I understand there are issues as to why they are used such as cost and proximity to the line. However, as someone who has been around dogs a lot when either live rounds or regular poppers have been used, the dogs' steadiness is definitely tested much more with fully loaded poppers. I've seen way too many dogs that were steady with primer shots start creeping, get up and start walking or flat out break with full poppers. My point is that in a real hunting situation, how many of those dogs would break? In field trials, even with some of the distances, the full poppers still create a lot more interest for the dogs than primer poppers at a much closer distance. Given that, does anyone know why they're even allowed in hunting tests since steadiness is supposed to be tested?
Use of Primer Poppers in Hunting Tests
J. Walker
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I understand there are issues as to why they are used such as cost and proximity to the line. However, as someone who has been around dogs a lot when either live rounds or regular poppers have been used, the dogs' steadiness is definitely tested much more with fully loaded poppers. I've seen way too many dogs that were steady with primer shots start creeping, get up and start walking or flat out break with full poppers. My point is that in a real hunting situation, how many of those dogs would break? In field trials, even with some of the distances, the full poppers still create a lot more interest for the dogs than primer poppers at a much closer distance. Given that, does anyone know why they're even allowed in hunting tests since steadiness is supposed to be tested?
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"Real hunting situation", my dog still sits. I use primers at the line when training for HRC. Comes down to basic OB, IMHO. Sit means sit no matter the noise created.
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Huh?
(Too many MONSTER BLASTS regards,)
(Too many MONSTER BLASTS regards,)
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One of the main reasons is HEARING, both the handlers and the dogs. Yes, I know, I've just given two reasons. As a handler and as a judge I have lost a good bit of hearing and I know of a bunch of dogs that have hearing loss also. I can no longer hear the phone ring except when I'm right next to it and I know my friends get tired of me saying "would you repeat that please". Cleo had even tried to get me to go to a hearing aid company to get fitted for a ear piece. That is reason enough for me! Bill
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You'll get more bites if you slow the engine another couple hundred RPM's.......Just sayin'-Paul
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Also, safety. You can seriously injure someone with a popper load. With the honor shooting, safety definitely comes into play.
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Stick to what we have now in HRC. Just fine and easy on my ears! Your dog should sit no matter what situation your in!
IMO
IMO
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There was a huge brewhaha when primers vs poppers was voted on by each club 10 or so years ago. Those on the popper side had mostly never judged or had to clean their clothes after a day of poppers going off infront of them. The packing in each popper went everywhere including your eyes. Sit through 2+ cases of them for two series and try to carry a normal conversation that same night. HRC folks always want to repeat a normal day afield but it isn't possible to test and hunt at the same time. This Fact will always hold the organization back when it comes to testing dogs ability to meet the standard.
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Let me clarify. I totally understand about not using them at the line. That's just common sense. The judges, gallery, and pro's running multiple dogs would be acting like they'd just been to the farewell concert of The Who if full poppers were used at the line. I'm only talking about in the field with guns clamped into stands pointing in a safe direction. Sit only means sit if dogs have been exposed to the distractions they're going to encounter like louder gunfire. I've seen staked out dogs at training sessions barely blink with primers but I've seen those same dogs darn near try to yank the stakes out of the ground when full popper loads went off from 50-350 yards away.
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Popper are still the most used noise maker for akc ht/FT. I prefer poppers over the new thunder cannons but that's just my opinion. Primers wouldn't register at FT distances anyway.
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Heck, the sound of the wingers going off is enough to get the attention of dogs at HT distances.
Primer loads don't bother me--I don't think it makes quite as much difference in the end. Just don't like those black powder poppers with all the noise fire and smoke.
I for one judge HRC events and would not like to sit there all day and take gun blast all day. If you have an honor you may hear as many as 5 blast for every dog that comes to the line in finish. Another issue is Liability for HRC and muzzle blast that could seriously hurt someone "not just ears". Just one bad gun handling issue in a hunt is enough to say no to live rounds "poppers". Also you may have to space hunts farther apart to not disturb another hunt if you have the loud poppers. Some times this may not be possible cause of limited grounds. We all know how hard it is getting to get quality grounds to put on a test so we can play. A land owner may not like the fact that we are using rounds that can hurt someone. Then we would be looking elsewere for grounds to have the test. IMO it is just better for everyone in general not to use live rounds. I have nothing against AKC test and I like the louder shots in those test. There you have a bird boy with ear protection "should have anyway" in a controller enviroment that creates no danger to anyone there.
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