What's the Point, Part 2

[FOM]

Just talking my situation:

Dog is just turned 1yr old. Just out of the yard.
I am very happy with her progress,and I believe because of the Pro, my foundation work is more solid than any dog I have had previously.

Sho just ran her first set of land blinds lat week.
She hasn't had any water blind work.
very little in the way of big water marks.

For me to sit back and say my Goal is to run major stakes in FT, seems silly to me.

To much can happen in the future. Dog could get hurt.
Her water work may be less than stellar.
There may be all kinds of stuff down the road.
I,m just focusing on today,and trying to get better.

I think your goal should be to run and win a Qual! That's just me...I'll be running riot soon enough (assuming he makes it)...so bring it on chicken wing!

[MooseGooser]

I think a realist goal for me (if I have to have one)
is to have a SOLID Master hunter,, and be able to seriously run aQual

[John Robinson]

I think a realist goal for me (if I have to have one)
is to have a SOLID Master hunter,, and be able to seriously run aQual

That sound good to.

How about running a couple derbies? They are a lot of fun and there is not much pressure on the handler as all you have to do is point and shoot.

John

[MooseGooser]

That sound good to.

How about running a couple derbies? They are a lot of fun and there is not much pressure on the handler as all you have to do is point and shoot.

John

I dont think She will be ready..

It will depend greatly as to what happens this next spring..

I will have a TON of water work to get under our belt..

She wont see Swim By till prolly April or may..

Will age out in Late november..


I also think It would be a HUGE thrill, to sit on a bucket next to Chris Jobman at the Grand,,, but againn thats alll perty lofty for Gooser.

So,, that All know I broke threw away my broken record...... GRHRCH,, MH,, QAA.... Hows that???

If that were to happpen,,, Gooser will have a HUGE head on his shoulders!!!

[Howard N]

I think a realist goal for me (if I have to have one)
is to have a SOLID Master hunter,, and be able to seriously run aQual

To low a goal Gooser.

Don't think of your training as ending at the Q level. Think of the Q as only a mid level stepping stone to a finished retriever. The MH Q level might seem hard but it really isn't.

If you limit your aspirations to having a Q level dog, that's what you'll wind up with. Aspire to have an FC/AFC and train to that standard. It could very well be that your dog can only do Q level work but it won't be because it wasn't trained and held to a higher standard, it'll be because that's what the dog could do.

Believe me, when you finish your first all age it'll be damn near as good as sex and when you win one.... Well, not really better if I recall correctly.

[8mmag]

To low a goal Gooser.

Don't think of your training as ending at the Q level. Think of the Q as only a mid level stepping stone to a finished retriever. The MH Q level might seem hard but it really isn't.

If you limit your aspirations to having a Q level dog, that's what you'll wind up with. Aspire to have an FC/AFC and train to that standard. It could very well be that your dog can only do Q level work but it won't be because it wasn't trained and held to a higher standard, it'll be because that's what the dog could do.

Believe me, when you finish your first all age it'll be damn near as good as sex and when you win one.... Well, not really better if I recall correctly.

I'm with Howard on this one, and I bet Ted is too.

Baby steps...a Derby or two is a great start but ya gotta take that first step if yer gonna git there.

[Ted Shih]

My mother encouraged me to dream big and told me when I was very young that I could succeed at whatever I set my mind to accomplish. To my regret on some occasions, but mostly to my satisfaction, I believed what she taught me.

When I began my field trial career with Zowie (later FC/AFC Freeridin Wowie Zowie), I told my pro, Cherylon Loveland, that my goal was to be a finalist in the National Amateur.

At the time, I had yet to run my first derby, and I had never been to a National. I had no idea what I was aspiring to accomplish. Since then I have had two finalists in the National Amateur Retriever Championship.

My goal now is to win one.

[Rnd]

[QUOTE=Wade;1038353]Many dogs are trained and handled to a qualifying 1st or 2nd by a pro.

Every time I think about entering a Qual I look and see the Pros entered and think why brother.


The biggest battle cry one constantly hears about FT's is "getting new/young people invloved". The 2 quotes above come from the original "What's the point" thread. In my opinion, the 2 quotes above say a lot about that "cry" for new blood.

[huntinman]

To low a goal Gooser.

Don't think of your training as ending at the Q level. Think of the Q as only a mid level stepping stone to a finished retriever. The MH Q level might seem hard but it really isn't.

If you limit your aspirations to having a Q level dog, that's what you'll wind up with. Aspire to have an FC/AFC and train to that standard. It could very well be that your dog can only do Q level work but it won't be because it wasn't trained and held to a higher standard, it'll be because that's what the dog could do.

Believe me, when you finish your first all age it'll be damn near as good as sex and when you win one.... Well, not really better if I recall correctly.

Howard, I remember your first Open win with Banjo like it was yesterday... I'll never forget it...

[Bill Watson]

Gooser, I think I know what you need! You need a Chocolate Lab that understands YOU! I had one, Gator Point's Georgia Brown, that made ME look like a handler. At one hunt test I tried my best to get the dog to go a certain way until one of the judges said, "Leave the dog alone" and she picked up the bird. When I came to the water series that same judge said, "Why don't you let the dog shoot the gun too, she's done every thing else for you?" Those brown dogs have been good to me, try one some time, Chocolate is sweet. Bill