Jojoe
08-31-2009, 12:50 AM
Once again I've typed a small novel - sleep deprevation does that to me. If you want only the meat - jump to the highlighted portion at the bottom of the post....
Just got in from the Ottawa event. My pup had difficulty on the first bird of the first series - dogs will be dogs - but it certainly was not a waisted trip. I managed to watch a friend run a yeller dog in the Amateur - the dog made him look like he knew what he was doin'. I also was able to watch the remaining Junior series. Watching these young dogs perform their retrieves I really gain a better idea of what various/multiple factors do to influence dog behaviour. More so than watching my training group(s). The older/experienced dogs in my group illustrate their training to fight these factors, so watching these Junior dogs gives me a much more pure response than I could see otherwise. Interesting.
My final stop at this trial was a visit to the Open - water blind. As I approached the line on the very top of a ridge, it appeared to me that I was a welcome sight - (a response usually reserved for my wife when the grass needs cutting). Turns out they thought I was the gunner sent to throw the poisong bird for the series. On the promise of a Coors Light I agreed to indeed throw the needed bird for the 15 competitors. As the judges positioned me only yards from the line to the blind I realized that I could not see the running dog after it made it's water entry due to tree cover - I breathed a deep sigh and resigned myself to a moderatly mind numbing task of throwing the Poison Bird (which by the way the dogs were never asked to pick up).
I'm pleased to say that there is a "HOWEVER" to this tale of woe. (note: I'm still owed the Coors)
From my chair I could hear the cadence used by each of the handlers - some of the handlers were easier to hear than others (Chuck *smile*).
I also had a dogs eye view of the handlers while they gave their casts. I've been schooled in casting to some extent. Eg: how to cast from the chest, when to step, usually wear a white jacket, use black gloves when appropriate, etc. I really did not expect to learn much of merit while throwing this bird considering the limited view of the proceedings that I was afforded.
But a pelothera of observations were made that led to questions...
When it comes to the dog seeing the cast given: Does wearing black glove always help? What about white gloves to extend the length of the 'arm'? Does spreading your fingers out when casting help? Larger target but is it too muddied because it is not solid? Does 'nodding' your hand at the end of the cast help? Dogs see motion better than a static object. How much 'stepping' is enough/too much? What is the ideal speed of the arm motion when giving the cast. Put another way; which motion is more easily seen by the dog, slow and smooth, fast and crisp, fast and smooth, slow and crisp. Does giving the verbal before the arm motion really make a difference - if so, at what distance? Do those white jackets with the black stripes make a difference?
Has anyone anywhere done a formal study of what the dogs see when being handled?
I know that some will think this post is more smoke and mirriors than real substance but watching these top handlers in the heat of competition made me realize that there is as much substance as there is style to casting on a blind.
Is this disease terminal?
Cheers,
Ron
Just got in from the Ottawa event. My pup had difficulty on the first bird of the first series - dogs will be dogs - but it certainly was not a waisted trip. I managed to watch a friend run a yeller dog in the Amateur - the dog made him look like he knew what he was doin'. I also was able to watch the remaining Junior series. Watching these young dogs perform their retrieves I really gain a better idea of what various/multiple factors do to influence dog behaviour. More so than watching my training group(s). The older/experienced dogs in my group illustrate their training to fight these factors, so watching these Junior dogs gives me a much more pure response than I could see otherwise. Interesting.
My final stop at this trial was a visit to the Open - water blind. As I approached the line on the very top of a ridge, it appeared to me that I was a welcome sight - (a response usually reserved for my wife when the grass needs cutting). Turns out they thought I was the gunner sent to throw the poisong bird for the series. On the promise of a Coors Light I agreed to indeed throw the needed bird for the 15 competitors. As the judges positioned me only yards from the line to the blind I realized that I could not see the running dog after it made it's water entry due to tree cover - I breathed a deep sigh and resigned myself to a moderatly mind numbing task of throwing the Poison Bird (which by the way the dogs were never asked to pick up).
I'm pleased to say that there is a "HOWEVER" to this tale of woe. (note: I'm still owed the Coors)
From my chair I could hear the cadence used by each of the handlers - some of the handlers were easier to hear than others (Chuck *smile*).
I also had a dogs eye view of the handlers while they gave their casts. I've been schooled in casting to some extent. Eg: how to cast from the chest, when to step, usually wear a white jacket, use black gloves when appropriate, etc. I really did not expect to learn much of merit while throwing this bird considering the limited view of the proceedings that I was afforded.
But a pelothera of observations were made that led to questions...
When it comes to the dog seeing the cast given: Does wearing black glove always help? What about white gloves to extend the length of the 'arm'? Does spreading your fingers out when casting help? Larger target but is it too muddied because it is not solid? Does 'nodding' your hand at the end of the cast help? Dogs see motion better than a static object. How much 'stepping' is enough/too much? What is the ideal speed of the arm motion when giving the cast. Put another way; which motion is more easily seen by the dog, slow and smooth, fast and crisp, fast and smooth, slow and crisp. Does giving the verbal before the arm motion really make a difference - if so, at what distance? Do those white jackets with the black stripes make a difference?
Has anyone anywhere done a formal study of what the dogs see when being handled?
I know that some will think this post is more smoke and mirriors than real substance but watching these top handlers in the heat of competition made me realize that there is as much substance as there is style to casting on a blind.
Is this disease terminal?
Cheers,
Ron