New Master Hunter title for a Blue Weimaraner
Blues Rock!
(“Indy”) Spectrum Once in a Blue Moon, CD MH CGC TDI TT NAVHDA NA I/112 (field pointed)
I’m very pleased to announce an important new achievement. Indy has earned the final leg of her Master Hunter title.
Master Hunter (MH) is an AKC title given for their highest level hunt test. In order to earn the title, a dog must have qualifying scores in 6 “legs” of official AKC hunt tests or 5 if they have already earned their Senior Hunter title. Indy had her SH title and thus passed 5 legs to qualify. According to the AKC Pointing Breed Hunting Test Rules book:
A Master hunting dog must give a finished performance and demonstrate clearly that it deserves to be qualified as such. This is the complete hunting companion that any hunter would be proud to own.
To qualify, a pointing dog must locate birds, prove staunchness, honor the point of it’s bracemate and retrieve downed birds completely to hand. It must also cover ground with intelligence, boldness and show that it hunts for it’s handler.
The MH title is a proud accomplishment for any Weimaraner and Indy is probably the first Blue Weimaraner to hold this title.
In addition to AKC hunt tests, Indy has the NAVHDA NA I (Natural Ability hunt test, Prize I) title which she passed at 13 months with a perfect score of 112. Beyond hunt tests Indy is also an experienced and pointed Field Trial Weimaraner. Indy is owned and handled by Anne Taguchi of Touchstone Weimaraners. Under Anne, Indy placed as Southland Weimaraner Club’s Top Winning Amateur Handled Field Dog for 2006 and 2008. In actual hunting, Indy proves herself with experience and a sure nose.
Indy’s sweet, biddable temperament is reflected in her titles for TDI (Therapy Dogs International), CGC (Canine Good Citizen), TT (Temperament Test) and CD (Companion Dog – obedience title).
Congratulations to Anne and Indy.
Update Feb 3, 2010: Indy took 3rd in an all breed Amateur Gun Dog stake (handler Raul Pineda) at the Orange Coast Weim Club trial last weekend.
Read More »Training your Weimaraner to Hold Point
The Weimaraner is a versatile hunting dog in the sporting group and you will be amazed at how interesting and fun it is to see your Blue Weimaraner doing what it was bred for. It can be very confusing learning to train your Weimaraner in Field. I’ll be writing more posts and videos on how to get started. I thought I’d share this video my husband did the beginning of 2007. We’re working Bella with professional trainer, Brad Higgins located in Northern California. Brad’s teaching is based on using dog psychology to train your dog rather than harsh obedience. His method is based largely on the methods of the legendary Bill West and Bill Gibbons system of training your field dog using a silent, gentler method.
Brad has developed a system of silent bird “releasers” that mimic how a bird would act in nature. Listen to Brad explain what’s going on. That’s me going up to flush the bird from the bush. 
Look for further explanations on this method coming soon.
Check out Brad Higgin’s Training site at Higgins Gun Dogs
You can also find out more about this training method at the Steady With Style site.
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