the dogs loose their minds.  But on Saturday we were using bumpers and not birds and they still lost their marbles.  I guess we now know that it isn’t always the birds.  Sometimes it’s the gun.

16 thoughts on “It Isn’t Always The Birds–Sometimes It’s The Gun

  1. Oh yes the gun, too much excitement just like they are going out hunting. That is why we like HRC tests better than AKC it is more like a actual hunting experience so your dog is getting trained for what it is going to do in the fall, hunt! Our dogs do better at this type of training because you can talk to them during the whole test unlike AKC. But I must say I am glad AKC changed the rules on honoring and you can now talk quietly to your dog while honoring. Have a great day.

  2. I must laugh as I read the marbles-thingy :o) The pack of our neighbor is always over the top too when they see or hear the gun :o)

  3. So the gun triggers all the excitement, huh? I would think it is because they know that after a gun fires it is time to go get the bird (or bumper). It’s funny how the anticipation made them all crazy like that. Great photos!
    Oz

  4. It has been a veeeery long winter. Cob webs will be dusted away and the trio will be back on track in no time! Sunny and cooler today. Our neighbor shot a turkey yesterday, wonder what the Chessie would think of that bird? Real upland!

  5. Interesting, I guess we all need refreshers on things now and then. It would be hard to pay such good attention all the time, though.

  6. So they are just so excited they can hardly contain themselves? Are they just like that because it’s the first time of the season getting out there for this kind of test? It’s really kind of cute that they’re so excited! 🙂

  7. We can’t keep our “butts” on the ground either when we see our Daddy arrive home! Oh, we are such the sight! Love this post a great deal! <3

  8. My initial thought was…Storm and Thunder have both ‘hunted.’ So they know what the gun means, but I don’t recall Freighter ever doing that. Is is possible the 2 Brown Dawgs excitement was contagious to the 3rd?

    And BTW, Delilah would be popping about like a bobber on water. 🙂

  9. The whole hunt-training thing is so cool – I think I’m going to have to see if there are any in my area this summer, make it out to see one in real-life. The idea of Gwynn doing even what your dogs were doing at their poorest performance in this post is mind-boggling.

  10. That’s like our guys – they see me get a shotgun, my training bag, or anything orange and go crazy. As you said, I think it’s the anticipation of the hunt that gets them all spun up, rather than the birds themselves.

Comments are closed.