We heard you!

A Handler’s Clinic will help you understand how NAVHDA evaluates versatile hunting dogs.

Based on member requests, the Rocky Mountain Chapter Board is looking to sponsor a NAVHDA Handler’s Clinic this summer to help you improve your handling skills and gain insight into how to evaluate your hunting partner.

Hosting a clinic requires a modest investment by the chapter, so the Board needs to hear from at least 12 members who are highly likely to attend before we recruit a Senior Judge and finalize a date. Please RSVP by Sunday April 17 and let us know if you would be interested and likely to attend. We’re aiming to hold the clinic in mid-summer, before the Frontier Chapter’s summer test and our August test.

Participation will be limited to 20 handlers. Chapter members will be given first consideration.

What is a handler’s clinic?
A Handler’s Clinic is a two-day event designed to help NAVHDA members understand how NAVHDA evaluates versatile hunting dogs. The clinics are  conducted by designated, specially trained NAVHDA Senior Judges.

During the clinic, the judge will deconstruct every element of the Natural Ability, Utility Prep and Utility tests – with field demonstrations of the skills that pups, dogs in training and finished hunting dogs should possess. Most of the time is spent in the field with dogs, but a portion of the program includes discussion about the testing process and scoring.

You’ll learn about common handler mistakes that can detract from your dog’s score and tips on how to effectively manage your dog during a test. You won’t bring your dog, but you will watch dogs perform test elements, learn how to evaluate their performance and you’ll score dogs as if you were a judge All of this will help you understand – and enjoy – training and testing.

Who would want to attend?

• New handlers with their first pup can see how other dogs’ work is evaluated by an experienced judge. This give you a baseline for understanding your pup’s strengths and identifying where work is needed to improve weak areas.
• Novice handlers can see how NAVHDA evaluates versatile dogs, and learn how to better handle dogs in a test. A clinic will show you what a good gun dog can be expected to do.
• Experienced handlers, especially those looking to prepare for the Utility test series, can gain a deeper, more technical knowledge of how the team of dog and handler are judged. The clinic will demystify terms like cooperation, obedience, steadiness and the elements of a proper duck search – skills that a finished versatile hunting dog should possess.
• Looking to breed your dog? A clinic will help you learn what to look for in your dog’s pedigree and other progeny in your line. You’ll also learn how to use NAVHDA records obtained through our Search Test Records for selective breeding.
• Wondering about becoming a NAHVDA judge? Completing a clinic is the first step in the process.
  

What if I’m not interested in the testing process?
Remember, NAVHDA’s goal is to help you learn how to train and handle the dog that you want. Test elements replicate the skills a finished gun dog should have. During a Handler’s Clinic, an experienced judge who has seen and evaluated many, many dogs will explain what those skills are and show you what those skills look like in the field.

What do we need from you?
Please RSVP to this email – [email protected] and let us know if you are interested in attending, what you and your dog(s) are currently training for and what your goals are. Please respond by Sunday April 17. We’re offering participation to active chapter members first. At some point, we’ll open registration to other chapters as well.

Many thanks to Testing Director Phil Goodwin for doing the legwork for the Board to offer you this opportunity.

On behalf of the RMC Board, we look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely

Theo Stein
President

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Hello again NAVHDANs –

We hope to see you this Saturday, April 2, for our second training day of the year. We’ll meet at the north parking lot of the Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area, off of CR 58 in Wellington, CO. Plan to be there at 7:30 am so we’re ready to go into the field at 8.

Be sure to read the previous post to see the day’s training agenda.

And as always, please RSVP to [email protected] to 1) indicate that you’re coming and 2) let us know if you’d like us to purchase birds for you. See you in a few days!

RMC Testing Director Phil Goodwin reports that the Spring Test is currently full – but don’t despair!

The waiting list is still short and we normally see anywhere from 5 to 10 dogs pull out for one reason or another.

If you’re hoping to land a spot in our spring test – don’t delay. Contact Testing Director Phil Goodwin and get on the waiting list.

For the moment, we still have available slots for our August test.

But if you’re up against the calendar with a Natural Ability pup, consider testing with our good friends over the border. The Frontier Chapter is running one test this year: August 5, 6 &7.

Contact Robert Koehler for information.

THANKS!

A quick note to thank everyone who came out Saturday for the Rocky Mountain Chapter’s first training day.

We had almost 40 handlers plus their families in attendance –  the largest turnout most members could remember.

Particularly encouraging were the14 UT handlers, most from last year’s NA crew, and several future NA handlers who have not even taken home their new pups yet!

Special thanks to Phil Goodwin, Alex Kostra, Sara Heesacker, Allen Kidd, Rick Huber and of course Training Director Craig McLaughlin for making the day a resounding success.

We’ve got three weeks between now and April 2 –  Make sure to put your time in working with your hunting buddy between now and then to take maximum advantage of our next training!

 As we kick off our training year, we wanted to remind folks of a few rules regarding participation and our use of Cobb Lake. If you haven’t been there, Cobb Lake is an incredible resource for the chapter. It’s the only state property to allow training year-round. Please read to re-familiarize yourself with these rules and expectations.

Chapter Rules
They’re pretty simple.

• Membership: Our chapter is a volunteer organization and we rely on membership dues to pay for permits, birds, etc. For insurance purposes, training day participants must be active members. Chapter members are asked to renew membership before participating Saturday. If you don’t renew by March 31, you’ll be dropped from the roster. The only exception is first-time participants- they can check out one training day before they join.
• Break-action shotguns are the only type allowed in the field during training. Actions should be open unless preparing to shoot. No pumps or semi-autos.
• Hunter orange must be worn by all participants in the field when shooting is anticipated.
• Training days are usually well-attended. For the sake of other handlers, please control your dog at all times and be ready when your turn at a skills station comes up. When not actively training, your dog should be leashed, staked out or crated.

Please join us on Saturday March 5 for our first training day of the year.

We’ve got a good crop of newcomers signed up and a nice set of last year’s NA handlers ready to tackle the skills that produce a finished gun dog.

As always, we’ll meet at the north parking lot of Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area at 0730 and split into NA and advanced skills groups.

RSVP to [email protected]

Rocky Mountain Chapter members…

The new year is on us and your NAVHDA Chapter is gearing up for another busy spring and summer. The Chapter’s annual meeting was Jan. 14 and I wanted to share the highlights with you.

• Membership renewals are now due. Dues and test fees remain the same for 2016.
• Our Spring Test will be May 21 and 22. Our Fall Test will be August 20 and 21.
• If you’re testing this year, don’t wait to sign up. You can download the test entry fee at http://www.navhda.org/sites/www.navhda.org/files/assets/Test_EntryFrm.pdf
• Training days are the first Saturday of the month from March through June, plus August. Early training days are subject to the weather – and we will reschedule if we can. Right now, we’ve scheduled training events for March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4 and August 6. Remember, you must be an active member ( 2016 dues paid) to participate.
• The Chapter’s financial health bears watching. We lost money on both tests last year. The Board will be looking at ways to raise funds and cut costs without reducing the quality of your training and testing experience.
• We’re considering holding a Handlers Clinic to help handlers better understand how their dogs are judged during a test so they can train to meet the standard. Handlers Clinics can draw interest from other states and may help with fundraising. Please let us know if you’d be interested in attending a Handler’s Clinic this year.
• Likewise, we will consider hosting a Snake Avoidance clinic. These are also very popular. Please let us know if you’d consider training your dog to avoid rattlesnakes.
• Our bird supplier is in flux, as Steve Secor of Field Trial Game Birds has sold his operation. We’re working to finalize a plan to provide birds for training and test days. Bird cost will be a consideration.
• Many thanks to outgoing Board members President Phil Booghier, Vice President Dave Shickle, Treasurer Liz Dyer, and Directors of Fundraising and Promotions Lowell and Buffy Kaufhold, for their selfless service to the Chapter. These are the folks who helped make things run the past two years.
• The Board welcomes several new members to our ranks this year. Please say thanks to Daniel Sprague, Sara Heesacker, Sherry Holt, Angela Fresquez for their willingness to volunteer their time in support of your Chapter.
• The Board adopted several revisions to our By-Laws. You can review them on our By-Laws page. If you’re testing a dog this year, please review our Standing Rules, which describes how test entries are handled.

Thanks and we look forward to working with you in the coming months!

Sincerely

Theo Stein

President

MOCK TEST ON MAY TRAINING DAY

With our May test less than three weeks away, we’ve have had several members with Natural Ability level dogs ask if we could hold a mock test. Mock tests are great for new handlers to gain an understanding of the testing environment in a low-pressure atmosphere. However, mock tests require volunteers.

Based on demand, we will run a mock test for NA dogs on May 2, but we need everyone who participates to double as volunteers. That means when not running a dog, each of us will need to support others by planting birds, acting as field marshal, handling tracking birds, manning the popper gun, and preparing equipment. PLEASE RSVP HERE BY TUESDAY APRIL 28 IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NA MOCK TEST

Before the NA Mock Test, the May 2 Training Day will begin with a brief meeting of Utility/Utility Prep/Invitational handlers for a group discussion on what training they will pursue during the day. This group may also wish to hold a mock test, which will require a significant commitment of time and energy from all involved handlers. The UPT/UT test scenarios are more involved and require more birds and equipment at the water search/heeling/steady by blind/retrieve of duck sequences.

For a UT mock test, we need 8-10 knowledgeable individuals to commit to staff the effort for the entire morning to set up and hold a mock UPT/UT level test. A UT Mock Test will need bird planters, gunners, duck search planters, and set-up for the launchers and heeling course.  IF YOU ARE A UPT/UT LEVEL HANDLER PLEASE RSVP by TUESDAY APRIL 28 TO RESERVE BIRDS AND INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER.

SO:
• RSVP BY TUESDAY APRIL 28 here to order birds for training day
• RSVP BY APRIL 28 to indicate if you’re willing to help run a NA or UT mock test.
• RSVP if you plan to attend.

The weather could warm up by next weekend, so bring plenty of water for your dogs and water/sunscreen/bug spray for you. Needless to say, make sure you’ve administered your preferred tick dope to your four-legged friend.

Thanks much and see you next weekend.

Theo Stein/Secretary

[email protected]