Category Image Shaela's First Field Trial


 


Shaela (Moonsetter SureShot Espresso) took in her very first Field Trial this last weekend and we were so pleased to hear how well she performed. Shaela is a ten month old puppy from the litter sired by our boy Jimmy (Rokeena Balthazer) out of Heidi Moon's girl Delaney (Ch. Moonsetter Always in Style JH) and is owned by Glenn and Erin McLean in California. Glenn is also completely new to the Field Trial game so I wanted to share the email he sent about this first time experience for both he and Shaela. The helpful person he's talking about showing him the ropes is Dianna Ellis (Bluewin Gordons).


"We drive to the FT Friday afternoon and get there at 3:00PM. I meet Dianna there shortly after. Dianna had to get camp set up and I lent her a hand. Dianna brought a Chukar for Shaela. We took the bird out in the field which Dianna had tethered on a string. Shaela seemed interested and scared of the bird at the same time. We worked with Shaela for about 30 minutes and Dianna gave me some good advice. I also took Shaela over to where the crates of birds were and let her smell them. She was cowering and seemed scared and unsure. I'm thinking to myself: I am way over my head and what in the world have I gotten into? The Golden Gate Gordon Setter Club folks start showing up. We go to the hotel and everyone gets checked in and then we go out for a nice Mexican dinner and Margaritas. Everyone kept telling me not to worry just go out and have fun! I kept telling them Shaela has never been out in the field before and we were going to be bumbling idiots! They all laughed and said again don't worry just have fun. ( I am the world's worst worrier). I drive back to camp and sleep in my car with Shaela. I am used to camping out and enjoy it.

We get up Saturday morning and have coffee and a light breakfast. The Open Derby is the first event. Shaela and I are slated as BYE (no brace). I beg and borrow a blank shooting pistol and get Shaela to the starting line. The judges and Marshals are all on horse back. Shaela saw horses for the first time Friday night. I am thinking this is going to be a disaster! I let Shaela off lead and tell her to go. The judges recommended that I don't say anything to Shaela just let her go. I take their advice and it pays off big time! Shaela starts to run and then comes back to check on me. Then she goes out again. She leaves the horses alone and stays out front. I am thinking this is great at least she is leaving the horses alone and is not freaked out about them. Shaela starts to range out front of me and covers some objectives. We have a 15 minute time limit. We go down a tree line around it and back to the other side of the tree line. On the back side of the tree line Shaela is ranging out in front more .When we made the turn to the back side of the tree line she saw me make the turn and ranged out her own way and made the turn on her own. I did not have to say a word to Shaela she made the turn on her own. The judges call time! I call Shaela she comes and I put her back on her lead and we walk back to camp. I am thinking to myself Shaela did great and at least she did not run away! I did not care at this point that she had not made bird contact.

We break and have something to drink and I am hanging out. The judges results come in and Dianna tells me Shaela won a Judges Award of Merit! I am thinking no way! I was very proud and surprised! The judges were very complimentary about our run and liked the way Shaela improved on the amount of ranging she did on the last part compared to the first part. She had gained confidence in herself and did not need to come back to me to check in on the back side of the tree line. This is how keeping quiet the whole time payed off by just letting Shaela do her thing.

We hang around for a couple of hours and then it is time to go out for the Open Derby. Now I am really nervous. Shaela is running as a brace with another Gordon male named Guinness who has his JH title. I am thinking Oh my God Shaela is going to want to play with this other dog and distract him. I meet the other handler who is a woman in her early 30's she is on a horse. I tell her I am walking and don't have a horse and feel more comfortable walking. She decides if that is the case it would be better if she walked as well. She gets off her horse leaves it and we walk to the starting line. The judges ask if we are ready. We let our dogs off lead. Just as I expected Shaela starts chasing and tries to play with the other Gordon. We keep walking and I head for the tree line. I keep telling myself this is going to be a disaster! Then Shaela sees me near the trees and comes over and gets her nose down and starts working in the trees in front of me. She goes on point a Chukar takes flight. I am so amazed I almost forget to shoot the blank pistol. I get the shot off as the bird is flying away. Shaela goes on past me the shot did not phase her in the least. (Shaela has never heard gunshot before. She did fine for the 4th of July fire works so I was not too worried about it) Shaela kept working the tree line and after a bit she is on point again and another Chukar takes flight! I get another shot off. The other Gordon is way out in a field and he comes over to the tree line and goes on a flash of a point. The handler forgets to fire her pistol. We keep going. Shaela is acting tired at this point and and is staying close to me. One of the marshals asks if she would like a drink. I tell the marshal yes and give Shaela a drink from a jug. Shaela move on and the judges call time. I call Shaela and she comes to me. We walk back to the camp on lead.

We have lunch and I am hanging out telling everyone that I was happy with the fact that Shaela found two birds. The judges have a call back for three dogs one of which was the Gordon Shaela ran with. A bit of time goes by after the call back and Dianna announces the results. Guinness the male Gordon won first place. Then Dianna tells me Shaela won second place! Third and forth places were withheld. Shaela and Guinness were the only two dogs who had bird contact for the Open Derby. Shaela was up against some pretty good competition with all the other dogs who were entered in the open Derby today.

I am totally dumbfounded and amazed and on cloud nine. Shaela conquered working with horses, other dogs, finding birds, and pointing to them. All of which she had never been exposed to or done before! We need to get Shaela back out again soon. I guess these Gordon's are always full of surprises!

Posted: Monday - November 06, 2006 at 06:53 PM          

©