We ran 2nd in the order and our field search portion started shortly after 6AM. Grass and hay was soaked with dew and to my dismay absolutely no breeze that early. Made it tough, there had been 5 deer in the field first thing and she worked that scent a bit. She went on point two different times, then worked thru it- a few feathers left in each spot but no chukars. She's got a good nose and strong point but after 10 minutes and not finding an early bird was getting me concerned. Then she had an unlucky bird contact, her first downwind contact was right over top the bird. She stopped immediately but then it flushed in her face simultaneously. She chased for about 25 yards and then I whistled her and she turned right back towards me and continued hunting the direction I indicated. But then she saw the bird planters watching too closely from their area. She just had to go say Hi, then she of course found the bird tent back in the woods. Took me a bit to get her away from there and I knew we were running short on time.
Then she went back up to where the start point was and it took me a while to get her back in the field. Found out later, she found a couple used birds from the previous dog's run that accidentally didn't get out in the dead bird cooler. The judges then called for a bird and I wheeled her away to hunt in a different direction until they called me back. I got her hunting in that direction and she worked into the area and then it happened: she slammed into a beautiful intense point! I actually let out a quiet "oh thank God" that gave my handling judge a laugh. They said to leash her up and she broke as I got close and caught the bird. I couldn't get ahold of her but she turned and started heading up towards the field exit so I just kept heading that way to usher her out. We were almost out of the field when she ran back past me and apparently just had to go show the judges the bird one more time as they were trying to discuss her field score. They laughed and helped me try to get her, she's quick and it was like herding cats but we finally got her distracted to drop the bird and I got her leashed. Hello 3 in cooperation though, LOL.
By the time we did the tracks the temperature hit a very humid 90 degrees and the dogs were really feeling it. She was a little machine though on her track, just as she showed me in our prep work. And with the pheasant well hidden in cover she made the most of her opportunity to point another bird and did so beautifully. I pumped my fist because I didn't know if we needed it but I was sure glad to have another pointed bird!
She went right into the water of the cool spring-fed pond but of course getting her out was another story. She even gave the judges another laugh when she swam over into the marsh grass and started her own little duck search! (Reinforcing we were getting that 3 in cooperation though
)I couldn't be happier with this pup. I'll give her a week or so before we start force breaking. We'll start with heeling for a bit before going right into Force Fetch.
