Gun Dog Forum

I was just looking at the entries and there are 8(!) setters running in the National this year. This just makes me happy for some reason and I thought I'd share. Go Shags!

Rooting for Rapidan or his brother Adubon Americus!

There is also 4 littermates in the National this year.

One of these days I'm going to go back there for it.

There's a good setter running tomorrow afternoon, Stardust Chazz.

Just confirmed that I will be riding with the gallery next week. Really looking forward to it.

I am pulling for Zorra. I would like to see another shag get it.

I'm hearing that Stardust Chazz finished the three hours with three finds.

Stallion was apparently the favorite for the Calcutta.

I look forward to reading the nightly updates.

rinker wrote:I'm hearing that Stardust Chazz finished the three hours with three finds.

Yep!
http://www.amesplantation.org/field-tri ... -synopsis/

I haven't been to a field trail or any hunt tests, but I find this event interesting. Would someone educate me on what is meant by a dog being picked up after X amount of time...is it because the dog quit hunting or made a error.

Could be several things picked up for making a mistake,being gone to long or lost.or picked up by the handler because it's not getting the job done,or beating the dogs the judges have in their notes.

Von Zeppelin pretty much mentioned the major reasons. The one dog this morning was picked after two non productives, while it is not a written rule, it is common practice to pick up after the second non productive (definitely in an hour stake, but more leeway in an endurance stake), especially since this dog did not have any finds at that point. This is done by the handler as a courtesy to the judges. If the dog had 5 or 6 finds and it was in the third hour of the brace, it probably would have been handled differently.

But as VZ mentioned, its typically because handlers know their dog's performance isnt beating what the judges already have. There is only one placement at the national.

from this afternoon.

Conditions were unchanged for the afternoon brace, if anything, it was colder with a north wind when Coldwater Warrior and Lester's Jazz Man were loosed. They shared a find, then Warrior had one other of his own; Jazz Man added three of his own. Cold water Warrior was picked up at two hours. Lester's Jazz Man finished the three hours.

nevermind wrote:I haven't been to a field trail or any hunt tests, but I find this event interesting. Would someone educate me on what is meant by a dog being picked up after X amount of time...is it because the dog quit hunting or made a error.

To win a dog is going to need to do 2 things #1 most important is find birds and the 2nd almost important he needs to finish the 3 hours just as strong as he started.

Sound easy? Well remember these dogs are being run off horseback. Also these dogs are bred and trained to hunt as hard as they can for 1 hour in an All Age trial. Now you have to take that dog you have spent years training to go all out and get him to slow down and shorten his range so he can last to the finish.

Most dogs get picked up in that 1.5-2.5 hr mark because they start to tire and slow down.

Quester, a sentimental favorite with many, carded 7 finds with a reported good application. Look for pick-ups if they aren't besting both.

Sounded like Quester did a real nice job. Wishing him well for sure. I was checking out the running order and there's a brace of female setters running. That's pretty neat. Go girl dogs!

Gertie wrote:Sounded like Quester did a real nice job. Wishing him well for sure. I was checking out the running order and there's a brace of female setters running. That's pretty neat. Go girl dogs!

They are both in season hence the pairing.

I had the honor to ride yesterday for the first time at the Ames plantation for the nationals. First let me say the whole history and the trial itself is unbelievable to take part in. Started off we went to the bird dog /ft hall of fame and it is a special place with all the history and displays. If you are a field trialer this is a place you must see as you will spend quite awhile there in its self.
Now as far as the running I was here to watch my buddies dog Erin's Kentucky Gambler one of the top AA dogs in the country braced with game strut also a very powerfull AA dog as they all have to be to even qualify to get here. Just for this brace alone thier were well over 200 riding in the gallery. As one person in the gallery said it takes a AA dog to get here but a bird dog to win it and that is an understatement. For those that think you cant hunt over a field trial dog escpecially an AA need to come here to wstch as these dogs hunt thier buts off for 3hrs as the grounds are very tight and they must handle for the handler at all times or they wont be down long. As with any field trial you get the luck of the draw and weather that determins your birds and in this brace it started well in the first hr with multiple finds and then the birds shut off and got deeper in the pines and both dogs hunted hard and to the right spots but were not rewarded for thier efforts. Believe me these dogs can go the full 3 hours of this endurance test with no problem but as each of these pro handlers know over the years when the birds shut off so do your chances witch is why some get picked up early before the 3 hrs, even thou they were doing everything right. Overall it was a good time and well worth the experiance to come here and watch first hand as I now know what it takes instead of reading about it or hearing about it.

I agree with hunter, you have to see it to understand it or believe it . The myth of AA dogs not being good hunters goes out the window and most would have a new appreciation for the talent these dogs possess. Actually being there and seeing it for yourself is a wonderful experience and well worth what ever it takes to get there. I have three friends with dogs there this year so it is hard to root for one over the others.

Wow, Jerry, well said. You made very good points about what it takes at the National and how the dogs need to be able to "throttle down" a little to be able to hunt and handle for 3 hours on grounds that are tight for a big all-age dog, it definitely shows the versatility of these great dogs...and the quality of the trainers! I wish Duke's brace would have turned out better but the ever elusive quail didn't want to cooperate the last half of his time.....

RyanDoolittle wrote:

Gertie wrote:Sounded like Quester did a real nice job. Wishing him well for sure. I was checking out the running order and there's a brace of female setters running. That's pretty neat. Go girl dogs!

They are both in season hence the pairing.

Oh, ok. That makes sense. I hope they do alright. I ran my female when she was in heat once and it didn't go as well as I had hoped.

Thanks for sharing your observations. I really hope to get out to the National to ride a brace in the next year or two. I'm sure it'll offer a whole new perspective (not to mention just be cool as heck).

"bleep", 11th brace bottom dog owned by Herb Anderson. I first found out about him two years ago. He handled his own dog in a one hour stake and had three finds and flushed all his birds. This year the guy is 96 yrs old! I wonder if he rode his brace?

Someday I'd like to get back and see this trial!

Herb Anderson at 94 yrs!

For those of you that don't have horses; there are rentals available and you can see some from the road gallery, plus you can drop by the Bird Dog Museum.

Well worth the trip for all dog folks.

I went to the National Bird Dog Museum in 2013 and had a great time. My brother-in-law was with me and don't think he was too excited when I insisted that we go, but when we got there I think he had as much fun as I did. He's got GWP's and spent a lot of time looking for his dogs lineage since most of their pedigree is NAHVDA dogs.

Neil wrote:For those of you that don't have horses; there are rentals available and you can see some from the road gallery, plus you can drop by the Bird Dog Museum.

Well worth the trip for all dog folks.

While not a bird dog trialer I do have pointers and could really appreciate the dogs and the time spent with them. I'm glad you posted this about rental horses and the fact you can observe some from the road.

How far away and how far in advance would one need to set up lodging for? I'd love to go to it one day but to be truthful without going with someone who has been Id be totally lost I believe.

I would not recommend the one little motel in Grand Junction, there are a few B & B' s, and a great church camp, but very basic, no TV. There are a large number of nice motels 30 - 40 miles in 3 directions, Holly Springs, Collierville, and Bolivar. Contact the Bird Dog Museum for details. No reservations needed.

Twice while recovering from surgeries, I have been delegated to the road gallery and you can see quite a bit of the first two hours of each course, just the end of the 3rd hours. Plus there are some great stories being swapped from the old timers. I counted 6 members of the Hall of Fame one sunny afternoon. In fact, on some days, because of the size of the gallery, unless you are an experienced rider on a good horse, you can see more from the road. Then again, on cold, rainy days, I have seen less than 30 riders; so you can get right behind the judges, after leaving the scouting lane open.

Lunch is in Bryan Hall, and your table companies might be handlers and owners.

I encourage all dog folks to make the trip. They will welcome you with warmth.

I was really looking forward to riding there this week but the weather has canceled all running until Next week. Maybe next year I can go.

First time following this event. Weather has put a stop to the contest. What do the handlers do during the down time? Seems detrimental to the Dogs that haven't ran yet. How do the trainers keep the dogs in condition? Must be disappointing...kind of like going to the big dance and having the band quit, after a few songs.

Most either went home to their winter training grounds or found some. These guys spend 6 - 9 months on the road anyway, traveling thousand of miles. They think nothing of packing up and driving 3 or 4 hundred miles overnight. But it is a disruption like none in my memory. I worry about more inclement weather on the way. AKC gave up and went home from nearby Percy Priest (Nashville).

When are they starting back at Ames?

Big Dave wrote:When are they starting back at Ames?

Tomorrow, Monday, if the snow/ice stays south.

Just got a winter weather alert, 70% chance of freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow, accumulation of 1" with temps staying below freezing until Tuesday afternoon. Could be Wednesday before the running resumes, if then. Pulling for the 30%.

And here in Alaska we just had to cancel our major sprint Sleddog race because it's too warm and there isn't enough snow.

Neil wrote:Just got a winter weather alert, 70% chance of freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow, accumulation of 1" with temps staying below freezing until Tuesday afternoon. Could be Wednesday before the running resumes, if then. Pulling for the 30%.

At what point will they call it off and name a champ from the dogs that have run or not name a champion at all?

We have never been here, so I don''t have a good guess. The closest I can come to is they did not hold it in the 1890's because of yellow fever and canceled it in the 1960's after a handful of dogs ran without enough birds.

Wait it out? It has already effected trials that follow it.

As I suspected they postponed the running this morning and just now the afternoon, will re-evaluate tomorrow.

I have heard at least two dogs have been scratched, in AF they move dogs up, not down as with AKC.

They are running.

There will be no 3-peat. Bo was picked up early.

Anyone know why the setter was scratched yesterday. I assume it was last minute or they would've moved a dog up to run in that brace.

KCBrittfan wrote:There will be no 3-peat. Bo was picked up early.

Anyone know why the setter was scratched yesterday. I assume it was last minute or they would've moved a dog up to run in that brace.

Don't know, but I do not think there are any known incomplete braces. Although I heard a rumor that were two scratches.

dialing in.....time for the miller prefix to win again

looked like a million on his birds too

birddog1968 wrote:dialing in.....time for the miller prefix to win again

looked like a million on his birds too

That would be what? 6 in 50 years? One with Miller as the owner.

I rode at Ames today. Have been trying to go for the past week, but due to weather was not able. Today was windy and COLD for the morning brace. Bo was late coming out....like any champ keeping everyone anticipating his arrival. Upon release he pinned a covey directly across from the release point. Off to a great start! It was down hill from there. Two unproductives. The last one I was within 20 yards of him. He locked up, but they could not flush birds. Found a roost he obviously smelled. Released him and he hunted around for about 3 or 4 min and they picked him up. As the gallery began to move off the covey flushed about 30 yards behind where Bo had pointed.
Sun don't shine on the same dogs * everyday.
In the second brace Conners EZ Button was a real nice dog and gave it a good run.
Lunch at the Hall was wonderful, for the food and company.
I hope all of you can attend one day.

Millers Dialing In wins!

Congratulations to all that have contributed to this great dog's success. Gary Lester enters rare territory, an amateur two time winner of the NC!

On the Ames plantation web site there are about 15 bird contact videos from the nationals that are about 20 seconds each---well worth watching them. There are a couple 20 bird coveys & they are flushing them out of some pretty tall cover. A couple of the bird videos are of Miller's Dialing In finds.

Congratulations to Gary Lester amd all involved with this great dog and this huge win. That was a great job in tough conditions.

A great grandson of Bullet

Maybe 6 with the Miller prefix, but how many are from Miller breeding or carry a decent % of Miller blood? cypress gunpowder basically pure miller, snowwatch off dateline, whiteout off snowwatch to a miller chief bred female, in the shadow by white powder, online by white powder, all the whippoorwill dogs carry some silver bullet in them, laws high noon's dam is heavy miller, Those are actual winners. How many of the participants over the last 20 years have had a heavy dose of Miller blood in them. I don't have much Miller blood at the present time, but a blind man can see what a major influence he has had on the all age game.

sckwest1 wrote:Maybe 6 with the Miller prefix, but how many are from Miller breeding or carry a decent % of Miller blood? ...a blind man can see what a major influence he has had on the all age game.

This is CH Miller's Dialin In Dam Phillips Silver Star http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/3genview.php?id=472
And his Sire is CH Happy Jack http://www.crosscountrykennels.com/stri ... yjack.html

Time to start penciling in white powder on HOF ballots