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Fall Classes
Daytime classes start mid-September
Evening classes start the week of Sept. 9
Obedience run-thrus on Monday Aug. 26 beginning at 6:30pm - Novice, Open & Utility. Daytime Novice and Open run-thrus on Sep. 13 at 10 am. Please contact me directly to sign up.
The complete class schedule and registration information can be found at www.blueribbondogsportscoaching.com
Don't forget that Sandi has APDT Rally run-thrus and CDSP run-thrus every Thursday morning at Golden Rule School for Dogs.
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Blue Ribbon Brags
Bobbie Wood & Maestro - WCR/APDT ARCH with fourth place, CDSP CD-C with third place
Bobbie Wood & Emmy - CDSP CD-CCh3 with second place
Mary Meila & Maddie - CD CDX-CCh leg
Judy Sullivan & Lola - CDXP CD-CCh leg, CDX-CCh leg
Joy Scally & William - WCR/APDT RL2X, RL3, RL3X leg with fourth place
Caroline LeBel & Scout - ARCHMX leg with first place, two UDX-C legs with third place, two CDX-CCH legs with second place, High Combined Util/Open
Maureen McEntee & Jenna - ARCHMX triple Q with three placements
Karen D'Elia & Teddy - RL3 with first and second place
Linda Sperco & Rye - CDX-CCh leg with 199 and second place
...............and it was a two ribbon weekend at the Yankee Waterfowler's HRC NAHRA field test....Rudy finished his WR title and Rye earned her second pass for her MHR title
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December CDSP and WC/APDT Rally Trials
Entries open on Sept 1. Both trials are limited entry.
CDSP Premium
WC/APDT Rally Premium
Hunt Test Training
The Navesink River Hunting Retriever Club training sessions are in full swing. For details:
NRHRC 2013 Training Sessions
Platform DVD
Tawzer Dog Video Productions taped my recent Platform Workshop, starring Sandi Ver Sprill and Stella and Pippa, Heidi Smerek and Chance, Judy Luce and Razzle, Stacy Barnett and Judd, Bobbie Wood and Emmy and Airy and Janet Mines Krings and Hero and of course Rudy and Rye. As soon as the DVD's (Basic and Advanced) are ready, I'll announce it here. |
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The Best Handling Tip In A Long Time
Anyone who's ever seen Rudy run a hunt test knows he's FAST and keeping him under control during the upland hunt is my biggest challenge, as I'm sure it is for anyone with a high rolling dog.
As we got ready to run the upland hunt portion at a recent test, one of the workers who had seen Rudy run his marks and blind took me aside. He suggested that when I want Rudy to change direction - 'come around' - after stopping him on the whistle, I slowly turn my shoulder and slowly walk in the direction I wanted him to go, instead of giving a full cast with my arm and watching him take off like he was shot out of a cannon! (if I wanted him to go to my right, turn my left shoulder to the right and vice-versa)
Well, everyone always has an opinion but this gentleman told me he has a high rolling dog so I figured "why not?" I tried it. And it worked! It made Rudy think a little more, pay better attention and kept Roo from trying to drive the bus.
Our upland hunt was our best one ever!!! Rudy was completely under control and happy to work WITH me. So much so that when the judges called us in they told me they let us continue well after they decided we had passed simply because Rudy was having so much fun!
For those of you with high rolling dogs, this was a valuable tip - try it and pass it along.
Using a Platform for Fronts and Finishes 
While not a principal feature, fronts and finishes are important. In the obedience ring there is one front and one finish in Novice, four of each in Open, and in Utility six to seven, depending on the venue. Those half point and full point (or more) deductions can add up quickly.
Practicing both on a platform - an appropriately sized platform for your dog - is a simple and fun way to make sure your dog knows how to find the perfect position for each.
When working on fronts remember two things: always reward from your mouth, never from your pocket and never bend over or forward as your dog is coming to front.
When practicing finishes remember two things as well: always reward from your left pocket and always stand straight; don't twist to see where your dog is.
Last but not least, to prevent your dog from going into 'autodog' mode at a trial and either not waiting for the judge to instruct you to finish your dog or simply skipping front and coming directly to heel, ALWAYS practice your fronts and finishes separately.
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