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November 2008
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Gordon Setter Field Trial Society: Pointer and Setter Training Days
One day is currently scheduled for Sunday Sunday 23rd November 2008 on Partridge near Selby, N.Yorks.
Trainers: Mr Steve Robinson and Mrs Val Isherwood
There are limited places available so could anyone interested please contact Bob Whitworth (via the contact form below)to secure a place.
For those interested in any of the days, Bob Whitworth can be contacted through this site for details, map, etc.
Information for training days:
Dogs should be at least nine months old.
All persons attending these training days do so completely at their own risk.
Beginner dog owners need a long line, gloves, whistle, waterproofs and lunch.
10.00. am. Short talk, then on to practical training.
12.30. pm. Lunch with chance to discuss/query the morning’s activity.
1.30. pm. Practical training and dog work.
3.00. pm. Question & Answer.
Trainers will include Gill Truman, Val Isherwood, Bob Truman and a guest Trainer all with Panel Judge listing or judging experience.
These days are for complete beginners and novice dogs as well as the more experienced
and may be divided into appropriate grouping on the day.
Application Forms are available and others wishing to come and ‘observe’ if not sure exactly what is involved in a training day are also welcome.
Preference is given to Gordon Setters but Pointer and other Setter breeds are welcome.
As individual dogs progress there will be opportunity to train for steadiness on rabbits and possibly work on game and captive quail.
Training Days – Gordon Setter Field Trial Society.
After minor hiccups brought about by intermittent Foot an Mouth scares the Gordon Setter Field Trial Society held a training day last Sunday 14th October near Selby in the East Riding of Yorkshire. As insurance/assurance we sprayed all vehicles with disinfectant before they were permitted onto the field.
Our host allowed us the use of a large field of grass ley, mown regularly to feed a large herd of milking goats and providing useful cover for the quail we later put out to test for staunchness on point etc. The field also usually holds partridge and ground game.
A dozen enthusiasts and dogs gathered at the appointed hour with Val Isherwood, Gill my wife and self dividing them into groups according to their own assessment of ability and experience.
We tried to encourage thought processes by asking about wind direction/strength and why it is so important to be aware of exactly where it was coming from.
The potential of the dogs and handlers was diverse; some had trial experience, several were still feeling their way, while some dogs were obviously of little work related breeding.
Without exception, none of the dogs were under good control and a majority of handlers were unable to drop the dog easily, if at all. The point was made that the discipline implicit in being able to put a dog down at will and at distance whatever the provocation is an absolute kingpin in control from which all other discipline emanates.
Such confirmed discipline is of paramount import in any working dog; even more so under a judge and I believe more emphasis needs to be placed on this subject on training days if progress is to be achieved.
The knowledge that it requires just a little bit of pain to make a believer of any dog was difficult to accentuate, some indulged dogs being evident.
We ran each dog singly at first to obtain an idea of how much they had developed since the last meeting; sadly it was difficult to see any great improvement in some cases.
We later set up an elastic running rabbit which came from nowhere to surprise the dog and this was a useful exercise in dog control as well as demonstrating the sort of thing owners could do for themselves.
Quail were planted and dogs worked up to the area where eventually some acknowledged scent and responded in various ways!
There were two dogs with good potential, albeit one was only eleven months old and I suspect had been ‘rushed’ somewhat.
There appeared to be no doubt that people enjoy these activities and perhaps rather unkindly I felt that in some cases keeness emanated rather more from the owner than from the dog.
Another training day is to be arranged next month (November 2007).
Report by Bob Truman
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