a topic of discussion......

[Doc & Nash]

For what it is worth, it is hard to justify judging the quality of a test with performance of either the set-up dog or the test dog.

Example...

SFHRC last test in Grenada. I ran Nash on the water test Friday evening, so as a judge I would know what the handlers are experiencing. It is something I do for me, I learn from it and know what to expect. He smashed it, and two whistled the blind no problems. But that does not make it an easy test. Come Sat. We did not have a test dog so I got Nash out to run. He smashed the marks and when it came time to run the same blind he ran less than 12 hrs. before it took at least 7 whistles. Same conditions, same blind. Why the difference? Should we have scrapped that blind? Should we have changed the test. I don't think so. Keep in mind same dog/handler & test with different outcomes.

The test dog is there for mechanics, so everyone who attendeds the handlers meeting will get the chance to see how the test flows and to allow the judges the opportunity to look at what they are asking the teams to do and if it is feasable or if there is something that could be done better. IMO the performance of the test dog is irrelevant, however I do like to see the test dog be successful.

[Bayou Beagle]

Good conversation...

unfortunately, I've seen some judges who will not reevaluate the test and sometimes it appears pride gets in the way if they figure out they must Judge accordingly....

How many times have you picked out the finished blind and made the marks work whether decent or not just because you liked the blind???

Jeff

[goosebruce]

Jeff, I don't think it is generally pride. I think sometimes people don't know, or think they can change a test. I think sometimes people just want it to 'get' over. And I think sometimes, people are just too freggin lazy to care. Its not unusal at all at the flop, to change a bird... the wind has changed, the shadows change, lots of stuff changes. If your test isn't what you designed, then change it, and make it so.

Lots of times you walk into a field and see a bird, you just can't live without... blind or mark.... and things develop from there. I can go along with that. Its the guy who gets outta the truck with a test in his head he's been thinking about the whole ride there, thats what you got to watch for!

We had a field in Ohio, I got out of the truck and just bout wet myself. I did not say a word, but in 30 seconds I saw the test I wanted to run. My co judges took some time expolring the field, different places to run from, and had a bunch of ideals. Finally they asked my what I saw, and I told them... and their eyes lit up too. 30 seconds and I saw an entire test, and it was awesome. But we spent over an hour walking the field, and the fall areas to get exactly what we wanted out of every bird. So sometimes, it is just that easy. travis