Field Trial

 

This is a Field Trial Area. . . spot any rabbits?

At our 1st trial, as newbies, Roger was told to grab a stick so that he could "Beat the Rabbits"!  He replied, "Wow, how big are they?"  We want to thank Juanda Anderson of Camera Animal for her tireless work photographing our field trials!

Below are photos of trips to Chino, California. From left to right, Abbey picking up a scent line.  In the next photo, she was just released using 12-15 feet of nylon parachute cord knotted on one end and slipped gently from the collar so that we don't distract the dog's work.  Our dogs are working Cottontail; known to leap every 2-3 feet.  They must be able and willing to search the ground some distance from the owner since rabbits do not run in straight lines! In photo 4, Wanda is returning Abbey to her 6 foot line.  In 5 we are waiting our turn as another brace works.  In a brace one dog usually defeats another or both fail.  Sometimes a dog may earn another chance with another bracemate!  In photo 6 Roger is holding while the line catches up and in photo 7 the line is "beating the bush" to flush the rabbits.  Once a rabbit is sighted, the spotter yells out "Tally HO" and everyone is to stop and wait as the spotter(s) relay the rabbits run to the judge(s) and braces do their work.  In the last photo Gotti, Bailey and Abbey are patiently waiting as everyone stages to search the area we will work.