A Hunting We Will Go

29 March 2009 by admin.

Four Hunt Tests and a Field Trial later and I am now the proud owner of three really bright orange rosettes.  That means I have three legs towards my Junior Hunter title.  Mom says I should’ve had four, but I got birds on my brain.  I’m not quite sure what that means because I am now catching those birds and bringing them to her.  Makes it easier as she doesn’t even have to worry about shooting them any more.  More on that later.

The first day dawned and it was pretty nice.  It was supposed to be raining, but it was just overcast and damp.  I ran late in the day so we had allot of standing around and waiting, or in my case hanging out in my crate and waiting.  Mom walked some of the braces in the gallery.  I think she was nervous and wanted to make sure she knew what to do.  I told her not to worry that I had the bird thing pretty much figured out.

Well our turn came and I was braced with another dog.  Don’t remember much about that dog because I was so excited.  Mom let me go and I took off.  After about the first 5 minutes I figured I better slow down so I could locate some birds.  It was pretty hot by now so as I rounded a curve I saw a water rest stop on the course for us dogs.  I decided I better cool off a bit so I could concentrate better.  I went and got in that barrel.  The only problem was the water wasn’t deep enough to get my back so I just rolled over.  It was pretty nice like that, but then mom walked up and said, “Come on Ringo we’re burnin’ daylight.”  That meant I had to get a move on and find some birds.

So, I buckled down and got my very first find and point.  Mom flushed the bird and fired her blank.  Then we were off to find the next bird.  I did really good that day and got my first leg, and first orange ribbon.

The next day went pretty much the same way except it was bloody cold and windy.  Most of the Junior braces were coming back empty.  That was not good.  Thankfully we ran late again so there were birds scattered.  Still we were having gusts of up to 30 mph.  Mom was worried.  This time I was braced with a cute little Vizsla girl.  When mom released me I took off with that cute little girl and we played all the way up to the crest of the hill.  I don’t think mom was too happy about that, but she sure was a cute little red dog.  It didn’t matter though because I found and pointed two birds and got my second leg, and second ribbon.  Two down and two to go.

This is a picture of me taken the second day around lunch time.  Mom and some of her friends were playing around stacking the pups.  I was one of the pups.  I thought this was a total waste of time when we could be getting birds, but mom wanted to see me stacked so I tried to behave.

The following weekend we were back and I did a repeat of the previous two outings with one slight difference.  I found three birds and I pointed the first two, and then it happened.  I was pointing that third bird real nice when he decided to take off.  Well I just couldn’t stand there and let the bird get away, so I gave chase.  Next thing I knew I had the little quail in my mouth.  He squirmed a bit, but I didn’t let him go.  As I was prancing around with that bird, it dawned on me I had to do something with it.  So, I thought and thought and then decided I would just take it to mom.  She would know what to do with that bird.  I raced back to her and presented it really nice to her.  It was even still alive.  Mom took the bird and looked at the man on the horse (the judge).  He laughed and said, “You know he doesn’t have to do that yet.”  Mom kind of chuckled.  They meant I didn’t need to bring the bird back yet for my Junior Hunter.  I figured I must have gotten extra credit for that one.  So, I got my third leg and figured out I could catch birds.

Here is me and one of those pretty orange ribbons.

And this is me and Halo.  She was supposed to be acting proud of me, but I think she was a little ticked that I was getting all the attention.  I had just got back from qualifying for my third Junior Hunter leg.  I guess it is hard to share the limelight when you are a cover girl like my sister.

The next day mom called a total disaster. I still don’t know why because I found, caught and retrieved three really nice quail.  I was only one of a few dogs that even found birds.  I still don’t know why I didn’t get another pretty orange ribbon.  Mom kept saying, “If he had only pointed.”  My thought was, why waste the time pointing when you can just catch and retrieve.  And so went the next two Hunt Tests and a Field Trial, catch and retrieve.

At the end of Hunt Test and Field Trial season mom told me I was going to Bird Boot Camp.  I am not sure what that is, but I think it will be fun.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »