Golden Retriever Club

of Central New York

Field Workshop Graduates

Participants Praise Beginner Field Workshop

Good things are bound to happen when a member becomes inspired. This was certainly the case with the recently concluded Beginner Field Training Workshop series. Disappointed more members haven't entered recent WC/WCX tests, and knowing there were many who wanted to try but knew little about training methods or event rules, Joe Martin organized and conducted a six-weekend series of training sessions for Club "field newbies" this spring.

Judging from participant feedback, the series was a tremendous success, and Joe is to be congratulated for both his inspiration and his initiative! Gail Puzon wrote, "The session was just great! We all had so much fun learning field work. I had reservations about Sara at first as she would not take a bird. She actually turned her nose up at birds. We used a line and fun games to get her interested. Once she got sight of live birds, this is what excited her."

Scott Smith, whose 13-year-old son Andy participated, said, "We went to the first class knowing nothing about field work and left with plans to continue to the WC or JH level." Kathy McCloskey perhaps best summed up for all with, "Joe is an outstanding instructor! He's not only very knowledgeable, but also an excellent teacher. We all wanted to learn more and were sorry to see it end. I would take another (course) in a minute and would recommend it highly to anyone. We're very lucky to have a man like Joe in our Club." Joe, too, was pleased with the outcome, saying, "During a six-week period, we went from very simple and short marks on land through more challenging land doubles and fairly simple marks on water.

"Students brought a great deal of enthusiasm to the class and the dogs brought a great deal of natural retrieving ability. Many had limited prior exposure to birds and virtually all of them took to it well. Progressing through live flyers and gunfire makes a big difference to a dog's training attitude and most of our dogs showed that they do have the attitude and aptitude for field competition. "Since most of the handlers were experienced trainers, they made rapid progress learning the mechanics of field handling and the new tools needed to train for field events. "We did have a few problems along the way, including an escaped pigeon who surfaced the next day in one student's garage after riding home hiding in the engine compartment, and a car crash when a van on the way to class was rear-ended by the local ambulance. But the classes were a lot of fun for me to teach and, I hope, a lot of fun for the students and their dogs." Joe extends his thanks for assistance to members Marcia Martin and Rue Chagoll, and to Tom Wagner and Jeff Andrews of the Northeast Flat Coat Club.