[Chris Atkinson]

"Dots on blinds represent where handler blew whistle (no I do not diagram casts, cast refusals, etc.)"

Why don't you keep track of cast refusals? Whistle refusal treated the same?

Just trying to educate myself.

In my opinion, as long as the person judging is consistent in their judging methodology and note taking, it can become irrelevant.

I personally will put little circles/dots where each whistle was blown, and I'll jot a WR or CR next to a spot where there was a refusal. In reality though, for someone who chooses not to use the letters for notations, their diagram will still generally show where the refusals took place.

Some if it is personal preference and personal style. I started doing things a certain way judging hunt tests in the 90s and I still do them similarly for FT's today.

Chris

 

[Chris Atkinson]

I use vellum, but it is not that great in the rain. It sounds like the Lee Houser sheets are water proof and would work better in the rain.

I've used both. Lee's sheets are a type of mylar and they are better. However, they will cling together quite a bit when it rains. They are a bit of a challenge to separate. Lee recommends stapling the corners to provide a little gap to separate the sheets better during rain.

Lee's sheets are VERY strong. So strong, in fact, that if you try to just tear them out of your 3 ring binder, you are likely to bend your rings!

Chris

 

[JusticeDog]

they will cling together quite a bit when it rains. They are a bit of a challenge to separate. Lee recommends stapling the corners to provide a little gap to separate the sheets better during rain.

I use the staples.... never had a problem. Just a staple in the upper right and corner, kitty cornered, then the lower right hand, alternating. Easy enough to lift the sheets apart. Lee Houser had recommended it, and it works quite well.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

I use the staples.... never had a problem. Just a staple in the upper right and corner, kitty cornered, then the lower right hand, alternating. Easy enough to lift the sheets apart. Lee Houser had recommended it, and it works quite well.

I will be trying that the next time it rains. I carry a stapler when I judge. I just have not ever made the time to staple the corners.

Do you do it as a matter of course, or do you only staple sheets if it starts raining?

I just left you a voicemail on your cell... (on a separate topic)

Chris

 

[Ted Shih]

"Dots on blinds represent where handler blew whistle (no I do not diagram casts, cast refusals, etc.)"

Why don't you keep track of cast refusals? Whistle refusal treated the same?

Just trying to educate myself.

First, this is what the Rule Book (pages 45-46) says about note taking by the judges:

(11) Judges should keep sufficiently detailed notes on each dog’s performance to enable them to recall it completely, or at least its outstanding features. Each fault should be noted, even those that are minor. Although the latter may not require that the dog be penalized at that time, repetitions of that fault or commission of various other faults, in succeeding series, may cause the total of faults to assume serious proportions.

When you are judging, you are trying to watch the dog and keep good notes. So, you need to you a system that is quick, and that allows you to keep consistent notes.

I will write down things that are significant to me.
For example:
- GIL: Good Initial Line
- PIL: Poor Initial Line
- GS: Good Style
- PS: Poor Style
- Noise: Vocal
- HM: Hard Mouth
- PLM: Poor Line Manners

See diagram A below, where I noted that Dog A did not cut the corner of the road (no road)

I do not note whistle refusals, or cast refusals, because I think that the spacing and location of the whistles (indicated by dots) tells you what was happening. For example, if you look at the land blind for Dog A, you can see that the handler was trying (and failing) to get the dog to cast left. The dots (and my recall) tell me that. I would not have the time, space, or inclination to write (CR) each time.

Compare the sheet for dog B

If you again look at the Land Blind, near the road, you will see a number of dogs clustered closely together. That tells me that the dog was slipping the whistle and that the handler was blowing the whistle repeatedly to stop the dog. It is much easier - and quicker - to simply put a dot on the diagram than to repeatedly write "WR"

The keys are these:
1. The diagram serves as your reference
2. It must contain sufficient detail to allow you to differentiate between the work of different dogs
3. It must be easy to use, easy to understand, and repeatable
4. Although the system can be unique to you, it helps if it is understandable to your co- judge, because when you are trying to determine placements, it helps to be able to show your co-judge why you believe what you believe.

 

[JusticeDog]

Do you do it as a matter of course, or do you only staple sheets if it starts raining?

I do it when I receive the sheets from Lee. Electric stapler - goes fast. If you wait until it starts raining, you are screwed if the pages get damp. (no matter what kind of book you are using). It allows me to turn the pages quicker even if it is not raining as it lifts the page just a bit....

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Boeing illustrators called them "overlays". They had printers specifically for printing on the sheets for developing parts catalogs.

Dad used to get the for free too. hehehe

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Boeing illustrators called them "overlays". They had printers specifically for printing on the sheets for developing parts catalogs.

Dad used to get the for free too. hehehe

A good opportunity for a "lee's so old he used rub-on transfers because they didn't have printers back then"

 

[John Lash]

Anyone have a contact for Lee?

 

[EdA]

PM sent w/ e-mail address

 

[Chris Atkinson]

PM sent w/ e-mail address

I sent it as well.

I spoke with Lee this morning and "warned" him that he may be getting some new contacts from folks he's not worked with before.

Chris

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Someone send him an electric hole punch and some arthritis meds!

 

[RJG]

Is there a place to purchase Lee Houser's tranparencies etc?

 

[Ironwood]

I use the staples.... never had a problem. Just a staple in the upper right and corner, kitty cornered, then the lower right hand, alternating. Easy enough to lift the sheets apart. Lee Houser had recommended it, and it works quite well.

The staples can work however they are time consuming to attach and they bulk up one corner of your judges book. As an altternative I use numbered card stock dividers that are They are available at larger stationary stores. I believe they come in packs of 25 and 100. I bought a pack of 100 for my last national judging assignment. For the poor souls who volunteer for those clubs who get over 100 dogs, just use an additional small bundle of 25. Then ypuneed only use a permanent ink pen and write the appropriate prefix infront of the the number as it cycles past 100.

For notes and diagrams for each respective dog on their numbered sheet(upper right corner) I use a water solubale fine tip felt tip marker in different colors to represent what the dog does, what is static in field and what is/are the factors.

For the master template sheet I use easy peel adhesive "Scotch brand" tape (it comes only in semi clear) to hold the the water proof graph paper down to Lee Houser's plastic template backing board.

If you have the time you can clean the sheets with a damp cloth, your own effort and a particular cleaner my wife bought for some kitchen chore. It worked better than a number of other as I experimented with all of them. THE ONLT TIME I REALLY BOTHERED TO USE THE CLEANING STUFF. It was green in color. It was not amonia or Windex, or Mr. Clean, Pine Sol or bleach, nor methol hydrate. One day I will look to see if it is still there on the grocery store shelf.

Lastly at the back of the best quality three ring binder I use Dennis Voight reconciliation sheet and score the dog once it has delivered the last bird. Ted or Dennis you can start another post with a fuller discussion on tabulation sheet at the back of the book.

 

[paul young]

I have used Lee's sheets and found them to work very well for me. Very easy to compare the work that the top dogs turned in, and a great aid towards consistency in call backs through out the trial.

I find cast refusals are pretty much self evident. Whistle refusals are noted with a dashed line until the handler regains control.-Paul

 

[Ted Shih]

You can email Lee Houser at houserl@mac.com

​Ted

 

[John Lash]

I talked to Lee tonight. I was a little hesitant with the transparencies. I didn't like the idea of shuffling papers around to put various sheets over the template to compare dogs through 4 series.

Lee said he just draws a detailed setup once and then traces the drawing to the other sheets so you don't have to shuffle them around. Or shuffle them around if you wish. Sounded good to me, convenient and accurate.

 

[Ted Shih]

I talked to Lee tonight. I was a little hesitant with the transparencies. I didn't like the idea of shuffling papers around to put various sheets over the template to compare dogs through 4 series.

Lee said he just draws a detailed setup once and then traces the drawing to the other sheets so you don't have to shuffle them around. Or shuffle them around if you wish. Sounded good to me, convenient and accurate.

John

I don't think it is as difficult as you are imagining.

First, when I get a judging assignment, I number my transparencies from 1 to whatever. I also put a "+" on the transparencies. I use the "+" to make sure that each sheet is properly aligned with the template. See image below

Second, I put the numbered transparencies in my three ring binder, which is separated with numbered dividers (0 for 1-9, 1 for 10-19, etc.) I find that because I only have 9 sheets per section, my pages don't stick together much when wet, so I do not use staples.

Third, I draw my diagram on the template in pencil. Once we have run test dog and committed to the test, I draw over my lines with a thin tip Sharpie, and put in colors if I have time.

Fourth, when a dog comes up, all you do is slide the template underneath the sheet. If you look at the left edge of the template, you will see the spaces for the rings of the binder. So, slide the template in, align the "+" on the transparency with the "+" on the template, use a clip to hold in place and away you go

It is very easy to use, once you get the system down.

 

[John Lash]

Check is on the way. Looking forward to it.

I dread numbering 75 pages and drawing the 4 boxes ahead of time. Then I'm always trying to catch up with the drawings of the test.

I think this will be much better.