National Bird Dog Championship

[AspenBud]

For those interested, it's that time of year again.

For you setter guys, I believe last years winner, Shadow Oak Bo, is in it again.

http://www.amesplantation.org/field-trials/2014-national-championship/

Links to pictures from the event are associated with the link to the Brace by Brace Synopsis.

[wildweeds]

Wish they'd televise a day or two of the big show for the folks to see what birddogs are really supposed to be...................... The BDC world championships are on right now and it's HIDEOUS dog work.

[AspenBud]

The BDC world championships are on right now and it's HIDEOUS dog work.

Ah yes, a run and gun competition.

[jetjockey]

What? The BDC is a great example of the best bird dogs in the world!  At least that's what they say when I watch it on TV!  :-)

I'm kinda bummed, I was going to try and make it out to ride a day or two of the Nationals.  Grand Junction is only a 6hr drive from my house.  Unfortunately I'm stuck in the house recovering from surgery and having to read about it on the internet. Ames is a historic place to run a dog.  I road the AKC Nationals there a few years ago, and rumor is the AKC Nationals might make it back in the next several years.  I'd love to ride the AF Nationals as well.

Sounds like the conditions are tough this year, and bird work is at a premium.  Gonna take a hell of a dog to win it.  Hopefully as our weather warms, the birds will start to come out.

[Blackjaw]

When they say a dog was picked up at a certain time, does that mean the dog is disqualified for not running the full 3 hrs, or does picking them up mean something else?

[AspenBud]

When they say a dog was picked up at a certain time, does that mean the dog is disqualified for not running the full 3 hrs, or does picking them up mean something else?

Poor bird manners, getting lost, a lot of things can lead to a pick up as I understand it. It may as well be a disqualification since there are already dogs that have finished the three hours and have finds.

Heck, they had a Pointer a couple of years ago that got hit by a truck during the competition and still finished the three hours with five finds. That's the kind of dog that runs there.

[jetjockey]

At Ames, it's not just bad manners.  This is THE Pointing dog Nationals.  Guys know what it takes to win.  If at 1-2 hours in the dog isn't putting down a winning performance, the handlers won't waste the judges time, and they pick up the dog.  Ie, throw the towel and take the dog out of the trial.  In 1hr trials and championships, picking up a dog is common, even without a breach of manners or anything else.

[jetjockey]

WOW!!  We Might have a repeat.  Shadow Oak Bo, last years winner and the first Setter to win since the 70's, had 7 finds and finished the 3 hours.  That's HUGE. 

[AspenBud]

WOW!!  We Might have a repeat.  Shadow Oak Bo, last years winner and the first Setter to win since the 70's, had 7 finds and finished the 3 hours.  That's HUGE.

I hate to think what stud fees on that dog are going to look like.

In some ways it shouldn't be that much of a surprise if there is a correction (meaning more setters winning). There is a lot of reliance on "older" Pointer blood out there and I've been wondering if that will eventually catch up. The setter folks have been chasing the national for a long time now and there are some fairly good breeders out there who are trying to breed to the higher level of selectivity that Pointer guys generally have for years.

On the other hand, they had some nasty weather out there last week, Shadow Oak Bo (interesting his acronym is SOB) got better weather to run in. Yeah...that's got to be it...   

[jetjockey]

The weather out hear has sucked.  Ive been laid up due to surgery and couldn't have picked a better week.   Last week in GA we had 1/2" of ice followed by 1" of snow, and our area got out lucky. This weekend it cleared up and has been beautiful. Wild quail don't like cold weather.

[Don Fischer]

From what I've seen of other dogs getting birds, Shadow Oaks Bo could be real tough to catch. I would love to someday be able to go back there and stay for the whole thing. have some tapes of past years but just high light's, need more.

[wildweeds]

Just talked to my Kansas connection,his buddy is there watching and watched the dog win  last year and his run this morning.,his opinion was that the dog did a better job this year in worse conditions and never faltered in speed or power,was running just as hard at the end as he casted off at the start,his take  is a repeat,but you just never know,there's still a bunch to run.Looks like the fair weather is going bye bye again later this week,mother nature may just help in the repeat.

WOW!!  We Might have a repeat.  Shadow Oak Bo, last years winner and the first Setter to win since the 70's, had 7 finds and finished the 3 hours.  That's HUGE.

[jetjockey]

Well the Shag did it.  2X National Field Champion.  That poor dog is going to be bred so much he will probably never want to see a female in heat ever again...........  Actually, come to think of it, probably not, he will probably die trying to give it one last shot!!

[wildweeds]

The year he dies he will be in the hall of fame,43 years since the last setter won it,he wins it two years in a row.

[AspenBud]

My only two thoughts on it are as follows.

1. I think it's a good thing for the Pointer world. I see a lot of pedigrees out there that rely on arguably the same old blood, the setter guys on the other hand have not sat back on their laurels and have sought to improve their dogs to get to this point.

2. Having said the above, I do wonder if this is a once in a lifetime thing or if there will be others. There is a reason Pointers have been the dog of choice for this event over the years and a not insignificant part of it is a higher level of selectivity as well as their personality.