The Greatland Chapter's last NAVHDA-sanctioned Tests will tentatively be held in early August 2008.

Four chapter members are now qualified as NAVHDA Apprentice Judges.

          These training sessions are intended as introductions to various training techniques, familiarization with various types of dog training tools and equipment, and opportunities for members to exchange ideas or work on specific training issues. These sessions are not intended to reflect a logical training progression, and are certainly not intended to serve as any sort of comprehensive training program for your dog.

          Water events are timed to coincide with the earliest anticipated availability of water in our training areas. Live birds will probably not be available until late June. We want to serve the needs of all members and their dogs, especially first time handlers with pups.

          Each weekend session is intended to provide opportunities for dogs at all levels of testing or general maturity and proficiency. We do not intend to have any session dedicated solely to NA, UT, etc.

          The training sessions will have coordinators for equipment, birds, fields and water. However, we will not assign session leaders as such. Members will be responsible for coordinating their own efforts at each session following the general outline below. We certainly don’t expect any one member to make every session, and the people who do show up are free to work on whatever skills and events they prefer, assuming the equipment, birds, water and fields are available.

          Bird sales are strictly an issue between individuals and the bird provider (e.g., Falcon Ridge).

          The Greatland Chapter uses picnics, photo sessions, clinics, book sales and other events as fundraisers for chapter operations. Please ensure that payment is made for participation in chapter activities or products and that the money finds its way to our treasurer.

          Mock tests will be run in a manner that is as similar as possible to actual NAVHDA tests. The intent is to give members an introduction or refresher to the pace of these tests, the role of the judges, test requirements and restrictions, the scoring and debriefing process and the role of the handler during a test.

          During photo sessions, digital photos will be taken during the training sessions as actions shots or posed portraits of dogs, and handlers with your dogs. Custom prints will be made available for sale a few days later after post processing (color correction, cropping, retouching, etc.) in various sizes with or without frames. The cost will be reasonable, remembering that this is a fundraising effort for the chapter.

          Membership at Falcon Ridge is not a prerequisite for participation in these training sessions. However, it is strongly encouraged, particularly if you want to train with additional birds, participate in post-event “clean-up” hunts, or train on separate days.

Date

Tasks

Equipment available

Notes

 (Date TBD)

• General membership meeting

• New member introductions

• Announce test dates

•  Chapter membership forms

•  NAVHDA membership forms

•  NAVHDA Green Books

•  NAVHDA Aims, Rules Booklets

 Chapter election

 Board will meet separately to review bylaws, assign directors, review finances

April

•  Puppy start, socialization

•  Training table familiarization

•  Training equipment and tools

•  Training book and video review

•  Handler and dog photos

•  Training tables

•  Books and videos

•  Various leads/leashes

 Training tables available for sale

 Books and videos available for loan to members

 Photos will be taken for sale and for web site use

April

•  Obedience

•  Whoa training

•  Force Fetch introduction

•  Pinch collar introduction

•  eCollar introduction

•  Use of the bird launcher

•  Gun sensitivity training

•  Training tables

•  Force fetch bumpers

•  e-collars

•  Pinch collars

•  Cap pistols, starter pistols, small gauge shotguns

 Training tables available for sale

May

•  Heeling

•  UPT w/out stakes

•  UT w/ stakes

•  Whoa training

•  UPT Steadiness (to shot)

•  UT Steadiness (to release)

•  Retrieve and release

•  Training tables

•  Heeling stakes

•  Blinds

•  Shotguns

•  Retrieving dummies

May

•  Nutrition

•  Dog first aid, including kit contents

•  Pad care

•  Hydration

•  Test planning 

•  Personal training schedule development

•  Vet

•  First aid kits

•  Sample training schedules

May

•  Field search, casting drills

•  Steadiness drills

•  Brace work, honoring

•  Test seminar, lessons learned, passdown

•  Apprentice Judge observations

•  NAVHDA test scorecards

 Seminar will include review of test scorecards, similar to material in a Handlers Clinic

May

• Field search

• NA Track

• NA field search

• Down command, long down

• Field retrieves

• UPT/UT Retrieve by Drag

•  Dead birds for retrieve

June

•  NA water work

•  UPT/UT Duck Search

•  Use of Zinger Winger

•  Remain by Blind

•  Steadiness by Blind

•  Water retrieves

•  Retrieves through decoys

•  Water retrieve dummies

•  Zinger winger

•  Dead ducks

•  Zinger Winger

 Earliest anticipated date for ice-free water warm enough to use

June

•  NA water work

•  UPT/UT Duck Search

•  Remain by Blind

•  Steadiness by Blind

•  Mock NA tests

•  Dead ducks

•  Blinds

•  Zinger Winger

June

Perfection Kennels Clinic

 There will be a fee for this clinic, which should be well worth the cost.

June

•  Field search w/ live birds

•  NA Track

•  UPT/UT Retrieve by Drag

•  Use of bird launcher

•  Distractions

•  Cooperation training (searching to front, eye contact, change of direction)

•  Live birds

•  Dead birds

•  Bird launchers

 Distractions are intended to be the type that might be expected during a test (observers, noises, other dogs, etc.)

July

•  Duck search

•  Remain by blind

•  Steadiness by Blind

•  Retrieve of Duck

•  Bidability work (placing, check cord response, avoidance of distractions, new territory)

•  Dead ducks

•  Decoys

•  Blinds

•  Zinger Winger

July

•  NA/UPT/UT Field Search

•  Heeling w/ and w/out stakes

•  Blood tracking clinic (not a NAVHDA skill)

•  Mock UPT/UT/NA tests

•  Live birds

•  Heeling stakes

•  Pre-set blood tracks with markers

•  Zinger Winger

July

•  Duck Search

•  Remain by Blind

•  Steadiness by Blind

•  Retrieve of Duck

•  NA Water Work

•  Field barrier drills

•  Live ducks

•  Decoys

•  Dead ducks

•  Water retrieve dummies

July

•  Test tips and techniques

•  Test problems seen or experienced by other handlers

•  Individualized problems, issues and finish work

•  Handler and dog photos

•  Photographer

July

•  Mock tests NA, UPT, UT

•  BBQ picnic

•  NAVHDA test scorecards

•  Heeling stakes

•  Blinds

•  Test shotguns

•  Live/dead birds

•  Decoys

•  Zinger Winger

•  Tent

Aug

•  NAVHDA Sanctioned Tests NA/UPT/UT

•  All test-related equipment, birds, etc.

 Members and volunteers assist with test management, if not handling a dog in a test.

Aug

•  Training for Invitational participants

•  Training as needed for handlers scheduled for tests Outside later in year

•  All test-related equipment, birds, etc.

 Upland bird hunting season will be open

Typically, NAVHDA-sanctioned tests are held in early August each year, if there are enough entries.

Chapter members are encouraged to attend the membership meeting prepared to discuss these and other events that would be of interest to you in your training program, or for general interest. You may certainly submit recommendations or suggestions via the Greatland Chapter Yahoo Group site, or by eMail to the chapter officers and other handlers.