An Introduction to Gundog Working Tests

Recently we took a small step in to the unknown - Working Tests!

After helping out at the Hall Barn Working Test, which was run by the Large Munsterlander Club we were keen to have a go with Lyric (even before she was a reality!). The main difficulty that we've encountered was that there is no HPR training in our area. Thanks to the input of many friends we have been able to undertake some training, though lacking the confidence of knowing whether we were really getting it correct.

We were informed that the LHPA were holding a WT near Malmesbury in Wilts in June, so took the plunge and entered. No one knew that we were attending, it was much easier with no questions or feeling of pressure that way.  So we arrived last Sunday to a rather wet field on an estate in Wilts, with the intention of having a bit of fun and learning lots.

Lyric was entered in the puppy WT, this is classified as for pups between 6 -18 months of age, and a huge class of 18 puppies.

A puppy WT is broken down in to 4 parts; hunting;obedience;seen retrieve & water retrieve. The hunting is scored out of 40 and the other parts worth 20 each.

Hunting has been our nemesis, an area that I have no experience in even though we've had a HPR breed for a number of years.  Lyric is also quite a mummy's girl and needs to take herself further away from me, this is coming as she gets more confident, but is taking some time. The other parts I thought might be ok. She is very keen to retrieve, so thought that she might not do so well in the obedience, depending on how distracted she became. I thought that the seen and water retrieve would be her more confident elements.

Hunting - well she did hunt, she worked away from me for some of this but struggled at times to find any scent on the very light breeze.  She stopped on the stop whistle, something we haven't done much with and then recalled quickly to me. I was so pleased with how she had gone for me, not a high score, but not a 0 as I thought she might have got on this element.

Seen retrieve - The puppy's were expected to to sit quietly off lead whilst a dummy was thrown about 20 metres ahead of us.  The dummy thrower was hidden in a fir tree and the dummy was thrown out to the side of  but under the canopy of a large tree opposite.  The dummy was in a slight dip and in shadow, this caused a lot of confusion for a number of the pups as they couldn't 'mark' where it had dropped. Lyric's problem was that she didn't see it being thrown at all, there was a pile of dummy's to the side of her which she was so focused on that she didn't see the dummy thrown or land.  We haven't worked on any 'blind' retrieves yet with her, and so it was almost impossible to send her out to it. With a lot of assistance she managed to find it, but were heavily penalised as a result.

Obedience - The pups were asked to heel alongside their handler from one flag to the next. At the second flag they had to sit whilst the handler carried on to the third flag where a dummy as thrown out, the flags being about 15-20 metres apart. The handler then returned to the dog, and carried on past it to the starting position where the dog was recalled. When the dog had settled they were then sent out to retrieve the dummy and return to the handler.  Lyric tried so hard on this test, and was a bit let down by me and my lack of knowledge on how this was to be marked.  Lyric broke the sit when I first left her on the second flag, I had only given one command expecting to be penalised for additional commands if I used them.  I knew when she broke the sit that she wasn't feeling confident so from that point on I used lots of additional commands and praise. She then completed the rest of the test really well,

Water retrieve - The dogs were sat on the bank of a small lake with a shallow entry, a dummy was thrown and when instructed were then sent out to retrieve and bring back.  This I thought would be Lyric in her element, she loves water and is confident - the only issue that might pose a problem would be her keenness and she would go before instructed.  Bless her, she went when asked, confidently entered the water and swam out to the dummy. She then nudged it with her nose and turned to come back, after a bit of time on the bank where she tried to bring back some sticks I managed to send her back out to the dummy which was now much further away as it drifted. She did exactly the same again! The judge was as dumbfounded as I was and suggested that I threw in my own dummy, She retrieved her own dummy perfectly! Really don't know why she had any issue with this, she had previously retrieved a mix of other dummy's in the other parts of the test.

We didn't score 0 in any part, which was fantastic and we weren't last either! Lots of things to work on, but what a fun day we had.  Such a great introduction to the world of WTs, all helped by our fabulous judge who was so encouraging and the others competitors especially the other LM who were present.

Birmingham National Champ Show

Thursday, the first day of the four day show was gundog day. Being a school day, I travelled up alone, something that I haven't done in a long time.  The travelling wasn't too different as the girls tend to listen to their own music, so they're not great company really on a long drive. I did miss then once we arrived and realised how well we all work together.  Great help though was provided by Coopers parents, which was really appreciated.  The weather was sunny, and hot! What a contrast to Aberystwyth show on Monday.

Only two of our dogs entered, Lyric (Seahaven Limited Edition) and Eve (Seahaven Parish Bell), with the two breeds being miles apart.

Eve was first in, in a large Limit Bitch class and poor girl was rushed from her crate into the ring without much chance of a leg stretch.  After a lot of deliberation by the judge (Frank Kane) she was awarded 2nd place. I was delighted with this result  and even more so when he called me over to say what a lovely well balance girl she was and told me to get some weight off her! Think we'll have to have Eleanor doing some more running with her!

Judging of LMs had now started so, I very quickly took Lyric off to the LM ring where she was entered in Minor Puppy (for pups 6-9 months). She was the only one entered, and just hoped that she would go nicely and enjoy herself. Her time in the ring was short, and it would have been nice to have had some company for her to get used to others being in the ring with her, particularly when moving together. As she won the class we had to wait for the final line up of all of the unbeaten bitches, not expecting her to gain anything else, but best puppy bitch needed to be awarded. So she then competed with the winner of the puppy bitch class (6-12 months), we were astonished to be awarded best puppy bitch. We then had to wait until best of breed had been declared, which was won by the lovely Tia. Again we didn't expect to win against an older male puppy who is much more mature, but she did.

Our gorgeous girl had her champ show BPIB and got to strut her stuff in the group ring. Nothing in the group, but she got to make friends with some lovely puppies. Her friend NSDTR Betty was in the group too, so a great opportunity for them to have a play before judging commenced.

Thanks to Mandy Tordoff for this fabulous photo of Lyric in the ring

Aberystwyth Open Show

Bank holiday Monday saw us travelling to Aberystwyth for an open show offering both of our breeds, classes.

This has always been a favourite show of the year, large outdoor rings, good judges, lovely atmosphere, and usually good weather. Sadly the weather wasn't in our favour, and gundog judging was moved indoors for the duration of the show.

The girls had a 3rd and 4th in both handling classes, Tasha borrowed Cooper who went beautifully for her in the rather limited space offered in the ring.

Breed judging;

NSDTR Open

1st Seahaven Galactic Storm (Cooper) Group four in the gundog group
2nd Seahaven Gloriana (Bron)
3rd Seahaven Parish Bell (Eve)
4th Dinaskarrek's Red Vixen at Seahaven (Tilly) Group two gundog group veteran

Large Munsterlander

Graduate

1st Paddockridge Madelaine at Seahaven (Maddie) and Group one gundog group veteran
2nd Seahaven Limited Edition Group two in the gundog puppy group

Open

2nd Seahaven Borrowed Heaven (Trio)

Absolutley delighted with how all of the dogs went, we stopped on the way home to give them a run on the Preselli's which they all thoroughly enjoyed.

Rana 18 months

Cooper's Story

Donna has told the story about the remarkable day for Seahaven at the Toller Championship Show on 20 March. I'd just like to add some thoughts from my own angle - after all, it was my sisters and me, and of course, Mammy Tilly, that brought the prizes home.

I have to say I'm beginning to feel like a man in a woman's world. The storyline has in it Donna, Natasha, Eleanor, Dawn (my owner), Tilly, Eve, Tegan (and her owner, Janice Russell), and the judge on the day, Elaine Whitehill. Then there's me - the only male.  Oh, I forgot - my driver, Dad. It's a good job I get to spend a lot of time doing men things with him in the week.

Anyway, back to the important points. I'd like to specially thank Natasha for getting the very best out of me. I am delighted it all worked out so well, and I'll do anything for that gorgeous livercake. I'm sure it won't be the last time we team up. In fact I'd like to thank EVERYONE who has ever had any input into my training and development - way too many to mention but you all know who you are. I'm also delighted for the brilliant performance of half-sister Tegan, and younger sister Eve who with Eleanor achieved something amazing for one so young. Tegan's even younger, of course - I'm beginning to feel like a pensioner!

There won't have been many occasions in show history where in a Championship Breed Show a breeder sees one of her dogs and bitches going up against each other for Best in Show - then on top of that both handled by the daughters of the breeder. In fact - it's probably unique. Just imagine how Donna felt. In fact have a look at how excited she was when Eve got Best Bitch and Tegan Reserve Best Bitch - that alone is quite incredible.

Look how cool my Mam looks though. Takes it all in her stride that one.

Anyway, enough of the talk - let's have a gawk. Here's some of the snaps from the day.

Eleanor concentrating hard

Me and Natasha

The Two Sisters

Tilly's Tollers

The Best in Show Line Up

A very proud handler and owner

The day's haul

The stunning Brizewood Trophy for Best in Show - very heavy, very beautiful. A great honour and I keep it for a year.

NSDTR Club Champ Show

Wow, wow, wow!!! What a day!!!!

Tilly with her successful brood!

The Club show is one of the shows that we travel the furthest to, Thankfully it has a later start of 11am which makes it all that more bearable, especially as it is so close after Crufts.

Tasha was handling Cooper (Seahaven Galactic Storm) so we needed to be there in time for Open Dog, which we managed to do in good time.  Cooper went like a dream in the class, competing against some lovely dogs - and his first time in an Open class at a champ show.  When he won the class we were all speachless, Dawn and Gerald, his owners were thrilled.  It wasn't long before he was back in the ring to compete against the unbeaten dogs for the award of Best Dog.  Dawn and I sat and contemplated the line up, not believing that he would be awarded the CC and Best Dog award.  After what seemed like several nail biting minutes for breed specialist judge Elaine Whitehill to decide, she finally moves towards Cooper and handed the rosette to Tasha. This was Cooper's first CC, and we were all so delighted.

Cooper couldn't rest yet! Tasha was handling him in the Junior Handling class which was held over the lunch break, Eleanor was also competing with Tilly, the first time in ages that Tilly has been used for JH.  They both worked the dogs really well, Tilly was so excited to be in a show that she didn't really concentrate for Eleanor, but it was lovely to see her enjoying herself. Tasha won, with Eleanor second, Tasha then beating the other winners to be awarded best handler in show.

with judge E.Whitehill

After a little break the bitch classes started.  Tilly was in first competing in Veteran Bitch, she was awarded a 3rd in a really strong class.

Tegan (Seahaven Bewitched by Cedarlake) was also there and entered in Junior and Yearling Bitch classes.  At only 17 months, so only just into Junior, she won, and then won Yearling too!

Eve (Seahaven Parish Bell) was competing in Limit, with one of the biggest entries of the day. Again a really lovely class and she went beautifully for Eleanor and won the class. Again, we were all so thrilled with the result. She still needed to go in the Special Working Bitch class, and again she won the class.  This then meant that she could contest for Best Bitch as she was unbeaten. 

It was lovely to see both Eve and Tegan in the bitch line up, and we really didn't expect anything else - we had had such a wonderful day anyway.  

Well it didn't stop there!  Eve, again after a lot of consideration from Judge Elaine Whitehill awarded Eve the CC and Best Bitch award.  The excitement continued when Tegan was awarded the Reserve CC, such an achievement at such a young age.

Eve with all of her awards

The girls - Tasha handling Cooper, and Eleanor  handling Eve then had to compete against each other for BIS to be awarded.  After a lot of moving them around the ring the award went to Cooper.

What we achieved I doubt that we will ever achieve again, such a special day.  All thanks go to Tilly (Dinaskarrek's Red Vixen at Seahaven) who is the very, very proud mum of these dogs.  Each litter represented and all such lovely examples of the breed.

Tasha & Cooper with his very proud owners!

Huge thanks go to the club and hard working committee, who put in so much hard work both on the day and prior (and after!) the show to make it a success.  Also thanks to those that support us, owners and friends - we've had numerous messages congratulating us and sharing in our good news.  But special thanks to our lovely dogs for being such lovely family members.

 

Clever Tegan did rather well at Crufts! 1st place!