Its Fixed!

I believe you can now view the video

The Miracle Bug Repellent

CedarCide is an amazing product that I was introduced to by a client of mine about two years ago.  The product claims to be totally non-toxic, allergen free, and safe for pets. So I have been passing out bottles to some of the pre national training groups from outside the state who have never experienced the likes of the Texas pests. This product has saved the competing dogs from harm and allowed them to continue preparing for the National Retriever Championship....

Double Land Blind

The Gunzer group decided to do a double land blind for their second set up of the day.  The set had a blind off to the right about 50yrds through a group of trees in which a rooster pheasant was planted at the base of a tree and in no relation to the previous set of land marks. Then the handler and dog moved to a different mat for the second longer blind of about 325yrds. This second blind required the dog to cross the lines of the first short blind and the previous set of marks.  There were many great attributes to this long blind, up front the dog was required to jump a large downed tree about 65yrds from the starting point, from there the dog traveled into the valley where the lines to the previous set of marks were crossed, as the dog started up the hill side cover and the remaining flyers in the flyer crates from the hen pheasant flyer came into play in which the dog was required to maneuver threw heavy goat weed tight to the flyer station while maintaining a difficult angle along the hill side with the wind blowing scent off of the flyer crates.  The cover, scenting conditions, and visibility on the end of this blind became very tricky since there was a single hen pheasant planted for each dog from a holding blind down the hill side about 80 yrds away.  The blind planter's path and distance away was thought to be a possible factor of this blind however, the cover and visibility became the true challenges at the end of this blind.

The dog was required to jump the log on the long land blind

FC AFC Maple Creek's "Maddie" Mae & David McMahan

setting up for the long land blind

Technical Difficulties

I'm having some technical difficulties uploading videos to you tube. However, I know how to fix the issue but it will take some time. Please stay tuned as the videos are insightful.

Singles Vs Multiples

As mentioned in the previous post Andy Attar of Autumn Run Retrievers provided an explanation of why he felt some marks were more affective in training performed as a single vs putting the mark into a multiple marking situation. Many trainers share this philosophy however there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Andy's thoughts were that the handler involvement in a attempt to line a dog up for the memory mark in a multiple helped facilitate memory and takes some of the decision making responsibilities from the dog because of the ques being provided and a definite location in where the dog needs to travel to get to the bird in order to complete the mark with success.  Hence a more black & white picture in the dogs mind.  Another key factor to the ease of performing a memory mark as apposed to a well placed single is the dogs frame of mind and energy level after picking up the go bird.  Andy described that the dog maybe a bit tired and more willing to go where they are pointed thus bearing down on the memory mark and giving more effort to get to that bird.   He believes that sometimes the dogs are less likely to bear down and give more effort because of the minute handler involvement required in running a single and the responsibility being solely placed on the dog as he lets his guard down and discipline lax. Also because of the excitement level and minimal handler involvement on a single the opportunity for the handler to play on the factors of the test and the factors of mark is simply not presented. For example the ability for the handler to "No" the dog off an area or previous mark, and or false lining a dog in an attempt to play on the factor of the wind.  In layman's terms on a memory mark the handler is influential on queuing the dog where to go in order to get to the bird, on a single mark one is pointing the dog toward the field and saying there is your gun, watch the bird, now figure out how to pick up your mark.  So don't take a single mark for granted, all marks can benefit your training when put in areas the dogs instinctualy do not want to travel. This is the definition of good bird placement.  A good trainer will utilize all of these factors and continually keep the dogs mind stimulated and attitudes balanced.  Thank you Andy and all who have contributed to this blog!

Land Quad

The Gunzer group began their day by setting up in a field known as the tree pasture.  Their first test was a land quad with a hen pheasant flyer mid distance shot to the left up a hill in some descent cover, deep of this flyer and somewhat tight was a long retired gun throwing a dead rooster pheasant to the right on a side hill in heavy cover, then a shorter retired bird almost equal distance as the hen pheasant flyer was a gun station where the thrower walked out 20 paces to the right and threw a dead hen pheasant to the right in heavy cover, and the last bird was the shortest station standing out throwing (left) a dead duck pinched to the previous retired gun.  The test was performed as a quad for some, triple for others and singles for few. I arrived in the middle of the completion of the test and it was observed by Karl Gunzer of High Spirit Retrievers that the dogs who had performed the test as a multiple had a higher percentage of success to making it out to the long retired bird than the dogs who performed the triple and did the long retired bird as a single. Unfortunately, Karl was running a dog during his comment and I was unable to gather his thoughts on the reasoning behind this observation. Provided is a quick video of Karl performing the triple with Colonel. The video hopefully gives you some perspective of this effective test.  On the other hand, Andy Attar of Autumn Run Retrievers was available to provide his thoughts behind this phenomenon. I will provide Andy's thoughts in the next post.  Please note Colonel does a nice job on the triple and my phone went dead before I could video Colonel picking up the long retired single in which he also did a very nice job on.  It is also noteworthy to mention that Karl Gunzer has other dogs that he qualified for this National and felt it was proper to make mention that the credit for Colonel's titles and training go to Scott Dewey of Rock River Retrievers.  Scott Dewey as many of you know is not attending this National for he has left the field trial game to put forth efforts in an extraordinary cause.

Below is the link to Karl & Colonel's video of the Triple Land Test.  Good Job Colonel!!!

An Introduction.....

It has been brought to my attention that for a good number of folks reading this blog I have been anonymous. So let me properly introduce myself. My name is Tera Lanczak of Bay Blue Kennels, I am a professional retriever trainer that specializes in young dogs residing in Giddings, TX in the winter and Au Gres, MI in the summer.

I was honored to be invited to do this blog, and out of convenience of having the pre national groups train on my winter grounds I am able to report in detail about the pre national training.  However, this in not a one man (woman!!) operation, I will be meeting with the rest of the Retriever News team this evening to go over strategies of providing the best coverage we will be allowed to.  Tina Styan Managing Editor of R-News & Gwen Jones will be my partners in crime for the real coverage of the National beginning on Nov. 10th and dogs will begin to compete on Nov.11th.

I am not a writer, I am a horrible speller, and will probably use the rules of grammar incorrectly, although I will try to do my best to provide the info those who can not witness this event are yearning to see.  Please understand that I will not play favorites for the simple fact I personally know and greatly respect many of the contestants and passionately love all of these amazing Labradors. It may appear that there is more commentary or pictures of one group over another, this is because everything that I post I gain permission from those involved first.  Due to varying anxiety levels, time constraints, and people trying to concentrate on getting these dogs prepared for the upcoming National freedom with information may be limited and I may not be able to provide the depth I would like.  Please understand that I will not start making things up (fluff) just to provide entertaining reading and will be reporting just the facts. Enjoy the blog!!!

Day 3 Of Pre National Training

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON !!!

The fog Thursday morning was thick and visibility at 7:30 am was only about 75yards. The temp was 55 degrees with a light varying breeze out of the South Southwest. The troops in today's group included Karl Gunzer of High Spirit Retrievers, Andy Attar of Autumn Run Retrievers, Ray Voight of Handjem Retrievers, and Paul Knutson of Gunclub Labradors. The group also included some very accomplished amateurs such as Mac & Lynne Dubose, Chuck & Mary Jane Schweikert, David & Kara McMahan, Glenda Brown and Chad Baker.

Kara McMahan & Mary Jane Schweikert