spaniel field trials in Manor

I figured safety was just understood :) I totally understand that it can't be stressed enough though. No bird is worth a potentially unsafe shot. I'm really looking forward to observing and learning this weekend. My hope is to trail my male cocker in the fall, so this should be a good learning experience for me. I've read every Spaniel book I can get my hands on, and watched quite a few videos, and trained with Springer owners who FT, but I'm anticipating learning a lot this weekend.
 
Springer trials are identical to Cocker trials except for the cover. Most Springer trials are held on grounds that look like pheasant cover while most Cocker trials are held in more wooded/brushy cover (grouse/woodcock). That's why you see more handling on retrieves in Cocker trials while Springer judges prefer to see the dog make the retrieve w/out being handled as quickly.

Come to the HOTSC club hunt test in Manor April 8&9 & you'll see lots of Cockers.
 
That makes sense. I've also found that Cockers have more difficulty with accurate marks due to their smaller size, but the different cover makes sense. I'd love to make it to that HT, but I'm not sure that it will work. I know the NTSSC is supposed to have a HT sometime in April that I'd like to participate in, but I'm in a bit of a conundrum. Rocky is my little "prodigy" puppy, and he's the one I'm putting the majority of my effort into. He's 10 months old, but I've been told he's ready for the Sr level right now (no experience with them myself, so I don't know if that's true, but I think he's pretty special in what he can do already). However, I'm working on steadying him right now, and I'm not going to put him in a situation like that until I know he's fully steady. I know he doesn't need to be steady for the Sr level, but I don't want him to break on a flush and not be able correct it. Right now I'm running him on a long lead when he's on birds so I have complete control. I suppose if he's not ready, I'll just go and observe. I guess I could just run Macy too, she'd do fine at the Jr. level.
 
I agree w/ your concerns. If your dog knows he's supposed to be steady but breaks with all the additional dogs, people, excitement, etc. of a hunt test you might let him get the idea that the rules are different in that environment. I'd just continue training him & get him ready to run at the Master level & field trials.
 
I'm glad to hear you agree. I'm trying to keep the big picture in mind, and running him in a SH level HT in April is not a priority. I think there's a chance I can have him steady by then, but if not, I'll just go and learn. Looking forward to meeting you on Sat.

Jordan
 
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