Field trial question - junior stake.

[captainjack]

In a junior stake, a handler brings his dog to line on lead. He/she asks the dog to sit facing the go bird and says mark, then asks the dog to heel and lines the dog up on the memory bird and repeats mark and then sit command before taking the lead off the dog. This has been done smoothly.

Is this acceptable to you as the judge or have they abused what you are allowed to do as stated in the rule book that dogs may come to line on lead in the junior stake?

Peter.

[kawarthalabs]

Although the rules allow the dog to be brought to the line on lead I would prefer the handlers heel their dod off leash from the last holding blind. All the juniors I ran 2 years ago required this and I had no problem as this was EXPLAINED to all handlers well in advance. Communication to the handlers through the marshall is important whatever you and your co-judge decide.

Tony.

[ducksoup]

Judges can allow dog to line on lead or not in Junior -- at their discretion. But I don't think the handler would be allowed to line his dog up on both marks (saying "MARK" on both memory and go birds) before having to take the lead off (if he was allowed to line on lead then the dog could only be on lead up to getting on line).

[Misty Marsh]

I think if it were me juding, I'd have one of those moments where you wish you instructed the handlers to handle at the line off lead, but would allow it and make note of it in the rare case where it became a trainability issue between two equal working dogs, but would let it fly in junior and evaluate the dogs marking and other abilities.

[Lpgar]

Unless this was not OK with your co-judge......I would make note of it and assess the Dogs work on the Marks. I am not sure in my mind it would be of any advantage anyway. Hard for a Young Dog to stay locked on the memory bird with all that Going on...hands coming over head....leash Pulls...ect. Pretty sure with most you would be looking at a "controlled break" after all that anyway...and would definately make note of both things happening in a single series.

JMHO.

Gar

[captainjack]

Very interesting replies - this is the way I was taught a number of years ago (too many to count) when I was first introduced to the game. Following this procedure in training the dog came to line in perfect control and when the lead came off - he sat on line ready to work. I did not have to fiddle with "here", "there", everywhere, "sit", "stay", "sit", "stay", "mark".......etc. There was less chance of break - control or otherwise as the dog was conditioned in training. It was then an easy transition to off lead work in qualifying and all-age.
I asked the question because many new handlers believe that they have to come to line off lead and do not use the lead to their advantage. With many young dogs, it is a disadvantage to be off lead and the dog starts the test with little control by the handler. IF done smoothly, it would not warrant a note.
I do not believe that junior dogs need to be asked to come to line off lead as it serves no purpose, if we want to test the natural abilities of the dog. Why would we not want to give all the dogs a chance to pick out the guns?
Again, I say - we are not judging our dog and just because it makes no difference to our junior dog whether it comes to line on or off lead, it could make a difference to the dog and handler that we are judging.


Peter