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Liv2Hnt
Overland Park, KS

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03/22/2008 1:51 PM	Alert
Does anyone have any experience with the HRC UH test? I was considering running my pup in a test this spring. The rules indicate the dog must flush the bird, but doesnt say the dog cant point it first and then be released to flush. It takes some encouragement at this point to get my dog to break point and "fetch" but will do it. Any one ran PLs in one of these tests and how did it go?

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Dog&Doug
Janesville, IA

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03/22/2008 8:58 PM	Alert
Some APLA/MNPLC members went to SD UH tests, and posted on their website about their success. Here's a link or address: www.mnpointinglabs.com

APR HR Limecreek's Famous Amos JH APR HR Points South Nicknack Paddywack There is no better psychiatrist than a puppy licking your face. Ben Williams

fowl_play_02
Forest Lake, MN

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03/24/2008 8:13 PM	Alert
Hey Liv, I guess I would be the guy Doug is referring to. I have run 6 upland tests, the first two we failed due to handler error and "control". He was pretty young and I was traveling more than training. That was last winter, this year we've gone 4 for 4 and got our UH title. Notes on running the HRC Upland test: 1) It is a control test, they are not worried about marking skills, they just want to see control. Control is on your walk-ins/walk-outs, honoring, cooperation while working the field and steady to shot. 2) Your dog will need to flush the bird, make sure you have a command worked out, you don't want to be coaxing your dog into getting after the bird, judges that are not familiar with PL could mark you down for lack of drive. The good news is, the number of judges that haven't seen a PL work the upland field is dropping every year. 3) I know it's fun to show off your cool PL and how staunch that point is, but you also stand the chance of giving the gunners too much time to prepare for the shot! You could get a bird dropped 10 to 15 yards from your dog! Even the steadiest dog has trouble stopping for this! Mainly what I'm saying is, consider releasing your dog after a very short point, remember you're not being judged on pointing. 4) You CANNOT touch your dog as a release command. So guys like the tap on the top of the head as a release to flush, HRC views this as intimidation and in general extra touching of your dog isn't really allowed during your test. One thing I will say, all the time we have spent working on our Upland title, has eroded Jake's pointing, he's always been a creeper and occasional pointer, but he's a horribly chronic creeper now. I do have to say that we've never worked very hard on his pointing, but it's there, he's done it several times on his own. When he does, I usually use his name or "git-em-up" as his release command. Jake is my first lab that has been all mine to train and also my first PL, so any shortcomings are truly mine. He's been more forgiving of my errors and lack of experience than I could ever have asked for, but we will probably have to see a ton of birds fly away before he gets his steady point back that he had as a VERY young pup. Anyway, right now he's very bold on birds, but he slows WAY down before he puts them up, but we'll have to shift focus for a while before we'll be able to run APLA tests, but I'm sure we'll be running more Upland tests next winter again. If you have any more questions, feel free to look me up on MN board mentioned above, I don't get over here as often as I would like. Good Luck.

SDK

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03/26/2008 7:20 PM	Alert
I can summarize the HRC Upland test in 3 words. control Control and CONTROL Walk in/out/up pretty simple - quarter and hunt with desire - hope they can do that - scent and find the bird - flush the bird and be steady to wing and shot. If the retrieve is made then delivery to hand is required and remember the dog is being judged to the FINISHED level of control. SO - the biggest (hardest) portion of the test is the steady to wing and shot. Your dog points - they don't care - you release your dog to flush (without touching) then he sits - perfect... I've run a lot of the tests - and may have judged the one(s) Doug attended a few weekends ago. When my pointing black works in on the basket & locks up - I just ask the gunners if they are ready and once they are I release him - flush - sit - shoot the popper - drop the bird - retrieve. SIMPLE SMO

fowl_play_02
Forest Lake, MN

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03/26/2008 7:31 PM	Alert
Hey Shane, Jake and I ran your test, passed too! Nice brace on day one. Day two looked fun as well. Hope to see you guys at the end of May. We just need to get that handling thing down ;) -Jason

SDK

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03/26/2008 7:35 PM	Alert
Sorry I didn't have time to chat more on Sunday - twas a tad busy... Hope to see you guys again soon - We'll be at Kearney NE, Wapsie, Muddy Waters, Prairie Lakes, Marsh & Meadows - GA & IA grands - can't think of others but I know there are.... Congratulations on the UH title... But - er - you didn't mention what happened AFTER that on Saturday night SMO

fowl_play_02
Forest Lake, MN

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03/26/2008 7:46 PM	Alert
I think my clothes from the banquet are still wet!! That was freakin' COLD!!! No problem on Sunday, you just had to judge, run dogs, do points, ribbons, clean-up, etc. ;) Hopefully we'll see you at LLHRC too? I'm hoping to make it to Dakota, Marsh & Meadows, Prairie Lakes, and LLHRC. I may try to make it to the Badger State/Wisill test in August if we need the passes. The goal is to drop the S then add CH this spring and summer. I know my dog can do it, now it's up to his trainer to get his act together!! -Jason

SDK

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03/29/2008 7:35 AM	Alert
Posted By fowl_play_02 on 03/26/2008 7:46 PM I think my clothes from the banquet are still wet!! That was freakin' COLD!!! No problem on Sunday, you just had to judge, run dogs, do points, ribbons, clean-up, etc. ;) Hopefully we'll see you at LLHRC too? I'm hoping to make it to Dakota, Marsh & Meadows, Prairie Lakes, and LLHRC. I may try to make it to the Badger State/Wisill test in August if we need the passes. The goal is to drop the S then add CH this spring and summer. I know my dog can do it, now it's up to his trainer to get his act together!! -Jason Hopefully the p-nmonia has subsided... And - on Sunday - don't forget planting birds... We were a couple short on help and after I finished judging I had to plant birds on the way back to the start of the test... Was a long day for sure!!. LLHRC - that's a tough one... I'll probably run it in prep for the Grand but it's in September and we'll have to see how it lines up with the grand. We'll for sure see you at the other ones..!! Best of luck on moving to seasoned - through it - to finished - and through it..!!! Wapsie's test is traditionally Memorial day - I love running that one - They've got it on the calendar but I can't find a premium yet - hope they dont' cancel...!!! See you down the road - tell everyone at LLHRCH hey for us.. SMO

stuw
North Central Minnesota

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03/29/2008 7:44 AM	Alert
SDK, Look me up when your at Marsh and Meadows, I'll be the Marshal both days for finished. btw for those who dont know what Jason is talking about "freakin cold" ... its an HRC tradition that on the day your dog titles... you get a bucket of water dumped over your head.. its good to plan ahead and bring an extra set of clothes.. Jason I'll see you there.. Stu

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SDK

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03/29/2008 7:52 AM	Alert
Will do Stu - Wife & I are supposed to judge Seasoned Sunday but we've got an issue with licensed v AA v Apprentice so I'm not sure yet what Jim's got us doing... Either way we'll be following your lead at the finished line with a couple of hounds on one day at least... Please just order decent weather - 2 years ago it was about 193' in the shade - we dunked the dogs in water tanks about 5 times on the way to the finished line. I forget who was judging but it was a friend & after Kota finished his land series when we moved to the honor position waiting for the working dog Kota went back to the judge & curled up behind/under his chair to get some shade... Man it was hot!!! The cold water soaking - yep - tradition - and here in sleepy SD we kinda take it to the extreme - the colder or murkier the better ;-) See you all on the road soon! SMO

stuw
North Central Minnesota

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03/29/2008 8:27 AM	Alert
SDK, I was Marshal for finished both days that year also, so we've already met. and it was hot..too hot. It was hard enough on the dogs..but I overheard a couple of the "bird boys" wishing they could climb in the water tubs with the dogs...Mother nature has her own ways it seems. I think I'ld take the monsoon we had for the spring APLA test last year over another one of those hot days we had for that HRC test..

APR Gull Dam Labs Sagebrush Dragon ??R Gull Dam Labs Lady Willow

Dog&Doug
Janesville, IA

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03/29/2008 8:12 PM	Alert
Wapsie's test is traditionally Memorial day - I love running that one - They've got it on the calendar but I can't find a premium yet - hope they dont' cancel...!!! Shane, it's still on. I'm sure Nick will be sending you a premium soon and it will be available online also!! Jason, come on down that weekend, it's only 3.5 hrs from the Cities, great grounds, awesome marinated steak dinner on Saturday night, "swanky" motel rooms available in Waverly, and all the comraderie that HRC offers. Plus I bet you don't have a silver/red colored ribbon to hang with the rest of the ribbons!!

APR HR Limecreek's Famous Amos JH APR HR Points South Nicknack Paddywack There is no better psychiatrist than a puppy licking your face. Ben Williams

fowl_play_02
Forest Lake, MN

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03/30/2008 9:12 PM	Alert
If we can get some open water soon and get ourselves through swim-by, that may be a possibility. I need to check on Memorial Day events at the homestead too!! I've heard nothing but great things about your test. I definitely want to make the trip down there. It's going to be tough to get enough tests in this summer and stay married, but the Iowa drive is not all that bad. Maybe I can talk to wife into joining me again! Is it pretty easy to get a room down there last minute? -Jason

SDK

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03/31/2008 6:13 AM	Alert
Glad to hear it won't be 3000 degrees at MMHRC - just confirmed with Jim I am judging Seasoned on Sunday... Doug - very glad to hear BWHRC's on for sure - ready to attack that stick pond this year!!! Jason - we do have a good time at our test and the raffle is one of the best in the business. Rooms in Mitchell are pretty easy to come by - the lodge will be full... See y'all soon SMO

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