21/05/2023
Update: Michele was able to post from her phone: This post is really meant for the Blu Prairie followers but as I have lost my dang phone, I cannot seem to post anything on my own site with this computer. Those of you that know me very well know that tech is like a foreign language to me. I guess this is just me wanting to let the folks know who have a Blu Prairie pup that these pups are smart and can learn despite my or anyones amateur trainer status. I finally took my Little Miss Belle to her first Hunting Trial Saturday at Hoosier Creek Retriever Club in North Liberty. We, Michele, Belle and I, have been putting in some hours getting ready for her big day and she did not disappoint. Unfortunately, I assume this is where I lost my phone but those are replaceable.One of the trialofficers asked me if I would rather have a pass in the trial or my phone. My answer was a quick "a pass". This hunt test is an entry level test and would get you 1 pass of your 4 towards a Junior Hunting Title. Belle hunted a full pheasant season in her first year, so picking up birds is nothing new for her. Where we have been putting in the work is with trying to control a young pups excitement with many dogs, new humans and lots of gun fire with birds all over. Let me tell you, it is very difficult to replicate that level of excitement especially with new surroundings and a lot of close up gun fire. Belle was as hyped up and hard to control as I have ever seen her, but fortunately all of that crazy energy was focused on marking and retrieving the ducks. The hard part for her was just getting to the line without losing her sh*t. Birds flying and launched, guns going off, dogs whining and splashing around, whistles blowing everywhere, all while she was made to sit in a make shift blind. We did work on this but evidently not enough. Afterwards one of the very nice judges made a great comment I will never forget. "Trainers need to realize that no matter how good your dog is, plan on having only 75% of your dog at a trail". Truer words never spoken. Belle is a model citizen during our training sessions, but Saturday that pup could care less about most of my commands. All she wanted to do was grab birds. Fortunately, during the time when she was actually judged, she was spot on. The Hoosier Creek fellas and judges had a great, challenging, hunting course set up, that really simulated most of a real hunting scenario. Good hunting distances, great thick cover, especially in the water series, and even live birds which at this level, never having done this before, I was not expecting. Belle made this middle aged, slightly grey rookie trial trainer awfully proud and even garnered some very positive comments from the judges and some of the other contestants. Her drive and marking ability really took over. It was a blast and for those of you who have never tried it, I encourage you to partake. What a great way to spend time outdoors making memories with your hunting companion. While this is only a pass towards an AKC Junior Title, some dogs did not make it, so it is not a given. I know what Belle and I need to work on and can't wait to get started. I would share some cool pics, but my nice little phone must be in the boonies of Hoosier creek. Belle and I cannot wait to hit trial #2 soon. What a great experience.
