Question-Good handling vs. Poor handling

[gdgnyc]

What do you consider "good handling" on a blind?

When I am done running a blind, what will make a judge say "That sure was good handling"?

And what is considered "bad handling" on a blind?

I know what I like to see but that is not necessarily what a judge likes to see.

[huntinman]

If you sit in a judges chair a few times (maybe you have?) you will find out real quick...

I'll give an example of what I consider good handling and poor handling: Open water blind, dog has to cast into a lake off of a spit of land. The shoreline is to the left, as is a point (further out). Many handlers let their dogs ride off the spit into the water (after negotiating other obstacles)... Most of those dogs would immediately turn left against the spit (not yet in sight) and show up on shore and be in big trouble.

A well known pro comes up... Stops his dog, gives the dog a right hand over into the water and then proceeds to lay down a perfect blind. He does this with his other six or seven dogs .... No problem.

Yet most of the amateurs in that particular Open did not learn from what the pro was doing and all fell in to the same trap as the first dog I mentioned or gave a left hand cast off the spit which was certain death that day...

Good handling vs poor handling... It was black and white to me.

[gdgnyc]

OK--I have galleried and I have shot at events. I know what I like to see but then again I wasn't a judge at these events.

[Ted Shih]

The dog addresses all of the mandatory criteria for the blind and looks good doing so.

[SBodie]

A judge wants to see control and challenge the line to the blind. I feel they would like to see your dog work with you..good handling is knowing when to let the dog roll and when to handle. Then giving and the dog taking the proper cast. Always finish your blinds, meaning put the dog right on the bird. Teach your dog to stabilize and not pick up until you give the pick up whistle. IMO

[Brad Turner]

The dog addresses all of the mandatory criteria for the blind and looks good doing so.

I thought the op was referring to the handler, not the dog. gdgnyc please clarify.

[gdgnyc]

The dog addresses all of the mandatory criteria for the blind and looks good doing so.

Thank you Ted. It sounds to me that the stylish dog ("...and looks good doing so.") is what you like to see. But could you comment on the dog that is stylish but the handler is, well, not so good?

[gdgnyc]

I thought the op was referring to the handler, not the dog. gdgnyc please clarify.

Actually I was considering both. Isn't handling showing teamwork?

[gdgnyc]

A judge wants to see control and challenge the line to the blind. I feel they would like to see your dog work with you..good handling is knowing when to let the dog roll and when to handle. Then giving and the dog taking the proper cast. Always finish your blinds, meaning put the dog right on the bird. Teach your dog to stabilize and not pick up until you give the pick up whistle. IMO

"...the proper cast..." This is one of the things that I find puzzling. It seems to me that I see dogs given one cast yet take another. For instance, dog is given a right angle back but takes a right over instead.

[Ted Shih]

I thought the op was referring to the handler, not the dog. gdgnyc please clarify.

A good handler insures that his/her dog satisfies the mandatory criteria for the blind and that the dog looks good doing so.