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Letter to Manny following his first NAVHDA test
Dear Manny, You are so much better than I let you be at your first NAVHDA Natural Ability test. So many distractions that you hadn’t been prepared for, a driving, drenching, bone-chilling rain, and...
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Hunt test pictorial
I was just gunning, and not very well at that, but I had my camera and could fit in a couple shots between shots, so to speak. Here’s a photographic account:Filed under: bird hunting, dog training,...
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Different day, same great dog work
The sun broke through this morning, bringing smiles to everyone. Sure, it got warm as the day progressed, but a breeze stirred the sage and the chukars seemed to cooperate. Here is Day Two of the hunt...
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Road to Utility Test … challenges loom for Manny & me
“Easier said than done” is more than a cliché. Just look at the NAVHDA test rules if you don’t agree. A dog that passes, let alone earns a Prize I in the Utility Test would be a worthy hunting...
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Road to Utility Test: We are out of shape
Funny, you think you’re doing pretty well in the fitness department, then with a jolt, you’re reminded that you’re not as buff as you thought. Nope, not me. I know I’ve got a long way to go before my...
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Road to Utility Test: One step forward after two steps back
Manny backslid on the one part of retrieving on which we weren’t solid: a real bird, brought to hand without um, “tenderizing.” Yesterday, his retrieves were energetic and enthusiastic. Using my Real...
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Road to Utility Test: a new tool
Of all the things my new friend and NAVHDA judge Bob Farris pointed out on a recent visit, the most gratifying was how steady Manny was on flying birds. Not rock-steady, of course, but better than many...
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Steady to wing & shot: Is less more?
You’ve heard the phrase “less is more.” Does it have relevance to dog training? Manny and I are deep into preparation for an upcoming NAVHDA Utility test (www.navhda.org) and our latest challenge is...
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