Hunt test training; spaniels

[Balladeer]

Good morning,

I just got a field spaniel and would like to train her to hunt. I've trained retrievers before but would like to also work on upland birds with her. Not sure how to work/train the flushing dog.

Second, I'm looking either to join a club or just meet up with some folks who have similar interests within a reasonable distance of Snoqualmie.

I ran into some folks training retrievers the other day and nobody even wanted to talk to me up there. Labrador snobs? My first experience with stand-offish dog people. Now I have an especially strong desire to help my puppy become the best hunting dog she can so she and I snub our noses at them at the hunt tests.

Thanks,
B

[Wayne1]

Well...  as a Lab owners...  not sure how to respond to your question, since you've already got a chip on your shoulder with Lab owners..

Labrador snobs?

reminds me of living in the deep south during the 60's.

But, I'm sure you just ran into one of them bad apples, you always hear about. Nice to know all field spaniel owners don't have any in thier group.

My best advice is to look for a HRC, or NAHRA group somewhere near your area...   but please don't let any of them Labrador snobs know I tried to help ya.

[Balladeer]

W1,

Sorry I came across like that. My last dog was a lab. With current conditions, I just didn't want a dog that big with such a small yard.

One thing that bothered me is I knew exactly what those guys were doing. I've already done it. But when one guy had to specifically call out my dog and then laugh, well that got me fired up.

The "lab snobs?" part was a question because I had just never run into that before. I guess now I really find it kind of funny that some people take themselves so seriously that they can walk right past another person without even say hello even after
they've kenneled their dog and they aren't running the next series.

I appreciate your reply, though, and that helps me to further clarify the type of folks I'm trying to contact. I would like to meet some folks that are hunters first, but enjoy the challenge of training a dog and the commaraderie that goes with it, both between hunter and dog and the other hunters/trainers.

I'm sure I'll be able to clarify even further the more as time goes on. I want to thank you again for your candid response.

P.S. Your secret is safe with me.

Regards,
B

[Wayne1]

LOL...   no problem.. I'm sure I would have felt the same way.

I run my Lab's in AKC, NAHRA, and HRC test's....and if what your mainly looking to train for, is turning out a great hunting partner...  I'd really suggest the HRC, and NAHRA route. Thier Hunt Tests are more like real time hunting.

Good luck, and keep us updated

[Balladeer]

Anybody else hunt spaniels?

B

[Schmalzfam]

Try this link, it might send you in the right direction :-)

http://www.netpets.com/dogs/dogclub/breeds/dogspng_span.html

P.S. We aren't all labrador snobs...lol. sometimes, you just wanna get it done and go home:-)

[Balladeer]

Thanks Schmalzfam,

I hear ya. I know. I can't wait to train with some of you guys and your labs. 

Cheers,
B

[Schmalzfam]

YEP....me too:-) We're everywhere, you can't escape us :-)

[Happy Gilmore]

I don't drive up to anyone training unless I know them well. You don't know if they have dogs out running out of view or driving or walking up to the group may cause a distraction. I doubt they were intentionally being snobs. I'll talk to anyone after I am done working my dog and helping work my training partners dogs. Until everyone is done, it is all business. If you see everything and everyone picked up in the field and people getting ready to leave isn't a bad time to strike up a conversation.

When you are training with a group, usually the folks who train together have dogs at the same level. Unless it is planned ahead of time, bringing in a pup or even a dog way ahead of other dogs in the group is pretty disruptive and takes a bunch of extra time. I'm single, I don't really care but, my partners have kids in horse programs, 4-H and wives who demand attention too.. Everybody's just trying to get done in a timely manner.

The other thing that may happen is if you walked up on a Pro Trainer with clients dogs. He isn't going to talk to anyone because he has a truck load of dogs to train and his clients are paying him good money to spend as much time per day with their dogs as possible. Chewing the fat with people during daylight/good training hours usually isn't something they'll do. Find them after all the dogs are fed and watered at the end of the day and they'll probably talk dogs with you all night.....just my two cents....Hap

[AWS]

Balladeer

There is a local all breed spaniel club here in western WA.

http://www.sportingspaniels.org/

It's been in existance quite awhile and some of the early members were instrumental in devoloping the AKC Spaniel Hunt Test program.

They put on 3-4 Hunt Tests a year and usually meet as a group once a month for training, and or just scocializing as a group.  Individuals get get together to work on training together.

May 2 &3 They will be putting on Huntests and there will be spaniel owners from all over the west coast.

There are also a couple of Springer clubs in the area.

PM me if your need more info.

AWS

[Balladeer]

Hey AWS,

I checked the web site and sent an e-mail to the contacts on there a few days ago with no reply. The web site hasn't been updated in 2 years according to the date on the bottom of the home page. Is Sporting Spaniels still going?

Thanks,
B

[AWS]

I'll PM you a couple of e-mail addresses.  Yes they are still active, they are putting on the hunt test May 2.


AWS

[JBar]

Look at the UKC web site and see if you can find a local event, used to be held in Cherry Valley a few times a year, these tests are for all breeds of dogs and more realistic hunting scenarios. Most are lab owners but some are those that were fed up with the AKC crowd.

[AWS]

They AKC SPANIEL hunt test are still very much hunting oriented and have limited entries(34 dogs total per pair of judges is the most I've seen and that includes all levels) so the test aren't designed to eliminate dogs but test their instinct and abillities.  Most test are designed to replicate actual field conditions.  If anyone would like a description of the tests at the different levels I would gladly do that.

AWS