Author Archives: RMC NAVHDA

RMC Spring Test – Call for Volunteers

Posted on by
The Rocky Mountain Chapter is known around NAVHDA for putting on smooth tests. For me, one of the really gratifying things about helping to run our chapter is watching how our members turn out in force and put on a great test for handlers.

Well, it’s that time again. Our Spring Test is next weekend, May 20 and 21and we’re sending out the call for test volunteers.

Why volunteer?

  • If you’ve tested with us, you’ll be paying it forward for folks who ran your test day.
  • If you’re a new handler, watching a test from close up is a great opportunity to watch other dogs and other handlers, and to pick up tips and tactics for your own test day.
  • And you will develop relationships with other chapter members who can help you progress in your own training program.

We will be needing volunteers to help us set up test stations, prepare and ferry birds, make sure handlers are ready to go and generally keep one step ahead of the judges so the day progresses smoothly. We also need folks to help us unload the trailer in the AM, police the parking lot, field questions from handlers and help us pack up at days’ end.

If you can help next weekend, please send me an email here. Let me know if you’ve helped with tests before and what you’ve got experience doing. If this is your first time – don’t worry! The tasks are fairly simple and many hands make light work!

Thanks in advance for helping us run another great test!

Sincerely
Theo Stein

RMC announces two summer training clinics

Posted on by

The RMC board is excited to announce two summer training clinics for you and your dog.

Forced retrieve clinic – June 10

Tom Swezey, one of Colorado’s most respected trainers and owner of Indian Brook Kennels in Wellington, will host a hands-on training clinic to help up to 10 handlers understand the theory and practice of force-fetch training. Participation is limited to give Tom time to work with you and your dog.

The cost for the clinic is $75 and includes lunch and snacks. The clinic will be held at Tom’s property.

Training Skills Clinic – July 8 and 9

Blaine Carter, whose family owns Merrymeeting Kennels and runs NAVHDA’s Yankee Chapter, has agreed to help us host a two-day training skills clinic at Cobb Lake SWA on July 8 and 9. This is a hands-on training skills clinic for up to 20 handlers and their dogs.
This seminar will include foundational obedience up and through finishing your gun dog.  For the more advanced dogs, we will tackle steadiness, search for the duck, force fetch, drags and tracks.  For the younger dogs we will cover topics such as building confidence and control in the field and how to start your dog’s fetching habits more effectively.  The seminar will also provide an opportunity to have professional help in assessing you and your dog’s training weaknesses to get you where you want to be.  This will be a hands-on seminar so you are encouraged to bring your dog as we will have one-on-one time with Blaine and Jason to tackle any specific issues you might be having.

Blaine has been a NAVHDA judge since early 1980’s and has trained and tested dogs at various levels successfully in the NAVHDA and German systems. He and his family have bred and trained some of the top German Shorthairs in the country and for the past 25 years, he has hosted training clinics to pass on his knowledge and experience to other versatile hunting dog owners.

The cost for the clinic is $150 and includes lunch and snacks both days. The clinic will be held at Cobb Lake SWA.

Because there are only 30 total slots available, we are asking that you register for either Tom’s force-fetch clinic or Blaine’s training skills clinic. Email [email protected] if you’d like to register. Slots will be assigned in the order that clinic fees are received.

Thanks!

Theo Stein
President, RMC NAVHDA

 

 

May 6 Training Day

Posted on by

Our May training day is upon us! If you’ve signed up already- great. We look forward to seeing you. If you haven’t signed up, there are only a few slots remaining. You can sign up on Signup Genius.

It will be warm, so bring plenty of water and make sure your dog’s tick medicine is up to date.

This week we will be working with bobwhite in the field and we will have pheasants for the NA track. We do not yet have ducks, so if you know of a supply, please email [email protected]. You’ll make a lot of people happy.

Thanks
Theo Stein, President

 

March 4 Training Day – Signup deadline 2/27

Posted on by
Thanks to everyone who attended our first indoor training day yesterday at the Spicer Arena. We were delighted by all the new faces and we’re geared up for our first field training day at Cobb Lake.

Norton, owned and handled by Rick Huber, became RMC’s newest VC in 2016 – the only Griff to pass the Invitational. It’s clear the RMC is rapidly becoming a Griff chapter.

Thanks too to all of you who are using Signup Genius to help us build a training roster and keep track of bird orders. We’ve already got so many folks signed up we’re about at the limits of our ability to make sure handlers have a productive training experience.

So, if you’re planning to attend on Saturday, you must respond to signup genius with your bird order by COB MONDAY. After Monday, we’re capping the roster to make sure all the handlers who signed up have a meaningful opportunity to train.

See you Saturday!
Theo Stein
President, RMC NAVHDA

Feb. 25 Indoor Training Day

Posted on by
To: RMC-NAVHDA Membership
From: Craig McLaughlin, Training Director
Subject: Indoor Training Session: February 25, 2017
__________________________________________________________
Location:
Spicer Arena, 37440 County Road 43, Eaton, CO 80615
http://www.spicerarena.com/
Time:
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Format:
This indoor event is intended to provide new handlers of versatile dogs with an understanding of the NAVHDA training and testing system, highlighting the techniques and equipment used by chapter members to develop useful hunting companions. The morning session will be devoted to young dogs. More advanced training of older, experienced dogs will be discussed in the afternoon. Much of the time before lunch will include presentations and group discussions. Opportunities to work with dogs will come in late morning, when some indoor table and basic obedience drills will be discussed.
Schedule:
9:00 – Noon – Starting Puppies (Natural Ability Dogs)
We will start the day with a focus on new handlers and young dogs.  The morning will include a discussion of setting training goals for your pup’s first year, review of the NAVHDA approach to developing reliable gundogs, including the testing system that is the backbone of our approach. We will then review and explain the major types of training equipment and approaches that will help you build a solid hunting companion.  (We’ll be exposing dogs to birds on March 4.)
Noon – 1:00 – Lunch.
We will be providing a light lunch on site.
1:00 – 3:30 – Developing a finished hunting dog (Utility Dogs)
This will be a session devoted first to discussions about setting goals and developing training schedules that will produce a reliable hunting companion.  We will finish with some indoor training drills, including an overview of the force fetch  process.
 What to bring:
  • Warm clothing, for while we are indoors, the temperatures in the arena may be chilly. The weather forecast for Saturday is for high’s in the low 40’s.
  • A folding chair to be comfortable for the discussion sessions, and drinks (for you and your dog).
  • If you bring a dog, you will need to hold it in your vehicle for much of the day.  Dogs will need to be on lead at all times, unless they are actively participating in a training exercise.  Please bring necessary equipment to clean up after your dog.
Questions? Email [email protected]