So proud of Merlin yesterday - we took part in his first real working test and after the initial brain-frying excitement of seeing forty or fifty dogs (SO MANY BUTTS TO SNIFF!!!!!) he calmed down and worked really nicely. It was horrible weather, really wet and cold (we had snow!!!), and the dogs were mostly wearing coats between the tasks as it was so unpleasantly cold and damp. He was such a good boy, although he sadly got a zero on the final test as he simply couldnt find the dummy (it was a complicated task with a walk-up combined with a double mark, one of the marks was over the crest of a hill into long grass so the dog couldn't see where it fell, and had to work out of sight of the handler). I was so pleased with him and the way he listened to me and took my cues, be it 'get back', or 'search', or 'over', that I really didn't mind at all that he couldnt find the one dummy! And the nice judge still let him retrieve the other mark, so the day ended on a high note.
I have to say though that I was absolutely livid with one judge, who made a disparaging remark about him not being quiet (he made the TINIEST little peep that you really could not hear), marked him down 10 points, and didn't say a word about his excellent marking, exemplary walking to heel, his general calmness, or how good his delivery to hand was, on the task she was judging. I don't understand why some judges are so nice and constructive, and others can be so dismissive and concentrate on the one tiny negative thing that happened.
Here are a few photos:
Snowy and cold when we got there
A very concentrated Merlin!
We also bumped into his sister, Maggie:
A very tired boy later:
It's so lovely that we can do the occasional working test together, after all the worries about his hips. This really wasn't too much for him; it was in total 10 retrieves over several hours with a lot of waiting in between tasks, but it's a fun day and a great experience. I was really very happy with him. I don't even care at all about the zero!!!
I have to say though that I was absolutely livid with one judge, who made a disparaging remark about him not being quiet (he made the TINIEST little peep that you really could not hear), marked him down 10 points, and didn't say a word about his excellent marking, exemplary walking to heel, his general calmness, or how good his delivery to hand was, on the task she was judging. I don't understand why some judges are so nice and constructive, and others can be so dismissive and concentrate on the one tiny negative thing that happened.
Here are a few photos:
Snowy and cold when we got there
A very concentrated Merlin!
We also bumped into his sister, Maggie:
A very tired boy later:
It's so lovely that we can do the occasional working test together, after all the worries about his hips. This really wasn't too much for him; it was in total 10 retrieves over several hours with a lot of waiting in between tasks, but it's a fun day and a great experience. I was really very happy with him. I don't even care at all about the zero!!!
.
silly judge just jealous xxx