We were one for two at the hunt tests in Dixmont ME last weekend.

He passed on Saturday, and failed on Sunday.

We learned alot and what we need to practice.
1.  Water blinds - needs more confidence.
2.  Blinds - do not go back to prior fall of a mark
3.  Shore running - still an issue with him

Here are some pictures.

We failed at yesterday's senior hunt test - Southern Berkshire Golden Retriever Test in Nod Brook, CT.

We did great up until the last bird - the water blind.  It was down a narrow channel.  I got Argus into the channel, and then he did not want to go back.  He kept going left/right.  So, we called him in.  This was after five other great birds.

Land
  Walk up with a flyer.  Argus was very in control - thanks to Audrey and her fellow dog walkers from Rideout.  Argus decided to take the memory bird first - walk up was a left to right and the flyer was a right to left  - so from Argus' perspective, they were both in line with each other.  He was not the only dog to select the memory bird first.

He got that, then went to the flyer.  got that very easily.

The blind was off on the left.  In a bunch of scrub.  He lined great, couple of whistles and we were done.

Water
  Memory bird straight ahead and the flyer off to the right.  The gunners were a little late in hitting bird, so it flew far away into some lily pads.  Also, from where they had us line up, he could not see the bird hit the water, only that it was in an area.  He got the bird finally.  Went for the memory, but was off the mark.  So I handled him quickly to it.

On the blind, his initial line was not good, he handled well to get him into the channel then he didn't want to go further.  On hindsight, I should have sent him on a false line tot he left - then did back to get him through.  Next time.

It was very hot and humid all day.  So, after the fail, we just headed home to relax.

The fish hook

Here's a shot of the hook. Small pond, big hook?

Haven't blogged in a while.  We've been training a lot.  Doing swim by, blinds, etc.

I was using a pond at Estabrook, but it was very overgrown and about a 20 minute walk.

Then I went to White's Pond, shore is free, a little shallow, so Argus had to wade in about 10 feet to get swimming.  Also a 5 minute walk in.

Then last night at Delaney, Margaret Stubbs and I were talking about swim by and she recommended Flerra Meadows in Boxborough.  Here's a map.

http://www.town.boxborough.ma.us/consmap=cons_map_flerrameadows.html

So, Argus and I head over today at 5 am.

Having a great training session, great enthusiasm, etc.

Then on the final water blind, Argus swims across, I handle him to the bumper, he gets it and then swims back.  He got about five feet and then stopped.  He struggled and struggled.  I thought he was caught in some weeks, etc.  But he could not free himself.  He started to look a little panicked, I thought he might drown.  I stripped down to my underwear and jumped in to swim over to him.

Lo and behold, he was hooked by an old fishing line.  A big hook was in his groin - just under the skin.  I had to bite through the line to free it from a tree.  We both swam back.

Argus did not look the worse for wear.  The hook had a think steel leader - like a coat hanger wire.  I sat Argus and went to the car.  I got my Leatherman.  I cut the leader off, leaving the hook in Argus.  He was not in any distress.  Put him in the car and drove home.

Audrey helped me get it out - then she left - does not like any medical - there wasn't any blood, just a hold where it went it.  That was enough for Audrey.  Had Olivia sent down to fill in and hold Argus.

Trimmed the area, flushed out the hole with saline, cleaned the area well and put on triple antibiotic cream.  Hopefully no infection.

All this before 7 am.

Here's a picture taken by John Carelli at the Poodle Club of America Hunt Test last weekend.  I'll do a longer post later, but in the meantime here's a nice picture of Argus returning with the flyer.

Movie Star

Audrey took Argus to Rideout Park. First time that he is out in public (do not consider the Delaney group to be public - they're dog people.)

Several of Argus' friends were there and their owners were very impressed.

As Audrey was walking out - a family (mother, grandmother and kids) in a Range Rover were in parking lot.  Audrey could see that they were laughing - they rolled down their windows and Audrey asked - "Are you laughing at my dog?"  They said he looked like a movie star.   I guess the kids like a movie "Cats and Dogs".

So, Argus is now a movie star!

Three pictures of Argus' new clip - the Historically Correct Continental Clip (HCCC).  I decided to do it since we are going to the Poodle Club of America's hunt test next weekend.  When in Rome, dress like the Romans...

Annie from Village Groomers http://villagegroomer.net/  in Walpole did it.  She came highly recommended by some people at the Poodle Club of Massachusetts.  Great job and great shop.  The took great care of Argus for the day.

I picked him up late in the day and then rushed over to training at Delaney.  Argus hadn't eaten all day and spent a lot of time on the grooming table and in a kennel.  So, shall we say, he was not focused on retrieving.

He broke on the first of a double.  So, we called him back.  Then did three singles.  He was slow to pick the birds up - slower than usual.

On the last bird, a walk up, he went to the bird, then decided to eat it!  I guess he was really hungry.  (For non-retriever people, that is a major faux pas.)  I immediately went out to get him and discipline him.

Overall, not a successful training - but at least I learned something - do not train immediately after his grooming.