On June 4, 2011, we were invited to participate to learn and help in the Olympic Rainshadow Hunt and Retrieve Club's Chuch Dryke Honorary Hunt. Those of us who attended are very appreciative that they sent us this invitation as we not only had a great time but learn a lot about these hunt and retrieve trials.
Emily is placed in a 'Wing' Blind and here you see the sling-catapult that she learned how to operate. If you look closely you will see that we used euthanized ducks for the dogs to retrieve. 3 wing blinds were manned by Emily, Hannah and I. We were placed on the edges of the trial areas: Water and Upland. Below are photos of Ava in the 'Search' blind and a photo showing her taking a duck out to a designated area to place the bird for the handler to direct their dog to retrieve with verbal or whistle commands.
Thank you Bob and Evelyn Gunther and The Olympic Rainshadow Hunt Retriever Club for taking us under their wing and training us. I hope that more of our members will join us in their next event July 30th 2011. This is only a great learning experience but fun and a chance to be apart of a local dog event.
Although this photo shows us in the afternoon Upland Trial 
location, we are receiving instructions from the Judge as to our placement and duties.
location, we are receiving instructions from the Judge as to our placement and duties.
Emily is placed in a 'Wing' Blind and here you see the sling-catapult that she learned how to operate. If you look closely you will see that we used euthanized ducks for the dogs to retrieve. 3 wing blinds were manned by Emily, Hannah and I. We were placed on the edges of the trial areas: Water and Upland. Below are photos of Ava in the 'Search' blind and a photo showing her taking a duck out to a designated area to place the bird for the handler to direct their dog to retrieve with verbal or whistle commands.
The following photos illustrate how amazing these handlers and dogs communication and teamwork are. We were able to witness the commands that the handlers have trained their dogs to obey are the same or similar to those that we use in our obedience training.
In the next series of photographs you will see a sequence of what happens at these trials. Although you see a gun used it is only used with poppers to make the sound of the gun for these hunting dogs. They launch our birds from the wing blinds one by one, the hunter in turn 'pops' the gun as he or she sees the bird. During this time the dog needs to heel and stay until told to find. After these are retrieved, the handlers must direct their dog to the hidden bird that Ava placed. These handlers and dogs are amazing! I was very impressed with how the event was organized and the protocol that they used and was in place, how they took care of us, as we did not know anything.
We still have a lot to learn!
In the next series of photographs you will see a sequence of what happens at these trials. Although you see a gun used it is only used with poppers to make the sound of the gun for these hunting dogs. They launch our birds from the wing blinds one by one, the hunter in turn 'pops' the gun as he or she sees the bird. During this time the dog needs to heel and stay until told to find. After these are retrieved, the handlers must direct their dog to the hidden bird that Ava placed. These handlers and dogs are amazing! I was very impressed with how the event was organized and the protocol that they used and was in place, how they took care of us, as we did not know anything.
We still have a lot to learn! 
Thank you Bob and Evelyn Gunther and The Olympic Rainshadow Hunt Retriever Club for taking us under their wing and training us. I hope that more of our members will join us in their next event July 30th 2011. This is only a great learning experience but fun and a chance to be apart of a local dog event.Photographs by Meg Amos and Su Tipton
