|
I.O.U. If training your dog for and running your dog in either hunt tests or
field trials has given you a great deal of pleasure and been flat out fun, you
have a debt you need to repay. You
owe it to the sport to contribute back for what you have gained from your
participation. The first thing you can do is offer to help, in any fashion, at hunt
tests and field trials. In addition
to doing a huge favor to the Club that is putting one on, this gives you an
additional opportunity to learn more about running dogs.
You meet a variety of new persons which can lead to friendships, training
groups, and a way to feel more and more at home at any hunt test or trial you
attend. You can apprentice for judging. You
can attend judging clinics. Read
books and magazine articles on setting up tests, learn what you need to do to be
a good judge. Use your time while
training to evaluate the set ups, determine what you think the dogs will do on
them, and then watch what the dogs actually do.
Read the rule books. Ask
persons who judge for their help and advice.
When you feel comfortable, approach your Club and ask to apprentice at a
hunt test. Analyze what the judges
are doing and why. Watch the good
handlers closely. Watch what the
dogs are doing and try to “read” what you think they will do.
See how terrain, wind, lighting conditions, and other factors influence
the work of the dogs. Not only will
you personally benefit from this when it comes to training and running your own
dog, the sport will gain a potential new judge. What else do you owe? Recently
a young woman was out with her 7 month old puppy running some marks.
She had never done field work before but had been working diligently with
her puppy, both of them learning at the same time.
Two experienced persons walked up to her and said that by her pup’s
age, it should be running much longer marks.
Then they walked off. Neither
an offer of help nor an explanation of how to advance the puppy was given or
shown. Neither of them offered to go
throw and help the pup learn to handle marks at a greater distance.
No suggestions were presented about good training books that are
available, training classes being given, or training groups to join.
The two persons that walked off are in the “red ink” category.
Not only are they not repaying a debt they owe, they are doing a grave
disservice to the sport. How about the person who discourages a newcomer who shows up to train her
lovely conformation Champion. Telling
her that “conformation dogs are no good for field work” just shows his/her
own lack of knowledge. How does that
person know a conformation Champion cannot be a good field dog, an excellent
hunter, and a dog that can provide its owner with a great deal of pleasure and
pride? Not only do these
discouraging words risk the loss to the sport of a potentially excellent
trainer, handler, judge, this dog may well end up putting the naysayer’s own
dog to shame with regard to ability. Unless
you are a certified psychic, be like the cowboys on the western plains where
“never a discouraging word is heard”. Words can hurt and cause great pain.
At a WC/WCX, an “expert” was sitting in the gallery and was
criticizing every dog/handler combination that was doing the WC test.
In that gallery were family members and friends of the persons competing.
The children of one handler were in tears.
Friends were upset. For the
persons who were attending or running their first WC, this was a devastating
experience. The ironic thing is the
“expert” was (and still is) one of the worst handlers/trainers out there.
She has no insight into her own lack of knowledge or ability, cannot read
dogs, and her mind remains tightly locked. The
only thing she excels in is criticizing others and dispensing much unkindness.
Those who had been around her knew about her deficits, but for novice
persons it was very discouraging. I
wonder how many lovely persons were lost to the sport because of her. Your debt can be reduced if you are ever around a situation such as the
above. Unpleasant as it may be,
either go up personally to the person and speak to her about her behavior or
approach the Chairman of the event and explain what is happening.
Then go up to friends and family members and quietly tell them to pay her
no heed. If the persons running
their dogs heard her---the above described person did not speak in modulated
tones---when that handler left the line, go up to them, put your arm around them
and tell them how proud you are of how they did no matter if their dog passed or
not. If their dog did not pass, take
them to one side and offer some kindly advice and encouragement so that “next
time” they will pass. Then write
an article for your Club’s newsletter (mentioning no names) about proper
etiquette for persons attending Club events. When you help and encourage newcomers in this sport, not only do you
start to repay your debt, but you receive “interest”.
The interest isn’t cash. It
can be new friends, possible training partners, potential helpers at Club
events, and a good feeling. The
intangible benefit is that you can improve your knowledge and abilities by
teaching and helping someone else. You
refine your own thoughts on training. You
start to think “outside the box” when you are helping someone work through a
problem with their dog. This can
help you with your own dogs. You
might explore other methods, read more training books or watch new tapes in an
effort to help this newcomer train their dog.
When they ask you questions, it helps to redefine your thoughts as to why
you really believe what you do. It
can be a “win-win” situation to all involved.
Furthermore, you will receive a bright shiny star for your crown! |
|
|