I ran Casey in the NAHRA Master Hunting Retriever Field Test last weekend. We didn't pass either day .

On Saturday, the failure was my fault - I turned my back on him for a few seconds in order to hang a duck on the drying rack -- at which time he got into the area of a previous fall and began a hunt before he got to the bird he was supposed to go to. ZBy the time I saw where he was it was too late to handle him out of the area [ .

On Sunday, Casey switched areas of falls and he totally blew me off, when I tried to handle him to the correct area -- [:@]

Oh well, you always learn something at a Test, no matter if you pass or fail -- so, I now know what we need to be working on before the next Test (June 4 - 5).

It ain't rocket surgery -- it's just about dogs picking stuff up (or not)

Dang Doc....That's a total bummer...[:@] Guess I know what ya'll will be doing till June.... Do we have trainning this week-end..??

Wayne -- definitely NOT a big deal -- you will find that each and every time you run in a Test, that you will learn something --------------- something you as a handler need to do or do differently --- or not do ----- something that you need to specifically need to be working on in training ------------- or something. There is nothing wrong about not passing a test -- it's all a learning edxperience for both you and the dog.

On Saturday, I thought I was doing everything right (and Casey thought I was an idiot) and on Sunday, Casey thought he was doing what was right (and I thought that he was an idiot)......................he and I were both correct []

Everybody has always told me that the first and last ribbons (when you're going for the "big time") are the toughest -- they are very correct.

We'll be fine and overcome our current problems ------- of course, there are always going to be new problems that show up

It ain't rocket surgery, it's only about dogs picking things up (or not) []

You bet (you'll get to see Casey working on complex triple marks, with a blind down the middle, and especially the "Double T" (TT).

2 PM on Saturday and 9 AM on Sunday at the Casino -- bring your waders and a thermometer (it MIGHT be time to get Tank in the water?)!

O.K.......We'll be there...

My father always brought us up with this saying

[ In order to succeed you must except failure ]

That always stood in my mind and it gave me the strength & courage to try what ever it is that comes my way and do my best no matter what happends..

Casey is a great dog Doc and im sure his mistakes can only make him that much better