Quentin's first Retrieving Test Trial

oceanaussi

Quentin is nearly 5 months old and on Sunday he will have his first Retrieving Test Trial!!!

I'm very exited (and a bit nervous) please wish us luck!

PamK · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

Good luck. What does it entail?

I did one in the US and I had to stand in a 12 foot circle, they threw a bird out in a field , and shot a gun. I then let him go, he had to get the bird and bring it back. We passed that part, and then we had to do the same thing in water. He hadn't been swimming before and wouldn't go in.

Needless to say we swim every weekend now.

Weimwayz · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

Best of Luck!!

The retreiving tests are so much fun. We do quite a bit in Michigan. That is awesome that you are doing activities with your weim. Not only is it great to see them do what they were bred to do but you also get to meet so many new people that all share the same interests. Almost liek this forum!!!

We are going for our Novice retreiving dog this July. Aslready hs her Shooting dog title

Let us know how you make out

peppernaei · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

Good Luck and have lots of fun! We'll want to see pictures if you have a second set of hands to get them!! Puppy face

oceanaussi · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

Thanks very much everyone! Quen is my first Weim and I've never done retrieving either. I went to a Training Day when Quentin was 11 weeks and we had a great time! (see his webpage)

Then we had our first test trial where he gained an encouragement award. I've never seen a trial before and it was pretty hard. This weekend we had another trial weekend and we practised heaps!

So yesterday morning I loaded up the car and as Hera didn't want to stay behind I took her with us. People laughed at the 'funny looking gundog' but hey she came in really handy when the cows got too close. Off she went herding them all up and away from our precious retrieving gundogs.

Yesterday Quentin had 3 runs - 2 on land and 1 in water. The first one he didn't manage all to well as he dropped the duck a few times and sniffed the ground. But in the end, he picked up the duck and brought it back. His 2nd land run was excellent! I didn't even see where the duck has landed and off he went to get it and bring it back. The water run was a bit tricky. The duck landed very close to the water hyazinths and the entry to the water was pretty steep. It took a while to persuade Quentin to go in. When he finally was in, he brought back a water hyazinth.. but then went back to get the duck (eventually). We had a great day and heaps of fun and in the end Quentin won an encouragement award!!!

After a great day we had a great night and went out to dinner. I was pretty tired when I got home and so were Hera and Quentin.

Today was another trail day and Quentin did great! He brought the duck straight back at all 3 retrieves - 1 on land, 1 over water and 1 in the water. He did a great job! And he received 2nd place in the test stake!!!! I'm so proud of my boy!!!

We still have heaps to learn. Quentin sits nicely but doesn't heel very well to the gunpoint. And I still have trouble holding the rifle, shoot, hold Quentin and watch where the duck is actually going. But we're getting there.

The funniest thing which happened today were when Hera, Quentin and I were resting by the car and the property owner (the trial is on a huge property) came talked to the president and pointed fingers at us. Did I do something wrong? Maybe he didn't like Hera herding his cows... He then came and said what a pretty dog I have and if I'm going to breed it. I touched Quentin's head and said "Yes, I'm planning to when he's old enough." and the farmer said: "Not the grey thing, the red one:" He saw Hera herding and his cattle dog is getting on with age (he's 13), so he wanted a pup from Hera as she did such a fantastic job! Laughing

WeiMe · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:34 am Post subject:

Sounds like Quentin is going to be quite the retriever! I am jealous, sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun with the retrieving trials! That is a great story about Hera too Laughing

Weimwayz · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject:

Way to go!!!!!!!

sounds like you had a blast as well as the dogs. I love being out in the field with our crew. We just had them all out for run in the bush today and it's so funny to See them leaping through the brush scouting out bird or animals. finished their great run off with a wonderful swim. I now have 3 very sleep weims!!!