Beanwood
Administrator
Yesterday was the day we attempted our WGC. We failed the first time around, so with much trepidation, we attempted the certificate again. The day was at the beautiful Lenches, near Evesham. The weather, however, was not so kind, heavy rain and COLD!
The day was organised by the Vale & West Gundog Club, SWMBO was there to steward and support, and a bunch of other very kind people who gave up their time to help out on the day. There were two KC officials adjudicating. There were 9 of us being assessed, 3 labradors, a couple of HPRs and the rest bonkers cockers!
We start out at the clubhouse, 9 am sharp to be given our numbers, groups, timings...plus introduced to everyone. Then we set off ready for the first assessment.
Assessment one - The Social Walk
This is where the dogs are assessed for temperament. Although all through the day they are assessed, at this point we have to walk through woodland, off the lead, dogs remaining fairly close to their handler and not responding to distractions. So, whilst a brief sniff is acceptable, racing off having a hoolie in the woods is not. Dogs must demonstrate being under the owners' control at all times. So you have 9 dogs, 9 handlers, judges, helpers all walking together. This is par of the course on a normal shoot. So having a good temperament is important. Snarly, aggressive dogs on a shoot is a no, no!
Assessment two - The beating line
We are split into 2 groups for the next two exercises. We line up...5 of us deep in the wood. The role depends on the dog, so the spaniels are expected to quarter and the retrievers walk very close to the heel and not range in front. We were being assessed on being calm, steady to shot, but not running in. Up in front, there was a lot of shot, and dummies thrown.
Then the beating line is told to hold, whilst the gun line (the other group...) are sent into the wood in front to retrieve. This for us is where it gets tough. We had to sit stock still, off lead and not make a sound! Dogs from the first group get quite close as they hunt for their retrieves, the dummies thrown earlier. The wait is around 15minutes...I am by this point whispering non-stop to Bramble..like some weird ventriloquist...good girl, good girl! I am conscious one of the judges is on my right....and we are not allowed to treat/reward your dog. My emotional bank account with Bramble is feeling pretty lean at this point!
Finally, we are given the cue to "sweep". This means that the dogs have finished retrieving in the gun line (Group 1) and our role is literally to pick up any lost/missed dummies. On a live shoot, this is important. Sweeping ensures that no birds are missed, especially injured ones. We all walk forward in a line. I give Bramble her hunting cue, so she understands I need her to hunt close to me. Then (and it seems like forever...) we meet up with the gun line in front. Bramble hs picked 3 dummies on our sweep...good girl!
Assessment three - The gun line
So, now our roles are reversed. We take our positions, in line. Our role here is simply to wait until the "mock drive" has finished. The beating line ahead of us moves forward, lots of shots are fired, and dummies thrown. We stand in line, off lead and quiet, facing into the wood. We are both a bit tense...Bramble is quivering everytime she hears a shot...and we have to sit in position for a good 10 - 15 minutes.
Eventually, we make it through, and time for our retrieve. From where I am stood I have to send her straight through brambles and thick cover. I send her through, and gingerly she enters, and send her back...no dummies...I then have to push her really far until she picks up the scent, and good girl brings me one back. I was a bit worried as the hard hunting cocker before us struggled to find a dummy. Heavy cover, and heavy rain made conditions rather challenging! We completed both the required retrieves and finished with a huge sigh of relief...but... no break...straight on to the next test...
Assessment Four - The water retrieve
OK...I was more than a little worried. Heavy rain, and sending Bramble into water. Don't get me wrong, she has worked really well on water, but she doesn't like the water at the Lenches. We somehow muddle through this one. It wasn't pretty, or perfect, but we just scraped through this one! The dog is judged on steadiness, willingness to enter the water, a clean retrieve, and delivery to hand. So it looks like this, dog is off lead and in heel beside you. A shot is fired. A second later the dummy is thrown onto the water. You wait until the judge gives the cue to release your dog. The important bit here is a good entry and return with the dummy. As I said, we just scraped through on this one!
Assessment Five - The Retrieve with Obstacle
This retrieve is more of a complex one. You don't know exactly the lay of the land but are told roughly where the retrieve will be. So down there, through a hedge, over a ditch. This isn't so much about distance, but the dog demonstrating a willingness to enter cover, tackling obstacles along the way to achieve a nice retrieve to hand. No messing around on this one! It has to be smart and clean.
Bramble in a heel. A shot is fired. Dummy is thrown in the direction advised by the judge, but not obvious to me or Bramble. I send her for the gap in the hedge and good girl! Straight through, no hesitation and a lovely turn of speed coming back. I was so proud, and that got us a smile by the judge.
I was a bit worried, having asked so much of Bramble by this stage. We sneak off into the wood, and have a quick game together. She looks at me as if to say, don't worry mum all good here! Actually, as we congregate for the last assessment, she keeps offering me a middle, grinning up at me...it makes me smile, and relax a bit.
Assessment Six - Steadiness
This is tough! We all line up in front of some thick cover about 30-40 feet ahead. The cover is just long grass, probably waist height for me. What happens on this task is LOTS of shot is fired, and dummies are thrown. Now the key here is the handler to note where the dummies are thrown. OK...I had no idea where any of the landed. One by one the handler is sent out to retrieve a dummy, walking out and leaving the dog in a heel position. My turn comes up...and I have no friggin' idea where the dummy landed. So, I am wading around, desperately looking and hoping that Bramble doesn't dive in to help! Eventually, after stumbling around for what seemed an age, but probably only seconds... I spy one just poking out of the grass, with relief I grab it, risking a quick look back at the line. Bramble is still there, watching me, OK with a slightly quizzical look on her face, like you sure you're OK mum?? I almost laugh out loud, darn I just love this girl!
Then we are finished...all done...
We wait a couple more hours while the judges do their judging...
I still quite get over the fact we passed...so bloody proud of my wonderful, beautiful, baby horse Bramble!
The day was organised by the Vale & West Gundog Club, SWMBO was there to steward and support, and a bunch of other very kind people who gave up their time to help out on the day. There were two KC officials adjudicating. There were 9 of us being assessed, 3 labradors, a couple of HPRs and the rest bonkers cockers!
We start out at the clubhouse, 9 am sharp to be given our numbers, groups, timings...plus introduced to everyone. Then we set off ready for the first assessment.
Assessment one - The Social Walk
This is where the dogs are assessed for temperament. Although all through the day they are assessed, at this point we have to walk through woodland, off the lead, dogs remaining fairly close to their handler and not responding to distractions. So, whilst a brief sniff is acceptable, racing off having a hoolie in the woods is not. Dogs must demonstrate being under the owners' control at all times. So you have 9 dogs, 9 handlers, judges, helpers all walking together. This is par of the course on a normal shoot. So having a good temperament is important. Snarly, aggressive dogs on a shoot is a no, no!
Assessment two - The beating line
We are split into 2 groups for the next two exercises. We line up...5 of us deep in the wood. The role depends on the dog, so the spaniels are expected to quarter and the retrievers walk very close to the heel and not range in front. We were being assessed on being calm, steady to shot, but not running in. Up in front, there was a lot of shot, and dummies thrown.
Then the beating line is told to hold, whilst the gun line (the other group...) are sent into the wood in front to retrieve. This for us is where it gets tough. We had to sit stock still, off lead and not make a sound! Dogs from the first group get quite close as they hunt for their retrieves, the dummies thrown earlier. The wait is around 15minutes...I am by this point whispering non-stop to Bramble..like some weird ventriloquist...good girl, good girl! I am conscious one of the judges is on my right....and we are not allowed to treat/reward your dog. My emotional bank account with Bramble is feeling pretty lean at this point!
Finally, we are given the cue to "sweep". This means that the dogs have finished retrieving in the gun line (Group 1) and our role is literally to pick up any lost/missed dummies. On a live shoot, this is important. Sweeping ensures that no birds are missed, especially injured ones. We all walk forward in a line. I give Bramble her hunting cue, so she understands I need her to hunt close to me. Then (and it seems like forever...) we meet up with the gun line in front. Bramble hs picked 3 dummies on our sweep...good girl!
Assessment three - The gun line
So, now our roles are reversed. We take our positions, in line. Our role here is simply to wait until the "mock drive" has finished. The beating line ahead of us moves forward, lots of shots are fired, and dummies thrown. We stand in line, off lead and quiet, facing into the wood. We are both a bit tense...Bramble is quivering everytime she hears a shot...and we have to sit in position for a good 10 - 15 minutes.
Eventually, we make it through, and time for our retrieve. From where I am stood I have to send her straight through brambles and thick cover. I send her through, and gingerly she enters, and send her back...no dummies...I then have to push her really far until she picks up the scent, and good girl brings me one back. I was a bit worried as the hard hunting cocker before us struggled to find a dummy. Heavy cover, and heavy rain made conditions rather challenging! We completed both the required retrieves and finished with a huge sigh of relief...but... no break...straight on to the next test...
Assessment Four - The water retrieve
OK...I was more than a little worried. Heavy rain, and sending Bramble into water. Don't get me wrong, she has worked really well on water, but she doesn't like the water at the Lenches. We somehow muddle through this one. It wasn't pretty, or perfect, but we just scraped through this one! The dog is judged on steadiness, willingness to enter the water, a clean retrieve, and delivery to hand. So it looks like this, dog is off lead and in heel beside you. A shot is fired. A second later the dummy is thrown onto the water. You wait until the judge gives the cue to release your dog. The important bit here is a good entry and return with the dummy. As I said, we just scraped through on this one!
Assessment Five - The Retrieve with Obstacle
This retrieve is more of a complex one. You don't know exactly the lay of the land but are told roughly where the retrieve will be. So down there, through a hedge, over a ditch. This isn't so much about distance, but the dog demonstrating a willingness to enter cover, tackling obstacles along the way to achieve a nice retrieve to hand. No messing around on this one! It has to be smart and clean.
Bramble in a heel. A shot is fired. Dummy is thrown in the direction advised by the judge, but not obvious to me or Bramble. I send her for the gap in the hedge and good girl! Straight through, no hesitation and a lovely turn of speed coming back. I was so proud, and that got us a smile by the judge.
I was a bit worried, having asked so much of Bramble by this stage. We sneak off into the wood, and have a quick game together. She looks at me as if to say, don't worry mum all good here! Actually, as we congregate for the last assessment, she keeps offering me a middle, grinning up at me...it makes me smile, and relax a bit.
Assessment Six - Steadiness
This is tough! We all line up in front of some thick cover about 30-40 feet ahead. The cover is just long grass, probably waist height for me. What happens on this task is LOTS of shot is fired, and dummies are thrown. Now the key here is the handler to note where the dummies are thrown. OK...I had no idea where any of the landed. One by one the handler is sent out to retrieve a dummy, walking out and leaving the dog in a heel position. My turn comes up...and I have no friggin' idea where the dummy landed. So, I am wading around, desperately looking and hoping that Bramble doesn't dive in to help! Eventually, after stumbling around for what seemed an age, but probably only seconds... I spy one just poking out of the grass, with relief I grab it, risking a quick look back at the line. Bramble is still there, watching me, OK with a slightly quizzical look on her face, like you sure you're OK mum?? I almost laugh out loud, darn I just love this girl!
Then we are finished...all done...
We wait a couple more hours while the judges do their judging...
I still quite get over the fact we passed...so bloody proud of my wonderful, beautiful, baby horse Bramble!
Last edited:
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. Congratulations to you and Bramble.