. . . and the light bulb came on
A couple of weeks ago, PugetSound RetrieverClub hosted a Basic Retriever Field Clinic at the
training grounds at Dewatto. The Clinic was well attended by people with an interest but little to no
prior introduction to field performance events.
The Clinic was presented by PSRC President and NAHRA Region Director - West, Harry Williams.
Harry began the day with a history of retrieving, and how retrieving developed into a sport.
He was upstaged by the quiet attentiveness and enthusiasm of his demonstration partner,
GMHRCH The Sagacious Wild Thing, "Wily" as they executed a blind retrieve.
Wily made his entrance standing at the top of an aluminum ramp that was place at the door of his crate
on the back of the truck to make the drop to the ground. He had previously been let out to "aire" at a
different location and stretch his long legs. With a quiet command to "Heel", Wily immediate fell into
a position to the left of Harry. I cannot say they were step in step as Wily in his eagerness, was
prancing in place yet keeping in a traditional heel position as they approached the area of the
demonstration.
Wily was told to "Sit" as Harry continued walking on and engaged with the participants on what they were about to see.
Harry returned to Wily, faced the opposite direction at the gallery and Wily, and told Wily to "Heel".
Wily flipped around to a sit position next to Harry's knee. Wily quivered in anticipation gazing across
the field in front of him. Harry slight lowered his shoulders, bent his left knee and Wily ever so slightly
shifted his seat to what must have been Harry's liking. Harry cupped his fingers in front of Wily's head, and said "WILY" and the dog
burst from his side to what appeared to the gallery, towards nothing! Wily thundered across the field and skidded to a
stop and a sit facing Harry. Wily obviously had an expectation of Harry. Harry gave him a hand signal and "Back". Wily spun around
and ran at full speed until he caught scent of the quarry. He quickly snatched up the bird and again ran full
speed towards Harry - flipping his backside as he approached to land in a sit in a heel position as he presented his trophy.
Another discussion expanded on additional commands and the ability to train the dog to go "Over" to the left, to the right,
and different angles as directed/communicated by the handler.
So - where is this light bulb?
And yes, it did flicker a bit before it really turned the wattage on.
I went back many years to obedience training with Bonnie Green and breaking our training down into segments.
With those eyes in mind this is what I saw;
Respect -
by airing his dog away from the training site and keeping the training grounds clean.
Safety first -
the dog was not allowed to make the big jump off of the truck and slam his
shoulders.
The dog was conditioned by repetition to know the ramp process and to USE the ramp.
Safety and our responsibility to keep our dog safe was also a topic covered in the Clinic
Obedience skills -
Heel, be in this position relative to me, the handler while in motion or not.
Sit and sit means sit until I tell you otherwise. A straight sit will be used to line up your dog
in the direction you want them to travel.
"Stay" is generally not used in the field as it is a "given".
The directions for the retrieve! HUGE as this is the Utility classes in obedience trials!
What I heard -
was quiet!
What? Yes, quiet. Wily, while visibly excited and eager - was quiet.
No whining, barking, screaming, whimpering - he was quiet.
Harry - as the Handler - was also quiet. No
screaming, whining, begging, whimpering, yelling just a single quiet word -
Heel, sit, Wily.
I have also been doing some reading myself - Rule books for field events and WCs -
Working events for various retrieving breeds. The various tests include Line manners -
line manners equals obedience skills. That each rule book mentions
"Noise at the line" tells me this is something I want to work to avoid.
Again - the light bulb?
I don't know for a fact, but it sure seems that formalized Obedience classes probably started with
working skills whether it be retrieving or herding.
Obedience skills are the foundation that will make your hunting or retrieving partner a
dream or a nightmare.
Another Light bulb - really a goal - noise at the line will not be an option.
And the biggie...
I may not have a bird in my hand, and I may not be out in a field, but I CAN still prepare for the
field by honing my basic obedience skills.
My goal - bring this light bulb to the field.
Written by Diane Burlingame as Facebook Coordinator for PugetSound RetrieverClub
August 12 , 2013 Permission granted to re-post with acknowledgement given to author and FB site
training grounds at Dewatto. The Clinic was well attended by people with an interest but little to no
prior introduction to field performance events.
The Clinic was presented by PSRC President and NAHRA Region Director - West, Harry Williams.
Harry began the day with a history of retrieving, and how retrieving developed into a sport.
He was upstaged by the quiet attentiveness and enthusiasm of his demonstration partner,
GMHRCH The Sagacious Wild Thing, "Wily" as they executed a blind retrieve.
Wily made his entrance standing at the top of an aluminum ramp that was place at the door of his crate
on the back of the truck to make the drop to the ground. He had previously been let out to "aire" at a
different location and stretch his long legs. With a quiet command to "Heel", Wily immediate fell into
a position to the left of Harry. I cannot say they were step in step as Wily in his eagerness, was
prancing in place yet keeping in a traditional heel position as they approached the area of the
demonstration.
Wily was told to "Sit" as Harry continued walking on and engaged with the participants on what they were about to see.
Harry returned to Wily, faced the opposite direction at the gallery and Wily, and told Wily to "Heel".
Wily flipped around to a sit position next to Harry's knee. Wily quivered in anticipation gazing across
the field in front of him. Harry slight lowered his shoulders, bent his left knee and Wily ever so slightly
shifted his seat to what must have been Harry's liking. Harry cupped his fingers in front of Wily's head, and said "WILY" and the dog
burst from his side to what appeared to the gallery, towards nothing! Wily thundered across the field and skidded to a
stop and a sit facing Harry. Wily obviously had an expectation of Harry. Harry gave him a hand signal and "Back". Wily spun around
and ran at full speed until he caught scent of the quarry. He quickly snatched up the bird and again ran full
speed towards Harry - flipping his backside as he approached to land in a sit in a heel position as he presented his trophy.
Another discussion expanded on additional commands and the ability to train the dog to go "Over" to the left, to the right,
and different angles as directed/communicated by the handler.
So - where is this light bulb?
And yes, it did flicker a bit before it really turned the wattage on.
I went back many years to obedience training with Bonnie Green and breaking our training down into segments.
With those eyes in mind this is what I saw;
Respect -
by airing his dog away from the training site and keeping the training grounds clean.
Safety first -
the dog was not allowed to make the big jump off of the truck and slam his
shoulders.
The dog was conditioned by repetition to know the ramp process and to USE the ramp.
Safety and our responsibility to keep our dog safe was also a topic covered in the Clinic
Obedience skills -
Heel, be in this position relative to me, the handler while in motion or not.
Sit and sit means sit until I tell you otherwise. A straight sit will be used to line up your dog
in the direction you want them to travel.
"Stay" is generally not used in the field as it is a "given".
The directions for the retrieve! HUGE as this is the Utility classes in obedience trials!
What I heard -
was quiet!
What? Yes, quiet. Wily, while visibly excited and eager - was quiet.
No whining, barking, screaming, whimpering - he was quiet.
Harry - as the Handler - was also quiet. No
screaming, whining, begging, whimpering, yelling just a single quiet word -
Heel, sit, Wily.
I have also been doing some reading myself - Rule books for field events and WCs -
Working events for various retrieving breeds. The various tests include Line manners -
line manners equals obedience skills. That each rule book mentions
"Noise at the line" tells me this is something I want to work to avoid.
Again - the light bulb?
I don't know for a fact, but it sure seems that formalized Obedience classes probably started with
working skills whether it be retrieving or herding.
Obedience skills are the foundation that will make your hunting or retrieving partner a
dream or a nightmare.
Another Light bulb - really a goal - noise at the line will not be an option.
And the biggie...
I may not have a bird in my hand, and I may not be out in a field, but I CAN still prepare for the
field by honing my basic obedience skills.
My goal - bring this light bulb to the field.
Written by Diane Burlingame as Facebook Coordinator for PugetSound RetrieverClub
August 12 , 2013 Permission granted to re-post with acknowledgement given to author and FB site
