[Byron Musick]

Here is the deal,

In our first hunt test, while going through the holding blinds my dog would get more excited the closer we got to the line. We crashed and burned that test and I do blame myself and not the dog (long story).

The last two tests, going through the holding blinds, my dog is damn near asleep, lays down and rests (right up to the line). Gunshot's, duck calls, nothing phases him. The galllery is smiling at this dog who appear's not to really give a darn, I'm wondering "Great, here we go, he won't go, he's not in the game" etc.. Wife is thinking the same thing. We get called to the line....

He wakes up, perks up, marks great, very steady (his formal obedience is paying off). In our first hunt test pass two weeks ago my dog was scored an average of 8.5 for all the marks. Yesterday's hunt test he did better and score an average of 8.75. Two ribbons towards our first ever title (I know only Junior but we gots to start somewhere).

So I'm thinking.. Hmmmm? Must be WHAT I'M WEARING!!!!

Lucky Toe Ring Regards! :razz:

PS: Real cool to finish a tough test with good friends and all go home with a ribbon! Judges were tough and did not tolerate much in terms of mistakes.

 

[Vicky Trainor]

Here is the deal,

...

So I'm thinking.. Hmmmm? Must be WHAT I'M WEARING!!!!

Lucky Toe Ring Regards! :razz:

What???? No pictures???? :razz:

Congrats on the second qualification!

 

[Jason Glavich]

Here is the deal,


PS: Real cool to finish a tough test with good friends and all go home with a ribbon! Judges were tough and did not tolerate much in terms of mistakes.

Congrats on the pass. The attire was very appropriate, it's camo right?...

 

[Byron Musick]

Congrats on the pass. The attire was very appropriate, it's camo right?...

Thanks Jason, yes its camo, but I have been working on the Blechech ripped camo shirt and mis-matching camo pattern look for a while, it was all underneath my matching camo pants and jacket, to cold to show off the new look, but I wore the same camo underneath that I am convinced is bringing me luck!!

 

[HuntinDawg]

If you are asking is it good or bad that your dog is mellowing out in the holding blinds I would say it is good as long as the dog is focused and alert at the line with no apparent lack of desire.

My guess would be that your dog was extra hyper in the first test because it was a new environment. It is possible that your dog now has the venue figured out in terms of understanding what is coming next, knowing that there is a lot of waiting after coming out of the truck, etc. If this is the case, I would say it is a good thing.

Good luck to you and your dog.

 

[John Robinson]

I agree, it's good that your dog is able to stay calm in the holding blind. I think thats part training and just experience on your dog's part. Both of my dogs are very calm in the holding blind, Gus, who is a fire breather while running, just lays down in the blind until we get called to the line.

Congrats on the pass, keep up the good work.

John

 

[Byron Musick]

Good luck to you and your dog.

I think maybe your right, he's UNDERWHELMED!!!

I've tried to follow the logic in the below statement, good words to go by!

"When you go to a test or a trial, your dog should be underwhelmed." ~ Evan Graham

 

[Byron Musick]

Thanks Huntindog & John & Jason,

What is really cool I am not such a nervous wreck as I was in the first test. Hard to believe a guy my age would let the pressure of a test get to me! Old man climbing out of his shell I suppose! This was the first test I think I actually watched the other dogs and really enjoyed it!

I was up at the line (Junior tests are awesome), the dog before me was going for its first water mark, I am sure the water is cold, I would not want to get in it. This dog crossed the water and picked up the bird, then it worked VERY hard to try and cheat his way back, you could tell this dog did not want to go back in that water!! After running around a bit, figureing out there was no way to cheat, this dog backed up, took a running start and I swear that pup must have jumped 20 feet before landing in the water! You could tell that this dog thought he could clear the entire 25 yard channel without getting wet! Stuff like that is priceless and can usually only be seen in JH tests!!

Guess I'm hooked for sure, the ribbons are cool too.

 

[Sundown49 aka Otey B]

For what it's worth I think that you said it all when you said you were relaxed at the two passes. A dog feeds off of your nervousness and gets"wound" up too. I just completed my first AKC Junior judging assignment and when I was running dogs myself I never noticed the difference in handlers. This past time I really saw a HUGE difference when a handler came to the line all confident their dogs seemed to perform much better.

 

[Byron Musick]

Ribbon and Dog looks like this (only different)! Second attachement is a new family member which arrives in late November! The wife is going to run her!

I hear she is genetically prediposed to retrieve nasty ducks without all that FF business, also comes with built in advance retriever skills!! You can see it in her eye's (which just opened)!!!

 

[Howard N]

This is your lucky camo? And you wore it under matching camo this weekend to finish?

Hey, if it works, don't knock it.

I'd just stay away from that mean moderator judging you. You know the way she gives style points for matching camo or takes away points for non matching camo.

Non stylish regards,

 

[Vicky Trainor]

This is your lucky camo? And you wore it under matching camo this weekend to finish?

Hey, if it works, don't knock it.

I'd just stay away from that mean moderator judging you. You know the way she gives style points for matching camo or takes away points for non matching camo.

Non stylish regards,

Now Howard, anyone that knows me will tell you that it's all about the dogs!! Black dogs start out with a perfect 10/ yellows and chocolates have to work their way up to a 10!! Or wait.....what was it someone said?? Oh yeah, black dogs get an extra point just for being black!

(However, coming to the line in an outfit like Bryan's does cause the eyes to get a bit blurry!!! LOL)

J/K regards,

 

[tracyw]

Byron,

I am so glad you and your dog got through FF and now on to winning ribbons! Your new pup is beautiful. You are hooked!

Congrats,

 

[Byron Musick]

Byron,

I am so glad you and your dog got through FF and now on to winning ribbons! Your new pup is beautiful. You are hooked!

Congrats,

Thanks Tracy, I've been training with a group closer to home, been meaning to get up to your training group but so much has happened here at home we have had a hard time getting out like we should! Hope to see you soon and I can show off my dog's "Stinky Bird" Fetching skills!!

 

[Byron Musick]

Black dogs start out with a perfect 10/ yellows and chocolates have to work their way up to a 10!! Or wait.....what was it someone said?? Oh yeah, black dogs get an extra point just for being black!
J/K regards,

Now this is really good news. I have the Black dog, wife has the yellow.... Hmmm....When my wife starts running against me (and she will, I know its a standard thing but, she will)... I know which Judge I am seeking out!!!

And when I do, I promise to wear....THE SAME OUTFIT!!!

Or I might get me some lucky Matching camo, maybe....

We'll all have a good time regardless!!!

 

[John Robinson]

For what it's worth I think that you said it all when you said you were relaxed at the two passes. A dog feeds off of your nervousness and gets"wound" up too. I just completed my first AKC Junior judging assignment and when I was running dogs myself I never noticed the difference in handlers. This past time I really saw a HUGE difference when a handler came to the line all confident their dogs seemed to perform much better.

This is so true, one of the very best ways to become a better handler is to take on judging assignments. Sitting in that chair all weekend, totally concentrating on dogs and handlers, it will become very clear to you what is good handling and what is not. After a few series you will notice the good handlers are consistant from series to series and their dogs usually reflect that calm, steady handler with good work out in the field. You will also be surprised at how many bone head handlers there are, sometimes a good dog does well in spite of handler mistakes, but a good dog-good handler team is always better.

John

 

[Byron Musick]

I'd just stay away from that mean moderator judging you. You know the way she gives style points for matching camo or takes away points for non matching camo.

Non stylish regards,

Howard,
I do have one thing to say about that mean moderator, she give perty darn good advice. I am sure other's have told me, but does not mean I understand what they are saying at the time! I had asked her after the hunt test with her if I could get my dog's score's, which she provided along with a description of her perspective and what I had done wrong, that day, simply lining my dog up to where the mark will land. Generally I had only thought of lining a dog up on Blind's, I had only generally lined a dog up where he could see and never tuned or fine tuned his alignment on marks.
This last hunt test I had that on my "to-do" list, line up the spine, head on where the mark would fall, WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes on NAILING a mark!! I watch so many dogs not get passed where they never found the bird, I wonder how many of those folks forgot to do this simple task?

Anyway, it does not matter what that mean moderator says or does, I obviously, by the way I dress myself, could care less about what anyone thinks (about how I dress)! But good advice? I'll take it especially when its good.... Funny how little things can make a BIG difference!!

Thanks Vickie!!!!

 

[Vicky Trainor]

Howard,
I do have one thing to say about that mean moderator, she give perty darn good advice. I am sure other's have told me, but does not mean I understand what they are saying at the time! I had asked her after the hunt test with her if I could get my dog's score's, which she provided along with a description of her perspective and what I had done wrong, that day, simply lining my dog up to where the mark will land. Generally I had only thought of lining a dog up on Blind's, I had only generally lined a dog up where he could see and never tuned or fine tuned his alignment on marks.
This last hunt test I had that on my "to-do" list, line up the spine, head on where the mark would fall, WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes on NAILING a mark!! I watch so many dogs not get passed where they never found the bird, I wonder how many of those folks forgot to do this simple task?

Anyway, it does not matter what that mean moderator says or does, I obviously, by the way I dress myself, could care less about what anyone thinks (about how I dress)! But good advice? I'll take it especially when its good.... Funny how little things can make a BIG difference!!

Thanks Vickie!!!!

You're very welcome! Glad the advice helped!!

 

[DarrinGreene]

ya know, when I met you the day after failing your test, having come back to see the senior dogs despite it, I thought... I'll bet we're going to see more of this guy...

now ya got two passes and a new puppy comin?

get out NOW Byron...

"My name is Byron and I'm a dogaholic"...

cool, ain't it?

Keep it rollin big boy.

You comin up for Suskie or Del Bay?

I may come down and spectate if the ducks aren't flyin...

 

[Byron Musick]

ya know, when I met you the day after failing your test, having come back to see the senior dogs despite it, EDIT:EDIT

"My name is Byron and I'm a dogaholic"...

cool, ain't it? YES@!

Keep it rollin big boy.

You comin up for Suskie or Del Bay?

I may come down and spectate if the ducks aren't flyin...

You know, that day I failed the our first test, that day was likely the worse day I can remember in my life (or at least it felt like it) knowing that I had let my boy down, fearing I had not trained him enough, I did not communicate with him like I should during the run, being so nervous my dog sensed my fears and was afraid to do anything for me... That was my failure...I promised I would not do that again! Coming back and watching the Seniors run was much needed therapy. I think we even discuss nerve's and such, right before we got into the Ron White humor!

Okay, My name is Byron and I need to EASE UP, RELAX, HAVE FUN!!

That's how I tried to approach the last two tests. The next two tests were the best day's I can remember in my life (or at least it sure felt like it)!!

I was not planning on it, but last night the wife talked me into entering DEL BAY on the 31st & 1st, so maybe she's a dogaholic!!

Motel 6 here we come!!

I had to add this, in the future when he does fail a test, hopefully it won't be because I have my head up my ARSE!! If we happen to fail, have fun doing it!!!