Gun Dog Forum

How is this thing judged?? I have heard that it is judged more like a Shooting dog than a gundog?? Is this true?? I have never been to one but I am thinking about entering. The only problem is I own a WIDE shooting dog. Would it be worth my time or no?????

Razor wrote:How is this thing judged?? I have heard that it is judged more like a Shooting dog than a gundog?? Is this true?? I have never been to one but I am thinking about entering. The only problem is I own a WIDE shooting dog. Would it be worth my time or no?????

Depends on the grounds and the judges. General consensus from the folks I trust is generally the opposite of what you posted; it's more of a big gundog stake. Then again, I'm talking GSP championship gundog which may be different than other breeds. And this is from experiences running in this trial when held in the Great Lakes and Midwest; not sure what happens when it's run on the coasts.

I know one thing for sure; you won't win sitting on the couch. If your dog is qualified and you've got the time, go run the thing. Judging standards change like the wind; I've seen too many judges who were "gundog guys" put up some of the biggest shooting dog performances of the stake and vise versa.

JMO,
Dave

How wide is wide? The grounds where it will be run this coming year is wide open and really conducive to showing off a big running gun dog. Red Rock is my home stomping grounds and my dogs grew up ridge walking that course!

I can tell you that your dog will need to be up front of course but he will also need to have the initiative and drive to work at about 10:OClock to about 2OClock along the natural rock outcroppings and along the edges of the tops of the hills. There will be no "edges", no fence lines or mott lines for your dog to run to as an objective. He will have to be a natural at working the TERRAIN instead. You will be running on CHUKAR, and the native Valley Quail, both wiley and both are notorious runners when pressured.

At least one of the judges likes a BIG front running gun dog that has an excellent pattern, great nose, is hard driving and absolutely INTENSE in his style. He will gladly look at a dog that is a tad wide, as long as all the other elements are in place as well.

I'd enter and come run if I could figure out a way to get "home" for that week in April......

I say ENTER...what have you got to lose but a few bucks???? You, being from Utah have just as good a shot as anyone else....and you are used to what it will take to win the thing as you are familiar with the terrain and the "lack' of obvious objectives

Well that is the type of country that I hunt and train on. Wide is a bit understated. I think that he is to wide but what the heck it is only money right?