Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject: MFSRC Novice 18.10.11
Held at Glenkirk, Tomatin (which is near Inverness)
Not sure of name of host - but was by his very kind permission
Judges: Les McLean, John Castle, Erica Munro Ferguson, James Grant
1st Yellowbrook Doura - John MacColl
CoM Maraystin Eva Morayglen - Jim Munro
Guns' Choice:
Glenloch Raven - Brian Kelman
A couple of rubbish pics from my iphone, but I know you lot like photos The wind was biting and we had heavy sleety rain a lot of the time.
Just as the trial was getting underway (the other half of the line is off in the distance)
The other half of the line up on the hillside (c/o rubbish iphone zoom)
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Well, this was a rotten day for me. Those who read my waffle from last week will know my dog ran in at the trial last week. I was largely ok with it as it was an exceptionally tempting bird that dropped just yards away. However, the weekend brought some swift training to try to rectify the problem. My trainer doesn't mince his words and I was told the problem lies with me and the way I am with my dogs. I agree. A problem doesn't 'just happen' there's always a build up and usually something has slipped elsewhere.
Anyway, problem-specific training went really quite well and whilst a bit worried about today, I knew it was going to be all walked up and I've never known us have an issue steadiness-wise on a walk up - ever - even on walked up rabbit days, partridge days, grouse days, the previous walked up trial I did etc.
Anyway, you've guessed it, he ran in. We'd been in line, walking up a while. A few birds and hares got up as we walked and he was steady; but the longer time went on, the more twitchy I could see him getting. The person next to me needed a retrieve first, and then the next would be mine. Eventually they got their retrieve. A hare out in front. Now, Boots had been steady to hares running prior to this earlier in the trial, his heelwork had been great and I was anxious but coping. So number next to me was told to send their dog. They did. A nano second later, my dog decided he was going too. He got there first and was ever so pleased with himself as he brought back the squealing hare. I was MORTIFIED and if I could've murdered him there and then I would have.
So I apologised profusely. Left the line and fell apart (in quiet, British, stiff upper lip sort of way). Took me an age to get myself together. I'll be honest - my head was elsewhere and I didn't really watch the rest of the trial. I'd more or less decided I was jacking it all in. It's not the run in that's the problem (although that clearly IS a problem). It's me. I fundamentally must be doing something wrong that the dog is playing me like a flaming fiddle. Boots isn't a difficult dog, far from it, he's an ideal dog for a beginner. So, if I can't achieve a fundamental thing such as steadiness with an 'easy' dog, what hope have I got with headcase Ice or any other dog. So, I'd decided I was just having pet dogs and it would be lovely to throw sticks and let them chase balls. I also decided there was no point in me being on the committee I'm on, so I had the resignation letter drafted in my head.
I've since got a grip a bit and I'll sleep on it and see how I feel about the whole thing tomorrow. I am tired. Getting up at 4.45am should be illegal.
I can't face it tonight, but tomorrow I am going to phone round and pull out of all the other trials I have entered. I have an eliminating fault and it's pointless keeping going, ruining my dog, and denying others a run in the process.
I`m so sorry it happened again Mo, there has to be a reason other than your handling I`d have thought, did Boots pick up on your nerves and take advantage, quite possible I imagine.
Personally I wouldn`t pull out of all your planned trials, maybe a couple to both you and Boots a short break and then get back into training again, I`m sure your not the first person to have problems and you certainly won`t be the last.
Mo you know I am uncomfortable saying a lot on LF nowadays but please stop beating yourself up. These things really do happen to the best of people with the best of dogs.
You are so "relatively" new to dogs and competition and you have come a huuuuuuuuuuge distance in the shortest of times. It CAN all be sorted honest. Have a good sleep and re-assess things when you have a clear head.
It will all be better in the morning! Few glasses of vino, early night and a couple days off to think things through. Give yourself a break too! Rome wasn't made in a day and all experience is good experience even the crappy shitty horrible toe curling ones.
Major non hugs coming your way!
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Sorry to hear youve had such a rubbish day Im not surprised you feel down.
You know how many times Ive been down hearted too - and also how many times you have pep talked me and told me not to give up, and by God Im glad you took the time .
As others have said, give yourself a break! You can beat this, honest x
You sound very like me! Bit of a perfectionist, wanting to always get things right and beating yourself up if you don't... (with apologies if, not knowing you, I am way wide of the mark!)
You have come a long way in a very short space of time and inevitably in trying to go forward quickly there will be some fairly big steps back along the way. It doesn't mean that either you or Boots are not up to the job, just that you aren't the finished article yet and you've still got plenty to learn. The fact you've got the guts to come on here and admit when things are going wrong shows that you are more than up to sorting it out.
It sounds as though maybe you need to take a couple of intentional steps back, maybe scratch from a couple of trials to give yourself time to address the running in issue properly and to get out and do all the training and picking up needed so that you have confidence in him that you have knocked it on the head. But don't give up on your whole season and what you are trying to achieve with the trialling. It will come, just give both of you time and don't rush things! Good Luck!
Mo I think we all have bad days where things don't go to plan & everything goes wrong.
All I'm going to say to you is don't resign from your committee or pull out of any trials you have entered. Tomorrow is another day - take a break for a while then start training again, persevere & it will come good in the end. Two years ago I saw you in action at the charity gundog day & could see then that you could handle your dog & I will admit that I'm no expert on gundog training.
Don't get down hearted. You will win in the end - don't you ever think about giving up.
Thanks folks for your words of encouragement. I didn't mean to post a woe is me thread, so apologies if it came across that way I just like to be honest about things and post about the things that go wrong as well as the good stuff.
Caro - if you read this thread... seeee.... photos.... how many months have you been asking me for photos??? David Bailey quality or what?!
I am sorry Mo BUT you mustn't give in. Look how far you've come - running in trials and all and you wouldn't have if the dog and you didn't have talent and potential. You can fix this, I'm sure. It's a blip, it's not the end. The win when it then comes will be oh so sweet as a result.
I didn`t see it as a woe is me post Mo, I saw it as the same thing had gone wrong twice in two trials and you are very miffed with yourself because you think you should have solved the problem after the first time.
I`ve never done this kind of thing, nor am I ever likely too but I`ve followed you since you first got bitten by the bug and have been impressed with how you`ve come on with Boots.
Like I said, give both of you a break and come back to it refreshed and raring to go again
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The wind was biting and we had heavy sleety rain a lot of the time.
Im not surprised you feel down.
I just like to be honest about things and post about the things that go wrong as well as the good stuff.
