DOM'S HUNTING PAGE

     Dom had a stellar first hunting class since his WD test last September.  His quartering between the 2 gunners was excellent.  He had no problem flushing two birds in dense, wet grass/brush and bringing them HALF WAY BACK!!!  We're working on the other half ...

     His second bird was shot and fell into a large rose pricker bush which he eagerly dove into.  It was a very rainy muddy day......
He was also the dirtiest dog I have ever seen today.  Now, if I can only get him to bring his bird all the way back like when he has his test!!! :-)

*******************
Dom dedicated his first hunt and retrieves of the year to Hope! 

                                                                        Rich

     Generally the judge is looking for a dog to display behavior that would make him a satisfactory hunting companion during a day in the field.  He must work within gun range of the handler, under reasonable control, and never a nuisance.  He must be capable of finding and flushing birds, then retrieving them on land and from the water, never displaying gun-shyness or a hard mouth.
     Specifically the following are the judges grading criteria:
    -- Steady on the line:  Sits, unleashed, besides handler until ordered to seek game.
    -- Quarters efficiently:  Covers ground in a workman-like manner within gun range, displaying scenting ability
        and use of the wind.  Barking while quartering is questionable.
    -- Finds and flushes bird. Flushes without urging
    -- Marks down bird
    -- Retrieves on land.  Finds and picks up bird, returning briskly to the handler.
    -- Retrieves from the water.  Voluntarily enters water, swims to bird, and returns it to handler.
    -- Gun-shyness not displayed                           

     There were 23 dogs entered.  Dom was #4.  I approached the starting line with a very excited Dom trying to pull my arm from its socket.  The judge asked if I had any questions and I steadied Dom, noticing the wind.  When ordered to start, I removed his leash and sent him downwind.  Dom started to quarter (zigzag) immediately until he picked up the bird scent.  The bird was about 100 feet from where we started.  Dom's body now displayed a different demeanor as he went right to the bird and flushed it.  All of this took about 45 seconds.  After 4 shots, the hunters missed and Dom's bird flew into the woods and so went Dom after it about 200 feet away.  He was gone for several minutes.
  

Emerged and convinced it had flown away, he started to hunt again for the second bird, which took longer, but displaying the same body language when found and while flushing.  This bird was shot with one shot and fell about 150 feet away and Dom marked it, went to it, and brought it to me.      As he was retrieving the bird and placing it in front of me, it made 5 months of training all worth while.  A very proud Dom and I carried the bird all the way back to the start line and gallery and remarkably the bird was still alive. The Water Retrieve      That afternoon, at a local pond in the same order, a very anxious Dom was steadied (kind of...hey, this kid loves water) at the line, about 20 feet from the water, leash
removed, and a bird was placed in the water about 40 feet from shore.  On command, and when directed, Dom (the canine jet ski) dove into the water, swam out to the bird,  retrieved it, and returned it to me.  I let him carry his bird around after his test was over.  Of the 23 dogs that were entered, 10 qualified.

     It is an awesome and satisfying sight to see these dogs perform as they were bred. Anyone owning an English Cocker Spaniel owes it to themselves and their dog to at least go to a WD test and or a Junior Hunter test and watch them perform.  Many thanks to Marybeth Piedrafite and Steve Roth for guiding me through all the training with both Dom and my other dog, Charlie, who also qualified.