2012 AKC National Gun Dog Championship at Ames Plantation TN

[jetjockey]

The AKC just announced the 2012 AKC NGDC in February at Ames Plantation in Tennessee.  This is the same place that American Field has run their National All Age Championship since I believe the late 1800's.  This is the equivelant of playing a baseball game at the old Yankee stadium.  The format will be a 12 day trial with up to 132 dogs running 6 one hour braces per day.  After all dogs have run, up to 12 dogs will be called back for the 12th day to decide the winner.  All FC's, AFC's, and previous years NGDC's will be qualified.  Also, any dog who has a 1st in a 13 dog trial, a 1st or 2nd in any 18 dog trial, or 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, in any 25 dog trial will be qualified.  However, the premium closes for all FC's, AFC's, and NGDC's earlier then it closes for dogs who qualified the previous year in trials.  There is a possibility that every dog that gets put down could be a Field Champion.  I would be suprised if they don't have 132 dogs entered... 

Its going to take a heck of a dog to win this thing, and  alot of luck.  There will be no released birds, so all birds will be native or hold over birds from other events.  That means that luck of the draw will make a huge difference.  Dogs that run in the first morning brace or the last late afternoon brace will have a huge advantage since thats when the birds will be on the edges feeding The winning dog will also have to put down to winning braces.  It will be hard enough to get called back, and even harder to run two perfect braces.. And thats about what its going to take...  Im crossing my fingers my little Brit is the dog that gets lucky, and puts down two nearly perfect pbraces....  I can't wait.  Hope this littel girl can put it down.

[10Key]

Good luck, she is a good looking pup

[jetjockey]

Thanks 10Key.  Shes been a lot of fun to watch mature.  She used to be a little crazy and super intense when pointing.  But as she has matured, so have her points.  She still has a super intense point on occasion, but now she seems to just takes a deep breath and relax when standing.  Shes done the same thing when actually hunting as well.   

In that picture she had been standing for probably 8 or 9 minutes.  You can tell shes relaxed and has it together.  And she better have it together if she wants to be able to compete with the dogs at Ames.  I think every Pro in the South and Midwest is going to be there, as are a few from the west coast Im sure.  There's going to be a lot of really, really nice dogs that run.

[10Key]

It looks like she lifts a front paw while on point, is that something your trainer worked on as part of "style"? My Brit almost never does that, he just has a firm on all fours stance...he is by no means professionally trained nor have I worked on styling with him other than some barrel work. Just curious because I see Brits that point with a front paw up and some that don't.

[jetjockey]

Actually, I wish she didn't.  Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't.  Sometimes she starts standing and then puts her paw down after a while.  But then again, Ive seen her start with all 4's down and then lift a pay.   She has had a lot of barrel work to work on style.  Typically when on the barrel they have all 4 paws down.  If I had to penalize her for one thing, it would be her style.