Yesterday I decided to take the plunge and see what a GWT is all about so I have some idea what I might be letting myself in for.
A friend and I (she is hoping to start her Weimaraner in GWT although she is 3.5 yrs old so at a disadvantage being too old for puppy) attended Worcs Gundog GWT at Sudeley and the Puppy Judge very kindly allowed us to tag along with her so we could view the test at close quarters and ask questions.
With my previous/other dogs I have done various training activities for Working Trials, my WSS does some agility and I dabble in showing. When I first got my weim in 1995 I thought I would try gundog work but was dismayed to find people were quite hostile to my dog (and the fact I was a complete novice) so my enthusaism fizzled out very quickly. Yesterday was fab as it was specifically HPR and everyone without fail was welcoming and encouraging, I feel very comfortable with the thought of trying my hand in this sport while Chase can compete in puppy as the day was so supportive both for pups and nervous handlers.
I plan on attending more GWT's as a spectator and was also surprised that I was encouraged to take Chase too (he didn't go yesterday as I obviously wouldn't have been able to get that close to the judging) so he can learn to settle while waiting his turn etc.
In the evening I took Mugi and Chase for a walk in the fields. Chase was doing well with his recall and sitting while out among distractions, Mugi flushed a pheasant and two babies (by accident as I was not expecing any birds where we were) and stood rock solid when they flew, babies not exactly elegantly . Thankfully Chase was being carried for a time as the overall walk is too long for a three month old pup so he had no opportunity to go AWOL or to hunt/chase.
. Thankfully Chase was being carried for a time as the overall walk is too long for a three month old pup so he had no opportunity to go AWOL or to hunt/chase.