The Spaniel Annals

working and living with performance spaniels

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I’m a retired English instructor, now devoted full-time to training, showing and enjoying my spaniels in many sports.
I’m an English college instructor by trade, a dog trainer by vocation. And lifelong baseball fan.

Gael is a Junior Hunter!

I’m so pleased that Gael finished her Junior Hunter title today, with great scores and 3 finds. Her pointing keeps getting more stylish, and today she waited for me to start kicking up the bird before she broke. (Junior dogs have to establish point, but they don’t need to be steady to wing and shot.) For her previous leg, she received 1 “9” (out of 10) from each judge, and the rest 8’s; this time, both judges gave her 2 9’s and 2 8’s. It’s neat to see that improvement. The AKC apparently had confidence that we would get this 4th leg, as they erroneously sent us our certificate with the 3rd one.

Gael JH! 010

I’m not sure how much further we’ll go on in hunt tests; there are just so many other things I want to do with her. I do know she would enjoy the retrieving of Senior Hunter. We’ll see! Now on to rally and tracking!

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3 responses to “Gael is a Junior Hunter!”

  1. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    Hello, I found your website back in 2011 and have just searched an hour to find it again. I have a rescue English Springer field variety who is 5years old. Do not know her breeding so cannot show her. But have found a local trainer to help in teaching her to flush. She retrieves toys well, but do you have a video teaching dogs to hold the object in a sit when they return to you? Would love to watch and learn from you. So enjoy all your videos and your dogs are awesome. Sadie says hello too.

    Reply
  2. ballylynnspaniels Avatar
    ballylynnspaniels

    Sandy, thanks so much for writing and I apologize I haven’t written back earlier. Dog events have been very busy. I don’t have a video specifically on what you ask, but could think about making one. I teach the “hold” and the “front” separately, and then eventually put them together, starting with very short distances. I don’t rush it. Gael is working on this right now so I could try videoing her. We’re using a platform, which is helping her, but we’re struggling with some mouthing problems.

    Reply
    1. Sandy Avatar
      Sandy

      Thanks for replying. I’ll keep watching for your pointers or video on Hold. Also, I grieve with you when I think about your lovely Kani. You are in my prayers.

      Reply

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