kpm_tex
12-12-2004, 07:13 PM
We had a really nice weekend for our first attempt at Dachshund Field Trials.
Cindi & Zandra were also there. This was held in Hempstead, TX... the site of the Nationals next year (end of March)
Of the 3 of mine Badger had the best weekend. Field trials for Dachshunds involves tracking rabbits.. by scent only. The rabbits are flushed out and the judges and marshals point out where the rabbit came from and where he went. A brace (pair) of dogs... which are randomly paired up... are called up and the handlers get them started on the scent and then let them loose (there is some sort of skill to this release that I'm still going to have to work on). When Badger's brace was called up we had a rabbit that had start right off a path and bolted though some brush to a creek. Badger amazed me and picked up the trail and kept on it... AND... when the judges told us to pick up our dogs Badger came flying back to me :D What a good boy.
After the first round the judges recall 3 braces (6 dogs total) to determine final placement...AND Badger was in the Recalled group!!! This process can.. and DID take for ever... I need to get in better shape... the first time we were called up I think we had to work 4 rabbits because the other dog kept seeing them... which meant he started chasing the rabbit with Badger in tow. The last run we did we were braced with Cindi's Harper.
The final result was Harper came in 4th (That's not bad Cindi!!!! out of 26 dogs) and Badger was NBQ .. which means Next Best Qualifier .. basically 5th place.. out of 26 dogs. I was thrilled since this was his .. and my first time ever doing this. Plus we get a REAL ribbon to hang up on the Doggie WALL OF FAME... :D
Badger did good Sunday.. but was paired up against a better dog and while he tracked well events went against him... and frustrated MOM!!!
But we had a great time anyway.. and I love them all no matter how well they did anyway !
This is Badger boy with his pretty green ribbon
http://home.earthlink.net/~kpmann/images/Badger_NBQ_sJPG.jpg
Cindi & Zandra were also there. This was held in Hempstead, TX... the site of the Nationals next year (end of March)
Of the 3 of mine Badger had the best weekend. Field trials for Dachshunds involves tracking rabbits.. by scent only. The rabbits are flushed out and the judges and marshals point out where the rabbit came from and where he went. A brace (pair) of dogs... which are randomly paired up... are called up and the handlers get them started on the scent and then let them loose (there is some sort of skill to this release that I'm still going to have to work on). When Badger's brace was called up we had a rabbit that had start right off a path and bolted though some brush to a creek. Badger amazed me and picked up the trail and kept on it... AND... when the judges told us to pick up our dogs Badger came flying back to me :D What a good boy.
After the first round the judges recall 3 braces (6 dogs total) to determine final placement...AND Badger was in the Recalled group!!! This process can.. and DID take for ever... I need to get in better shape... the first time we were called up I think we had to work 4 rabbits because the other dog kept seeing them... which meant he started chasing the rabbit with Badger in tow. The last run we did we were braced with Cindi's Harper.
The final result was Harper came in 4th (That's not bad Cindi!!!! out of 26 dogs) and Badger was NBQ .. which means Next Best Qualifier .. basically 5th place.. out of 26 dogs. I was thrilled since this was his .. and my first time ever doing this. Plus we get a REAL ribbon to hang up on the Doggie WALL OF FAME... :D
Badger did good Sunday.. but was paired up against a better dog and while he tracked well events went against him... and frustrated MOM!!!
But we had a great time anyway.. and I love them all no matter how well they did anyway !
This is Badger boy with his pretty green ribbon
http://home.earthlink.net/~kpmann/images/Badger_NBQ_sJPG.jpg