by Kerry Webster » Tue 09 Mar 2004 5:30 pm
Hi Everyone,
As someone said, this has become a subject in itself, and, a little heated.
I can see this topic from both sides. My first retriever didn't experience a rabbit retrieve until she was in All Age, and then, refused to pick it up. Panic !!!! This stirred me to find some roadkill and do some solid training on rabbits with her. Now, she just loves "bunnies". Until recently, I also had a duck and some quail in the freezer alongside two bunnies and the pigeons. (I accidently switched off the freezer and discovered the very dead !!! very smelly corpses !!! some weeks later. The freezer hasn't recovered yet.) My youngsters are introduced early to bunnies and every now & then we have a little update.
Also, those that do FF on their dogs.......isn't the concept of FF one that the dog fetches any game it is sent to retrieve regardless of whether it has ever seen that game before or not ?? If that is so, then the FFetched dog should in theory, not have a problem retrieving game other than pigeons or rabbits.
I do believe that competitors should be informed of when a change from pigeons and rabbits is to occur at a trial, and, what game it will be. In fairness to all that are entered, this should be done well in advance of the trial, so that those that need to, can arrange to obtain the game and practise with their dog.
In W.A. we regularly have rabbits included in our trials, and in recent years, quail have also been used. Only twice, have I seen a duck in trials here, again a roadkill ???? (you all know we don't have duck hunting here), and the same duck was used for the blind each time. (this was the second last run and the numbers had declined by then).
The onus is obviously on the owner to introduce their dog to as much game as possible, if there is any doubt as to the retrieve of game. Asking a mate in the country to shoot a few rabbits can help, and even a duck in those states that hunt them, and then into the freezer with them. Just don't let them thaw out completely when you use them, and they will last for a long time.
Kerry
My goal in life is to become as wonderful as my dog thinks I am.