It's not the dogs fault

[Red retrievers]

Ran the Chippewa Valley SH this morning. As I'm not running the afternoon series you can guess. The dog made a few minor errors, would have had a call back. I put the leash on before I was behind the judges. Done for the day. That was our first senior will do better next time. Told my wife in training she will need to put the e-collart on me. She likes the idea. Asked if we could keep it on for household chores.

[DenverB2B]

That sucks. I know it is a rule but pretty ticky takcy if your dog did the work. They could have give you a warning and left it at that. I have put leash on many a time in front of judges and passed so it really is up to the judges you have. Sorry about your misfortune. We have all done something dumb on the line and you are very it is not the dogs fault. Keep your head up and keep training. P.S. I want to see the video when your wife gets that thing strapped on you.

[Kevin WI]

I've been given a warning before...it's easy to forget sometimes. That pretty well sucks for you and your pup.

[Juli H]

That's a real bummer, especially since the dog was apparently doing well ...the rules is the rules though....and I bet you won't ever forget that one!

I do have to say it is nice when judges give a warning for something of that nature...before giving the boot...were you getting ready to do an honor?

Juli

[Red retrievers]

That's a real bummer, especially since the dog was apparently doing well ...the rules is the rules though....and I bet you won't ever forget that one!

I do have to say it is nice when judges give a warning for something of that nature...before giving the boot...were you getting ready to do an honor?

Juli

The honor was to be on the water series in the afternoon.

[Sundown49 aka Otey B]

Don't feel bad about this happening. I look at something like this as a lesson in the college of hard knocks. I remember those lessons VERY well.
I made a handler mistake on an honor in the last thing I had to do. Judges had excused me and I got up and instead of just saying "heel" and leaving I said the dogs name. Needless to say he retrieved the bird...and I went red faced for being stupid handler. I NEVER have repeated that again......LOL.

First and foremost have fun with your dogs..

[limiman12]

I once had a controlled break when between birds 2-3 I said "Beamer Sit" Of course he was already creeping some, so as soon as he heard his name he was off of that mound! Perhaps someone could start a thread of "dumbest handler mistakes" to make people like you not feel so bad.

[Skybuster]

Man, that sux. Today it's a mistake, but with time it will be experience. You'll be a better handler for it, and eventually may even cherish this as a funny story from this journey with your dog. You will get better as a team so long as you keep at it.
BTW-- the longer I do this, the more I believe it's NEVER the dogs fault.
________
Mike

[MoJo]

That is a tough one to take. It has happened to most of us in different situations, but it is still hard.

Might I suggest in the future, if you did not do this, that you let the judges know this is your first test at that level at the Handler's meeting? If you do so, some will allow some leniency with process errors.

Keep on going! It would seem your dog can do the work.

[MoJo]

I once had a controlled break when between birds 2-3 I said "Beamer Sit" Of course he was already creeping some, so as soon as he heard his name he was off of that mound! Perhaps someone could start a thread of "dumbest handler mistakes" to make people like you not feel so bad.

There have been several of these threads and I quote this, as I did the same thing in my first Senior test!

"Sit. Jodi. Sit." She was creeping on the honor and heard the first "Sit", but once she heard her name, she was gone. That test did not work out well.