Post
by gundogguy » Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:03 am
The intent was not about Blind retrieves. Yes Blinds do occur and should be handle accordingly.
The original question about handling on so many situations that generally do not call for handling. It seems that there is a fad so to speak about helping dogs find birds that in essence should have been marked. and Yes, judges will allow a handler to move up and handle, however once you do you better produce the bird for judge. and you had better hope that competition also has to handle as well. In the judges mind you stand out like a sore thumb if the other dogs in your series are spot-on with their retrieves. The other imporatnt reason for being allowed to move up is we really do not want leave dead or wounded game in the field
I have cut and pasted from the Blue book "Conduct and Judging Spaniel field Trials" part 4 page 17 Marking and retrieving.
MARKING AND RETRIEVING Marking the fall or the direction thereof is one of the essential qualities of a good spaniel. However, the eye level of a dog is but a short distance above the ground and some four or five feet lower than that of the handler, gun and judge. Often all the dog can observe, even if heavy cover does not intervene, is the line of flight of the bird. Only under favorable conditions can he be expected to see the actual fall itself. Hence, the importance of the use of the wind cannot be overestimated. If the dog shall go somewhat downwind to the fall whether it be a crosswind or behind him, he assures himself the best opportunity to locate the bird promptly. Certainly under such circumstances a dog cannot be penalized for failure to instantly locate the exact spot. SEARCHING AND HAND SIGNALS Should he miss the fall entirely, he should continue his search in the area until successful. If a bird shall have turned in its flight beyond the observation of the dog, it can of course only be located by searching a gradually widening area of ground. When his search becomes aimless and it is evident it cannot be fruitful, he must of necessity be taken up, provided it can be determined that the bird actually fell in the area. Should, on the other hand, a dog be unable to observe either the line of flight or the bird falling in the air, that is, have a blind fall, the handler should direct the dog thereto by hand, voice or whistle, as quietly as possible. A dog should be credited for willingness, ability and speed in accepting such directions. If a bird proves to be a runner, acknowledgment of the fall is the first requirement from whence the dog should be able to seek out and follow the line to a successful conclusion. More difficult is the problem when a dog misses the fall and in his search may even bring in another bud. The obvious answer is that the dog should be sent out again, as would be done in the field, and if he then fails to bring in the bird, and its presence can be verified, his failure is a fault of very real proportion.
I'm 100% in favor of LGBT - Liberty, Guns, Bacon and Trump.