Game Fair Dog Scurries

[Delbert]

We had a trot round the Tabley Fair this weekend without the dogs though we

had considered it Remy not having had a run yet. However I am rather glad

they were at home in the pen, my reasoning being the layout of the tests.

I have always believed that these things are meant to be fun and something most

dogs should be able to do albeit maybe not at the speeds we see trials dogs run.

So we sat and watched dog after dog fail and the reasons became very apparent

the dummys were launched high and far from a pukka cartridge powered launcher

most landing about 60yds away which in the way of things is not too far away( though

I would always hope my shot game dropped well inside that range) but the dogs

were not seeing them for the good reason that they were fired directly into the sun

the dogs which were picking them ran when clouds were covering the sun. Just a small

thing but something a good spaniel should be able to get over by running up the scent

and yes that wasn't happening as the breeze was running across and away from the

dogs so handling at range was the only option which is a bit far out for most dogs.

I've seen a lot of scurries, water tests etc some well thought out some not

but in future even if I have taken the trouble to take the dogs with me I will look

critically at the layout before subjecting a dog to a test weighted against him.