Judges Reports - Section B
"I must first start my report by thanking Ann Thornton the test manager, the entire Welsh group and everyone who attended the event, for their kind words and support for both myself and John, during the weekend.
Our beloved Daisy had to be put to sleep in the early hours of the morning of the test, and my decision to go ahead to judge was not borne out of a great sense of duty, honour or commitment but was because John and I very much wanted the tests to continue and for me it meant a few brief hours in which I could concentrate on judging and therefore I did not have to deal with the reality of the situation.
I must thank my fellow Judge Karen Thompson as her role on the day could not have easy and to Rachel Gaines who stepped in to judge two of Karen’s dogs with me, once again thank you ladies.
The section B test proceeded like so many I have seen before many of the dogs passing the first 4 elements with flying colours only to fail at the controlled swim, it’s a shame as so many looked extremely close to achieving a nice controlled swim, I can only say that practice makes perfect and the handlers need to practice with their dogs at each and every training opportunity not just the week or so before the test and hope for the best.
A couple of dogs also showed no interest in the underwater retrieve which is a difficult one, how do you engage a dog to do this exercise if it doesn’t naturally put it’s head under water.
Perhaps a suggestion is for those dogs who don't like this exercise is that more handlers try to teach their dogs to trawl the object out of the water and then do the retrieve, again if this is done at every training opportunity both the handler and dogs may achieve their goal – I wish you luck!
Thank you to everyone for both their support and friendship over the whole weekend."
Sandra Constable
"I would like to thank The Southern Newfoundland Club for inviting me to judge at this event. It was a great weekend and the weather held out for us. Well done WNAG for a well run weekend and your fabulous hospitality. We had great entry for the last tests of the year. I would also like to thank everyone who entered and allowed me to judge their dogs. The standard of the B's was really good and we had some very nice passes.
Had great fun at one point with everyone in the water including the dog trying to find the underwater retrieve as it had disappeared. Most of the ones that failed were very close - so better luck next time. We did have some very good swims however and the dogs that passed are certainly well and able to move up to a section C.
It was also a weekend tinged with sadness and I would like to say a big thank you and well done to Sandra Constable for carrying on and judging with me. I will look forward to judging for you again in the future."
Karen Thompson
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