Getting Our First Field Titles

Blues Rock!

I’ve asked Tresha Moorberg to share with us how she went from knowing nothing about Weimaraners to getting involved in field training with her Blue Weimaraner and getting a NAVHDA NA and AKC JH title and the first leg of her SH title.

Misty’s Little Spirit, NA 112 Prize 1, JH (one leg towards SH)

Spirit was born July of 2004. After seeing a pair of wild and (overly!) friendly, beautiful Weimaraners, I was in love with the breed. Before those Weimaraners, I had never seen one, not even a picture, but I knew they were hunting dogs. My boyfriend, Scott, found a breeder who had a litter of Gray and of Blue Weimaraners. I had no idea he was looking until the day he was driving me to go pick her out! We wanted a field dog more than a show dog and we agreed we liked the blue, so Blue it was. I had only a month to learn about a dog breed I know Zero about. A month to pick out a name and prepare. With our new puppy, I learned how to teach basic “pet” obedience like sit and stay. We went through the potty training, teaching basic commands, the trials and pit falls of crate training, and learning how to manage separation anxiety.

Through our local Pheasants Forever chapter, Scott bid on and won a puppy intro to bird-dog training package. It was a 10 day session that introduces a pup to birds, basic hunting, and gunfire. Not having a clue about hunting upland birds, I had even less of a clue of how to train a bird dog! Rather than just sending her off, I attended each session and learned the language of field training. I took on advanced training myself by reading on the Internet, in books, magazines, and watching many shows and videos. To introduce her to the electronic collar, (see post on ecollars) we went back to the trainer. He recommended leaving her for 30 days. I did, but Separation Anxiety took over and I had to bring her home after 10 days. I returned for a few lessons, and then went on to finish it on my own.

The NAVHDA NA test

The trainer suggested I do NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Assoc) because she would likely do well with her prey drive and natural ability. So I went to the NAVHDA web site and found the closest chapter. I began exchanging emails with the president of the chapter, and attended my first training session. That was in June, 2005. Spirit learned about water retrieving, and we learned how NAVHDA’s NA (Natural Ability) test works. We attended each monthly session building our field experience. Just a few months later, I entered her to run her Natural Ability Test. As the test neared, I began to worry as Spirit and I had not truly worked on tracking. I used some dispatched birds left over from training days, tied twine to them and taught her to track by dragging them through cover. It was only the day before her NA Test that she learned to track a live pheasant. I shouldn’t have worried! She nailed her first track! Pinned and retrieved the bird to hand.

On the day of the test she was the last dog to run. This test made me very nervous. I had never done anything remotely close to this before and I wasn’t the competitive type in sports, so this had me wired. We get to the line, I get my instructions from my handler, and we’re off. Spirit casts out like a “big dog.” She heads out and around a terrace in the field and she disappears. They have me whistle and yell and—no Spirit. Then the bird planters come onto the walkie talkie radio to report that “Spirit has rounded back—she’s pointing the bird boxes.” I thought for sure we had failed at that point but, I went back to get her, and we tried again. The field portion went more smoothly. She nailed the track. She found and pointed the pheasant, and just like in training, retrieves it to hand! I wasn’t worried about the water portion. She loves to swim! Finally, all we had to do was wait for the scores. I would have been happy to get ANYTHING that was a pass! And BOY was I happy with her score! She aced the test with a perfect 112! giving her a NA prize I.

Spirit Retrieving a Pheasant

AKC JH title

After this, I am hooked on field! It is so much fun! I got my hands on all the info I could to train my own dog. I made a couple of nice friends through the local NAVHDA chapter so I had a little help now, too. One friend encouraged me to try AKC Hunt Tests. So in the spring of 2006, Spirit and I start our hunt test adventure. She passed her first leg of her Junior Hunter on her first try. In May she passed her 2nd a again a few weeks later at our next try, she practically cleans the bird field with 6 finds! Our next run was in June, which she finished with ease. After passing 4 “legs” of JH tests, she earned her JH title.

The AKC SH title

After obtaining her JH (Junior Hunter) title we started our Senior Hunter training. Spirit needed work on “the trained retrieve” aka “Force Fetch” She tends to be hard mouthed and it was recommended to soften her mouth. So I got a couple of gals from NAVHDA Chapter to teach me how to start out. I had my boyfriend and another buddy build me a training table, and WE’RE OFF!! After a couple check-ins with the two gals from NAVHDA, TA-DA Spirit is force broke, and the right way! It is obvious as she will carry anything for me, and will fetch anything upon command.

Editor’s note: I know “Force Fetch” training can sound very off-putting. I felt very leery about how it’s explained in many books. In fact, it kept me from training for a long time as I was uncomfortable with descriptions of ear and toe pinches. It does not have to be a “mean” method of training, though. It can just be a structured method of training a reliable retrieve. I prefer the West – Gibbons method, which is a kinder, gentler form of training based on dog psychology. You can find out more about it on the Steady With Style blog.

Getting her to be steady was the hardest thing as she wanted to flush birds and grab them, but we worked at it. Through the hunt tests, I had met another trainer that I use often now. He has helped me with the things I need perfecting and just can’t get right. I called him and he said to come on out. With hard work, she started to do well, so we entered our first SH test. She passed her first run, but failed the next, although it was because the bird flushed and flew straight into her face. Oh well. That’s the game. I entered her one time after that, and she got a no pass. Then she contracted a staff infection, so spent much of ’09 recovering, and growing her hair back. We ran again one time in late spring, but she didn’t pass. Editors’ note: Senior Hunter is a big step from Junior Hunter. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t pass right away.

Learning to train and handle your own hunting dog is something that not everyone would typically set out to do when they have never owned a hunting dog, and don’t even hunt. I wish at a younger age I had been exposed to this lifestyle. It is so exhilarating! Since starting with Spirit I added another Weim to my life. I now spend many, many hours in the field (weather and temperature permitting) training. I rack up many miles driving to and from the field and field events!

Tresha and Spirit share a moment

Final Advice

I’d advise anyone wanting to embark on this adventure for the first time to have a training partner and mentor. Two people can learn from and encourage each other, and the mentor can help you to get it right the first time.