[Missy Bell]

When it is all said and done I would like to know how many of the finialists have been Amateur trained.....never to have used a pro. I know going into the 8th that Jack, Linda & Arnie have not used a pro.....help me out. Who has more info?

 

[Vicky Trainor]

I do not believe that Charlie Hayden used a pro with Bunny. Not 100% sure, but he and Milly normally do their own training.

 

[mjh345]

Jimmy Darnell

 

[MKaty Gutermuth]

I do not believe that Charlie Hayden used a pro with Bunny. Not 100% sure, but he and Milly normally do their own training.

Bunny has spent the last few winters with Mark Mosher who has done a wonderful job with her.

 

[Vicky Trainor]

Bunny has spent the last few winters with Mark Mosher who has done a wonderful job with her.

LOL...should have checked with you first as I know you would know!!

I thought they had kept Bunny at home. Oh well, she's still a very nice working dog!!

 

[BonMallari]

Lanse Brown trains his own dogs...he had advice from Rorem on how to handle the girls( Eva, Sophie,Rosa) but he does the training on his own...been that way since he used to hang out with Rex Carr back in the 70's...thats 1970 not that Lanse was 70 back then ..or was he...



oops didnt read the initial post and see that you were referring to those still in it.....Lanse and Eva went out after the 8th

 

[MKaty Gutermuth]

LOL...should have checked with you first as I know you would know!!

I thought they had kept Bunny at home. Oh well, she's still a very nice working dog!!

She is a wonderful dog, Charlie does Bunny's training during Fall, Spring and Summer and he runs Bunny in 99% of trials.

 

[YardleyLabs]

Rough used to fit on the list, having had about four weeks of pro training before being sent home as a little puppy washout. However, now that Gary has become a pro, one has to decide if all those years of amateur training are negated.

 

[EdA]

Rough used to fit on the list, having had about four weeks of pro training before being sent home as a little puppy washout. However, now that Gary has become a pro, one has to decide if all those years of amateur training are negated.

Not that it matters but Gary Unger was a pro previously for a significant period of time as was Linda Harger

 

[YardleyLabs]

Not that it matters but Gary Unger was a pro previously for a significant period of time as was Linda Harger

Agreed, although that predated Rough. I think the Hallmark of amateurs that qualify dogs at this level without "pro" help is that they train like pro's and have access to the same resources.

 

[Jason E.]

Lanse Brown trains his own dogs...he had advice from Rorem on how to handle the girls( Eva, Sophie,Rosa) but he does the training on his own...been that way since he used to hang out with Rex Carr back in the 70's...thats 1970 not that Lanse was 70 back then ..or was he...



oops didnt read the initial post and see that you were referring to those still in it.....Lanse and Eva went out after the 8th

Lanse uses Jim Van Egen for his young dogs and Eva i believe has been pro trained also..In which i may be wrong but i though he had told me this before...

 

[JusticeDog]

Agreed, although that predated Rough. I think the Hallmark of amateurs that qualify dogs at this level without "pro" help is that they train like pro's and have access to the same resources.

One of the reasons Gary got Rough was because of Sandy's Slew Man Too being in the pedigree. ONe of Gary's favorites he titled when he was a pro the first time. I think we all can agree that Gary was not your average amateur, even though he took a number of years off from being a pro. Bottomline, Rough is a nice dog.

The breeding is superior regards-

 

[Steve]

What does it really matter. No amateur who competes at this level is doing so based strictly on what he knows. WE are all using the tools and techniques that have been handed down over the years from both pros & ams. No one trains in a vacuum.

 

[Klamath Hunting Gold]

What does it really matter. No amateur who competes at this level is doing so based strictly on what he knows. WE are all using the tools and techniques that have been handed down over the years from both pros & ams. No one trains in a vacuum.

It's just fodder for discussion. Since I have been sitting there in the announcers chair, I have litterally seen every dog run. It has been work, but yet a pleasure to do so.

This ninth series is a nightmare for everyone. The rest will run tomarrow.

Randy

 

[Guest]

And note Missy's question. She didn't ask about dogs entered. She asked about dogs still playing at the end.

Jack Vollstedt?

 

[Howard N]

This ninth series is a nightmare for everyone.

Hey Randy, nightmare or a wonderful, exciting, huge challenge?

 

[Guest]

I am not Randy ;-), but I think this could fall into the nightmare category. The 8th was a good, big test. The 9th is pretty painful for all involved. When a pro sitting in the gallery says it was difficult to watch, that tells you a little bit.

We were disappointed when Pirate (second dog to run) handled because he was so clean going into this, but that handle is not looking too shabby at this point.

 

[Howard N]

I'm not there and I don't get to see it.

How about, a wonderful, exciting, huge challenge, before you try it, and a nightmare after you and your dog are into it for a couple of minutes?

 

[freefall319]

How about, a wonderful, exciting, huge challenge, before you try it, and a nightmare after you and your dog are into it for a couple of minutes?

Sounds like how most of my training has been going recently. We are just begining 3 handed casting and it's not going all that smooth........yet.

I've been training with some folks recently that run derby and all I can say is WOW! I have a whole new respect for the FT folks. I'm a duck hunter to my soul so my pup will never need or get the type of training you guy's run. But I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with those dog's. I have a lot of respect for those handlers and dogs. They are amazing. It's an accomplishment to do well in FT with a pro. Let alone to go the whole way solo. My hat's off to those who have done it on thier own.

 

[AmiableLabs]

What does it really matter. No amateur who competes at this level is doing so based strictly on what he knows. WE are all using the tools and techniques that have been handed down over the years from both pros & ams. No one trains in a vacuum.

Quoted for truth.

Nothing about the game is fair EXCEPT for that all entrants accept the fact nothing about the game is fair. Sometimes the draw will help you, sometimes it will hinder you; Sometimes the conditions will hinder you, sometimes they will help you; Sometimes the test design will help you, sometimes it will hinder you; Sometimes the judging will hinder you, sometimes it will help you. And any possible combination thereof.

This includes the fact that some dogs got full-time training instead of part-time; Some dogs got training on technical grounds and others saw only less technical grounds; Some dogs trained around the calendar, others only got six to ten months at most. This includes the fact that the best Ams are using the same training program as the best Pros.

We hope and presume that the majority of the time, across ten series, the cream will rise to the top. Not always, but the majority of the time.

I cheer any dog that qualifies for a National, any dog that completes series at a National, any dog that is a finalist at a National, and any dog that wins a National!

You are a member of the few. You are a member of the best. You have earned remembrance.