Marsh and Meadows Retriever club HRC Upland Test

[Todd Caswell]

Marsh and Meadows Retriever club is an HRC HT club located in Pequot Lakes MN. We will be having our Upland test March 2nd. at Hunts Point Sportsman Club. If anyone is interested in coming out and checking it out feel free, should be some good dog work to be seen. HT will start at 11 am and there will be two flights being run. Below are a few pics from training sessions.

[TylerS]

Are those dogs catching the birds???

[Todd Caswell]

They were trying to, but no just a good hard flush they are required to be steady on the flush and shot but must have a strong flush as well. But some do get caught, mainly because of the use of chuckers,there pretty touchy birds but half the price of a pheasant.

[LABS4ME]

I remember back in the mid-90s, was finishing a Master title on a dog in NAHRA and they had a steady to flush and shot test. They were using a remote control launcher and bred out hen pheasants... My dog pounced on the launcher that was hidden in a clump of grass... the bird boys were hitting the transmitter well before she got to it and nothing was happening... she kept trying to dive bomb the box, but I couldn't hit the sit whistle as there was not a flush... finally after a good 5-6 seconds of her hovering over the box, the trap released, I hit the sit whistle, she sat, the bird went up a grand total of 8' in the air, the shooter was at a goofy angle hammered it, it went kind of backwards right into her waiting mouth she did get up off of flush to catch but poceeded to sit right back down on her own accord... I figured all was well as she was steady to flush and shot even though she had the bird in her mouth, then she dropped the shot up bird, repositioned it in her mouth and at that moment I hit the whistle again ( I shouldn't have done that) as she wasn't released by the judge yet to complete the retrieve, at this point he told me to pick her up, expecting a re-run I trilled her in and he dropped her when we got back to the holding blind. I was livid. Couldn't have been a worse sit to flush test ever. It costed me an opportunity to run the Master Invitational that year as that was my last test I was able to run that year. I was a pointed judge back then and I knew the judge well, he apologized but felt she was never in control during those LOOOOONG 10 seconds and he didn't have a problem with how it all played out... the other judge told me he wanted a re-run but was overruled and agreed to drop me as they had a long day still ahead of them. I get the variance in a flushing test, and actually like the fact that there is some variability, but sheesh equipment issues always got a re-run when I was judging. I'll take those weak flushing chuckar any day of the week!

Hunt tests are a lot of fun for anyone wanting to run your dogs in some form of competition... I am seriously considering getting back into running a dog after a 15 year hiatus.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Todd Caswell]

We acually plant in a wire basket and I don't know if thats the answer either, still have birds get trapped from time to time. The dog has to have 2 flushes per run so we have a third bird planted just in case and if the dog has 2 trapped birds then it's a rerun, if the birds aren't cooperating it can get costly for the club.

[Ray Esboldt]

Ken,

I joined a NAHRA club last year - Four Points. Best thing I ever did when it comes to dog training. Never realized how much I didn't know or how much I would learn. We train every Thursday at Kelly Farms, in case you get re-interested.

[LABS4ME]

Ray.. I just may take you up on that. I'll let you know if I get this puppy I want.

What club hosts NAHRA now?