Handling Question.

[rocko]

Now this maybe a stupid question, so bare with me please:

If you go to this website:

http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/retrievers/nrc/2007/monday.cfm


and watch the video clip of:

dog # 31. FC Two Rivers Lucky Willie - Handler: Dave Rorem

My question is....why does the handler wait so long to blow the whistle to stop the dog? The dog pratically ran over top of the bird......

[Drew Good]

I seen that too Rocko and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but since it was a mark and not a blind they wanted to see if the dog would return to the AOF on it's own. That way it would be marked down as a big hunt and not a handle. Hopefully one of our more experienced member's will jump in and comment on it......

Drew

[rocko]

What is AOF?

[Tollergirl]

Area of fall

[Misty Marsh]

You would much rather have a big hunt than a handle at a field trial on a marking test.

[Anna Scott]

Handling on a mark in a field trial can cost you big time, You may not(most likely will not)be called back to the next series depending on what the other dogs have done.

[krakadawn]

It's usually the second handle in a National that eliminates you. Most first handles will keep you in.

[captainjack]

I would expect that most experienced field trial judges would prefer a good handle to a big hunt. A big hunt indicates that the dog miss marked the bird as this suggests to me that the dog is hunting outside the area of the fall.
A good handle could be the result of a dog that has marked the bird, but has missed the bird due to a variety of reasons ie. wrong side of the wind, squared a ditch, over ran, etc. The handler gives the dog a chance to get the bird on its own, but handles to avoid the pitfalls of a big hunt.
At field trials, you see alot of dogs dropped because of the handle because they have given no evidence of a mark or the handler allows the dog to hunt all over the place and then decides to handle.
At a national it should take the second bad bird to drop it whether that be a big hunt out of the area of the fall or a handle. You will see double handles finish this national, but they will be good handles.
I may be wrong and that wouldn't be the first time!