Transitioning back to HRC

[David McLendon]

Judging two grands I never picked a dog up on the way to or from the line, and only dinged one for the trip. I did pick one dog up at the line for barking from the time he got there until the time that he tried to jump on the honor dog. Out of all the dogs that I looked at through two grands those are the only two worth mentioning.
As far as looking for the best of the best,well therein lies the moving target. The best dog doesn't always pass the grand, and there again the term best is subjective. For me personally the two best dogs that I have ever owned and raised so far (mother and son) will never see a grand because historically the grand doesn't favor that type of dog and they are doing something else. That is the mother in the avatar.

[Lonnie Spann]

Judging two grands I never picked a dog up on the way to or from the line, and only dinged one for the trip. I did pick one dog up at the line for barking from the time he got there until the time that he tried to jump on the honor dog. Out of all the dogs that I looked at through two grands those are the only two worth mentioning.
As far as looking for the best of the best,well therein lies the moving target. The best dog doesn't always pass the grand, and there again the term best is subjective. For me personally the two best dogs that I have ever owned and raised so far (mother and son) will never see a grand because historically the grand doesn't favor that type of dog and they are doing something else. That is the mother in the avatar.

Although I have never met you, I certainly respect you.

Lonnie Spann

[David McLendon]

We could hang Dude. No Doubt...

[Mary Lynn Metras]

I'm over it, I quit twitching and breaking out with hives about a month ago

Lonnie Spann

Your over it??? are you sure!!!

[JoeOverby]

From the 2011 Rule Book, available online:

From the 2011 Rule Book:
Guidelines-Judging Grand Hunt Tests
IV.
The Judge should look for the dog that walks obediently
to the line, sits obediently and exhibits an attentive
attitude.

Guidelines-Judging Finished Hunt Tests

IV. The Judge should look for the dog that walks

obediently to the line, sits obediently, and exhibits an

attentive attitude.


Lonnie Spann

From the 2013 rule book

Steadiness - Seasoned, Finished and Grand
Retrievers are required to be steady at the line without
physical or excessive verbal restraint. A controlled
break (Judges must decide distance prior to running
the test) will result in a mark down at the Seasoned and
Finished levels and a failure at the Grand level. In the
event of a controlled break, the retriever must stop and
return quickly to the line when directed to do so.

Response to Direction - When a Handler chooses
to direct their retriever with voice, whistle, and/or hand
signals, the retriever should respond. Dogs entered in
the Grand Hunt test will be judged much harder than
Upland Hunter, Finished or Seasoned, but in all cases,
excessive refusals by the retriever can result in failure.
The Judges must decide in each test what excessive is
and judge accordingly.

Ok, I understand it has NOTHING to do with walking at heel BUT it does show an increase in difficulty and a change in standard from the weekend hts and the Grand. Listen Lonnie, I agree with you...walking at heel is the silliest thing a judge could ever put weight on at an event like this. If you look at page 33 in the rule book it gives 5 specific criteria by which to judge a retriever.
1. Marking Ability and memory
2. Nose
3. Hunting Desire
4. CONTROL
5. Hunting Style
You will see that Control is the 4th thing on that list...marking being the first...which would you think should carry more weight?? And for that, for several years now, Grand judges have been ENTIRELY too quick to make a handler "put the dog on the bird" IMO...and not let the dog hunt...they are called HUNTING retrievers. There are things I don't like, agree with, or condone but its not up to me. As far as Grand judges never having trained their own GRHRCH...there was a time I thought exactly that...then I met and ran under guys like David Mclendon and Jim Hodges...theyve never reached the GRHRCH title but I promise you they belong in that judges chair. Be mad at the Grand Committee...hell you aint the only one with ill feelings however, IMO the best thing you could do is make em give you the ribbon when you pass their test...

[Dman]

Good post Joe.

[red devil]

Just wonderin...... How is it the vast majority of the dogs (>90%) are pro handled and almost as many pro trained. This in an organization professing to be "for hunters, by hunters".
I have wondered this since seeing handlers and dogs at a Grand fail to see a bird, dogs I had judged and admired that past year. Also seeing dogs pass that....well never mind. Yet those dogs are called the best of the best????? For this judge it called into question the validity of the event. Please do not misunderstand, many, many of the dogs with GRHRCH in front of their name fully deserve the moniker, yet the system is predisposed to eliminating a class of dogs many of us admire, not for their work as a retriever but rather the whim of a judge who confuses OB with performance to a ridiculous degree.

Sorry for the Hijack - felt contrary tonight. Have fun training this weekend and good luck to all at the Spring Grand

[Gun_Dog2002]

My zipper is backwards too. What's that about?

You just need to teach your zipper to slow down...

/Paul

[Lonnie Spann]

From the 2013 rule book

Steadiness - Seasoned, Finished and Grand
Retrievers are required to be steady at the line without
physical or excessive verbal restraint. A controlled
break (Judges must decide distance prior to running
the test) will result in a mark down at the Seasoned and
Finished levels and a failure at the Grand level. In the
event of a controlled break, the retriever must stop and
return quickly to the line when directed to do so.

Response to Direction - When a Handler chooses
to direct their retriever with voice, whistle, and/or hand
signals, the retriever should respond. Dogs entered in
the Grand Hunt test will be judged much harder than
Upland Hunter, Finished or Seasoned, but in all cases,
excessive refusals by the retriever can result in failure.
The Judges must decide in each test what excessive is
and judge accordingly.

Ok, I understand it has NOTHING to do with walking at heel BUT it does show an increase in difficulty and a change in standard from the weekend hts and the Grand. Listen Lonnie, I agree with you...walking at heel is the silliest thing a judge could ever put weight on at an event like this. If you look at page 33 in the rule book it gives 5 specific criteria by which to judge a retriever.
1. Marking Ability and memory
2. Nose
3. Hunting Desire
4. CONTROL
5. Hunting Style
You will see that Control is the 4th thing on that list...marking being the first...which would you think should carry more weight?? And for that, for several years now, Grand judges have been ENTIRELY too quick to make a handler "put the dog on the bird" IMO...and not let the dog hunt...they are called HUNTING retrievers. There are things I don't like, agree with, or condone but its not up to me. As far as Grand judges never having trained their own GRHRCH...there was a time I thought exactly that...then I met and ran under guys like David Mclendon and Jim Hodges...theyve never reached the GRHRCH title but I promise you they belong in that judges chair. Be mad at the Grand Committee...hell you aint the only one with ill feelings however, IMO the best thing you could do is make em give you the ribbon when you pass their test...

My dog never even got to see a mark. I do respect the one judge who disagreed with the judge who made the call. I've already made up my mind, allI want from HRC is my 500 points. As far as the Grand goes, I THINK I WOULD RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES GOING BARE-BACK IN A BROTHEL THAN RUNNING ANOTHER GRAND!

Lonnie Spann

[duk4me]

My dog never even got to see a mark. I do respect the one judge who disagreed with the judge who made the call. I've already made up my mind, allI want from HRC is my 500 points. As far as the Grand goes, I THINK I WOULD RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES GOING BARE-BACK IN A BROTHEL THAN RUNNING ANOTHER GRAND!

Lonnie Spann

Lonnie you are in the wrong brothell find and exit quick.