Hail Call Keith G..............

3520 Views 24 Replies 15 Participants Last post by badbullgator, Apr 25, 2007

Polock

Discussion Starter · Sep 22, 2006

Keith serious question for ya since you are Guru on AKC rules...........

I presently have training with me a 5 1/2 month BLM who's owner/handler is blind. The pup has been CC to here, sits (vioce and whistle), and is in the process of learning heel. Pup is doing single land marks in low cover out to 80-90 yds and water marks to 60 yards.
Along with with wearing his e-collar he also wears a thin collar with a small bell on it. This is so the handler can tell when he is returning with the mark and he is learning a frontal sit for delivery of the bird and then moves to the heel position.
Pup and handler are doing quite well.
The handler I might add hunts pheasant, bow hunts for deer and shoots trap quite well. Amazing accomplishments considering she is blind.
To her accomplishments she plans on running AKC & NFRA HTs.

My question is this, as I don't necessarily see it as a problem in Junior but Senior will be a different story.
The pup wears a bell to help the handler know his location especially on returning with a mark for delivery purposes.
How will this be addressed as far as the AKC is concerned?
Should this be only a concern at the FTC and Judges level of a Stake?
Should this be addressed before entering a HT with the sponsoring club?

Senior will be a whole different story as no collar are allowed on the dawgs.
Her husband normally stands behind her and will be giving her guidance on mark locations. Will this be permitted because now we're talking about doubles? How about the bell issue, will the dawg be allowed to wear it?
How about accidently touching the dawg to take the bird?
Blinds will be a different story also................though she will be doing the handling.......her husband will have to tell her when to blow the whistle.....will this be allowed?

Believe me Keith, this has kept me on my toes as a trainer..........but the handler is determine to put a MH on the pup in the future and plans on running Junior next year......so I thought I'd ask now...

I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.............

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Polock

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 22, 2006

Thanks Lainee, just trying to think of issues that may create a problem.

I don't think any of the other handlers would find a issue with, because as the pups handler said.................'anyone with an issue with it is more than welcome to place a bell on their dawg and a blindfold on themselves and run the marks'....................... :shock:

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Polock

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 22, 2006

Thanks for the link Keith, I appreciate it.

And a Thank You to everyones comments.....................it's a very interesting situation.................and I assure everyone it makes ya do some thinking.

She lost her sight during a hospital operation but it hasn't slowed her down a bit..................I've personally watched her knock pheasants down during a youth hunt they sponsor...............it's amazing........... :shock:
She has no concept of distance so I can't say it's a 70 yd mark up a hill............that just doesn't fly................it's more like, 'set me up in the right direction, listen to the attention sound and gun fire, when DOG is called, I'll send'. Dawg returns to frontal delivery and sits, receives bird, and heels dawg to my side..............It puts a smile on my face everytime..............

.........I wouldn't trade it for the world..........and I can't wait for the first Q.

She's aready attended an Evan Graham Workshop up here in NY and just took it all in..........................even did her CC work with Evan in front of the group................totally amazing.....................

Her and Cody are a joy to have in class..............as they have been working with this pup since 8 weeks old.........and he knows his stuff..........talk about SOLID OB.........it's an absolute must in this case....

Thanks again folks.................WOW.............what a ride............

:wink:

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Polock

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 24, 2006

Keith, I appreciate all your help with this matter and will refer the information on to my client.
It's is my belief that she will take Bill's and your suggestions and get the AKC approval regarding ADA, then go thru the Field Chair of each test prior to entering so they are aware of the situation upfront and can inform the judges accordingly.

I know I look forward to watching her compete and challenge the elements of the test as presented, and she works at it with great enthusiasm............constantly keeping me on my toes, adjusting the training as needed, while still staying within the rules.............

Thanks a million for the help and again thanks for the link to Bill............ :wink:

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Polock

Discussion Starter · #21 · Apr 25, 2007

For those of you that are interested, the AKC has determined, and agreed to in writing, that my totally blind client is permitted to have her dawg wear a bell on the collar during her Junior stakes attempts.

She will also be permitted to have myself or someone else behind her to keep her informed on the goings on with the dawg, as long as she does all the handling of the dawg.

During her quest for the Senior and Master stakes, she will also be permitted to have me assist in blowing the whistles for blind retrieves and instructing her on the proper cast to give to the dawg.

My client and I have this information in writing and the AKC asks that we inform the Judges and FTC prior to the stakes' start so they are aware of the situation at hand.

I wish to thank Bill Speck for helping to secure this decision from the AKC and the effort both he and the AKC put into this matter.
I know they made my client very elated with their decisions.........

A special thanks also to Keith for leading us down the right path on this matter........ :wink:

As far as an update on where Sharron and Kody are in their training is as follows;

Kody just turned 1 year old. He is still on going on his OB, has been CC and just completed FF. He is is working on FTP and doing basic blind retrieves to ~25 yards. Basic 3 handed casting was started last week.
Shortly he will start the T and on to TT. Swimby and water force will follow this summer.

His marking on singles and doubles continues and he is contantly being challenged with different setups. He is successfully retrieving out to 100-150 yards.
He has had live flyers and has also sat at honor for other dawgs.

Sharron and Kody will be running Junior this summer and if all goes well should attain hers and Kody's JH before summers end.

The training has been quite satisfying to me and has constantly kept me adapting my training approach to different setups.
It has been a very rewarding experience and will only be magnified when they begin running this summer and both complete their Junior Title.................... 8)

Thanks to all involved................... :wink:

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