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A view of the world from the eyes of an
english springer spaniel...
April 4th, 2004 -- Congratulations Bob on your new SADC!
Reporting in from recent "Water Test" aka "Water Test for
Sporting Spaniels" and numerous other events around the area we welcome "Bob".
Introduction:
Just the Facts:
Reg Name: Am/Can Ch Bryden's What About Bob, CD, CDX,
AGN, WT, SADC
Sire: A/C/B Ch Bryden's Up Close and Personal
Dam: Can Ch Brymar's Pretty Woman
Date of Birth: April 30, 1998
Breed: English Springer Spaniel
The Real McCoy:
Call Name: Bob
Nick Names: Bobbaloo and Bob the Gob (drinks lots of
water and shakes his head so gob goes everywhere)
Favourite Past Times: swimming, loves to retrieve dead
pigeons when given the opportunity, squirrel chaser (Bob has been
known to swat them out of trees and chase them, doesn't hurt them and
can't seem catch any, thank goodness)
Favourite Time of Day: Dinner Time, Bob eats Purina Pro
Plan Turkey and Barley or Chicken with Rice and gets two tablespoons
of canned pure pumpkin with each meal. He loves his dinner so
much he bounces off my back when I am getting it ready. He
also sings and howls while I am getting it ready, quite an ordeal.
Career Plans: Bob is working towards his Canadian CDX,
finishing his American CD and then CDX and working towards earning
more field titles next Spring. Bob is very enthusiastic and a
fun dog to train.
Adventures in Water Tests for Spaniels, Obedience Trials plus much much more
with Bob reporting in from:
The Water Test -- held in Arnprior on July, 27th, 2002.
The
Water Test. This is a CKC event for sporting spaniels which
includes Springers and Cockers. There was an English Cocker at
the event, but the rest and probably a majority are ESS's.
The Test is as follows:
No. 1 You have two chances. If you don't pass the first
time, you wait until all the dogs go through and then can try one more
time. (Bob passed the first time!!)
No. 2 There is a judge, assistant, bird thrower, gunner.
No. 3 You are required to walk up to the shore of a pond with
the dog heeling beside you. You must unleash your dog and tell
them to wait. A gun sound will go off and then a bird will
appear in the air and fall into the pond. (The gunner and bird
thrower are hidden) Then the assistant on the judges cue will
tap your shoulder when you can release your dog. The dog must be
steady to the shot and cannot break.
No. 4 You send your dog and the dog is to retrieve the pigeon
and bring it to hand. The dog can come directly to you out of
the pond but is also allowed to go out on the side of the pond but
must return and deliver the bird to hand.
This is a pass or fail test and tests the working ability and natural
instincts of spaniels. It is very clear the dogs who cant wait
to enter the water and are excited to retrieve the bird. The dog
cannot mouth or chew on the bird and must be soft mouthed.
Bob's natural ability was very evident at the test. He was the
only conformation Springer there and really impressed the group who
owned and bred field spaniels. It was nice to get together
with a group who enjoyed working with their dogs and our common
interest was we all loved Springers and enjoyed seeing our dogs having
a great time doing what for the most part comes natural.
Until next time,
Michelle Armitage
Michelle Armitage is a CKC-licensed obedience judge. |
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