Whistling Wings HRC Hunt Test Aug 16-17

[weathergirl]

Is anyone else going this weekend?  I'm looking forward to my dog, Amber, earning her SHR title!  This will be my first hunt test, so we'll see how it goes...

[weathergirl]

Ok well Amber and I are here!

[Old Dog]

Don't keep us in suspense.    How did it go today?   

[RainingSteel]

 

[Wenatcheejay]

Yeah, report

[weathergirl]

I'll give a report after today...day 2. 

[Birdguy]

Well good luck then, hopefully that training is second nature and she performs just like she should  .

[REHJWA]

Good luck! Hope you both get to enjoy it.

[weathergirl]

Well you all will have to wait for the morning for my report...too tired...

It was great meeting RainingSteel and girlfriend though...maybe he will report on the weekend.   

Photos and stories tomorrow.  I am dog tired. 

[weathergirl]

Well, overall it was a great weekend.  Last year we did a little training with a professional trainer, and he ran her through her first two passes toward SHR last year.  This year I decided I wanted to figure out how to do it myself, so I went to a couple of practices with Whistling Wings HRC.  They are great people, and lots of people answered my many questions, etc.  Running Amber at the "Started" level isn't difficult at all, but I wanted to be sure I knew what to expect so I felt comfortable doing it.

Anyway, on Saturday Amber did her two land retrieves just fine, but when the water retrieves came, she decided to "rip into" the duck a bit just as she brought the birds back.  She still did enough to pass, but gives me something to work on next with her.  On Sunday, things went fine, although she still wanted to rip into that duck.  At the UKC Started level, they are pretty much just testing the dog's natural ability to retrieve, so they don't have to retrieve to hand or be steady at the line, etc.  Lots of training to do this winter, but Amber definitely has the drive!  It was fun seeing all the other dogs, and getting to meet fellow HuntWa member, RainingSteel and his girlfriend, Laura--I've included a photo of them and their dog, Duke (who did great!). And thanks to Laura for taking photos for me!!

Since Amber earned her "SHR" title, I had water dumped on me (as they do for everyone that titles).  At least it wasn't a bucket of water... 

Here's some photos from the weekend...

[REHJWA]

Congratulations!  Thanks for the write up and sharing.

[Wenatcheejay]

That's great!

[RainingSteel]

Had a great time this weekend, it was great meeting you and running our dogs! Look forward to more WWHRC events, see you at training day!

[Old Dog]

Congrats!    I hope to do that with Jasmine next month at an APLA event in Monroe.

[lokidog]

My favorite is the fourth picture where she is launching herself off the shore to retrieve the duck.   

Wish I was there for the water dump as well.   

[JJD]

Congrats,
If nothing else, tests keep you motivated to continue training.