Your Friday Tidbit: From Baby Steps to a Master Hunter
My first dog Toddy I had trained by a professional for the Fetch process. My second dog by the name of Bella was the first dog that I would take from a 8 week old puppy to a MH. Bella taught me a lot because I was being mentored on old school hard force methods at the time. The dog either got it or they didn’t, there was no in between. Bella got stuck in different areas of training where high pressure didn’t work for her. I was forced to research, develop and figure out on my own different methods that would teach a better way to understand the subject rather than force her. Next came Winnie and all the kinks that I went through with Bella I knew how to avoid with Winnie. Bella and Winnie ended up getting their MH titles together.
Fast forward to where I’m at now and my résumé consists of close to 50 Master Hunters, even more Senior and Junior Hunters along with Derby and Qualifying placements. Not even mentioning all the Upland Champions l’ve made, but that’s for another time. I’m not saying this as some bragging comment. I saying this from a different standpoint. Each and every dog taught me something along the way. My early Master Hunters all taught me valuable lessons that would lead to making better Master Hunters in the future.
Every dog I have campaigned has its own story line of how they achieved their title. Going 6 for 6 in Master Tests is very rare especially at a young age. Usually some kinks will show along the way. You’ll have to learn how to fix those and how to move forward towards the title. Some dogs pushed every once of knowledge and patience I had, while others made it easy on me.
Developing the Wingmasters online training system is pushing me in a different way. For me it’s natural now to grab a dog and just start training them. I can recognize things before they even happen because of all my past experiences. When Alec Kysely started working at my kennel I could see
Your Friday Tidbit: Growing Up With A Hunting Dog
My childhood neighbor by the name of Ol’ Ralph Hempher, was an overall wearin’, whiskey drinkin’, tobacco chewin, sailer mouthin’ hellava good guy. He lived across the road from us and i’d often ride my bike over there for a visit to listen to hunting as well as life stories. He’d talk about running hounds on coyotes, bear and coon. The thrill of the chase he’d always tell me. One story was a little bit different… He told me about a rabbit hound, a beagle that he shot many cottontail and snow hare over. He said it was the funnest hound hunting he’d done in his younger days. His beagle would run the rabbit in a circle mainly 40 to 80 acres. Being the fact that I was 12 years old I thought, “a beagle would be perfect as i’m not able to drive at my age.” I begged my parents for a pup. Finally they gave in and I got my first beagle. Back then there was no internet. So really the only way you learned anything about beagles was reading books or magazine articles. I read everything I could find. If you wanted information on a beagle they’d have to send you the pedigree’s in the mail. I had a folder of pedigree’s that I studied and kept for my genetic knowledge of the breed.
What I learned from growing up with a hunting dog was priceless. The list is too long, but it taught me many life lessons I carry with me today. What Ol’ Ralph knew was, if I can get this kid a dog, get him to respect wildlife and the outdoors, I can keep this high energy kid from getting into trouble. He was dead on! I got into beagle field trials from age 13 to 20. As a teenager I had no interest in drugs or alcohol. All I cared about was traveling with my beagles on Hunting Trips and to Field Trials to compete. It’s funny now how traveling to Upland Bird Dog Tournaments and Hunt Tests gives me that same feeling of when I ran beagles as a kid.
“A puppy makes you ageless, they have a way to turn you into a kid i
Your Friday Tidbit: AKC Senior Hunt Test Components
A couple weeks ago I started this Friday Tidbit series explaining the general understanding of AKC Junior Hunt Tests. Today i’m going to explain the components of a AKC Senior Hunt Test. Next week I’ll explain how all the components essentially work together. There is a big jump from Junior to Senior but then a smaller jump from Senior to Master in some sense.
Double Marks:
There is two series like Junior, a Land series and a water series. Except now each series requires you to pick up a double instead of two singles like a Junior. One of the two birds, typically in the first series, will be a live flyer. The dog must remain steady, off lead while two birds get launched until the Judge releases you to pick them up.
Controlled Break- Your Mullligan!
Here is an important thing you need to know at the Senior Level. In one of the two series, not both, if the dog goes to break and you can stop them at a reasonable distance, you can still continue the test. Some judges will let your release the dog from where he stopped, others require you to reheel the dog before sending them.
Walking to the Line:
At Senior level a dog must now walk to the line, at heel, OFF Lead, with NO collar. Completely opposite of what I talked about in Junior. The lead since there can be no collar on the dog must be some type of “slip” lead. Secondly you must carry a gun with you to the line. The judges ask for your number, you answer, they say “Guns Up”, then say “dog to the line.” At this time you as the handler remove the lead and pocket it, grab your gun and start walking towards the line.
Walk Up
Now at Senior level one of your two series will have a “Walk Up.” This means that you don’t just walk your dog up and sit it down. Instead, on your way up to the line, they will launch a bird at a certain area you are instructed to walk to. When the bird is launched the dog must either sit verbally or sit to the wh
Join us tomorrow for episode #2 of the Wingmasters Podcast “Truth Be Told”! This episode will be sure to keep you entertained as we dive into genetics, dogs, training, hilarious moments as well as as some sentimental moments when talking about Winnie! Be sure to tune in on YouTube and Spotify! Our Wingmasters FB page is up! Please head over to our official Wingmasters FB page and be sure to give us a “like” and “follow”! Let’s keep it Rockin! Alec Kysely #WINGMASTERS #wingmasterspodcast #truthbetold #foxredlabrador #foxredpuppy #foxredlab #HilariousMoments #takethejourneywithus
