October 2007

San Diego Chapter of NAVHDA
The Utility Source
Volume 1, Issue 3
October 1st, 2007
Elsinore Training Day
Special Interests
Duck Opener
September 9th, Saturday
Quail Opener
Story on pg#5 - 6
AKC & NAVHDA
Tests
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR
NEW SAN DIEGO OFFICIAL SPONSOR!
Inside this issue:
Chapter Picture
1
Benefits to Force
Breaking
1
Calendar
2
AKC Hunt Tests
2
Quail Unlimited
Hunt
3
Spring Test
3
Training Day
4-5
Public Lands
6
Versatile Breed
6
Natural Ability
Tips
7
Bracco Italiano Annual Conference
8
-9
Training Day
Guidelines
10
Top: Gary Wilmette, Joe Saputo, Randy Domingos, Trenton & Steve
Wall, Lance Lauricha, John Anderson, Barry Dworak, Keith Gallus,
Craig Dix, Mike Reid
Bottom: Karen Hansen, Alis Anderson, Mary Pope, Ellie Dworak, Levi
Dix, Levi’s Little Brother
Force Breaking
For some it is a controversial topic, for others it is a must. A word to the wise. If you
plan on working towards the NAVHDA Utility or AKC Master’s tests then you will
need to bullet proof your dog. Force breaking instills a work ethic in dogs and leadership in handlers.
Dallas (Vizsla, 21 months)
Force broke dogs are obedient and
successful duck retrievers.
Sadie (GSP, 10 months)
PAGE 2
T HE U T I LI T Y S O U R C E
Schedule of Events
October
10/6-7 - Backcountry NAVHDA Test
@ Santa Ysabel, CA
October 2007
Sun
10/12 - Arizona Quail Opener
10/13 - San Diego Training Day
@ Ramona 8:00 a.m.
10/13–14 - So. Cal. NSTRA Trial
@ Gorman, CA
10/20 - California Duck & Quail
Opener
10/20-21 - GSP Club of Riverside
AKC Hunt Test
@ San Jacinto, CA
10/26-28 - Grand Canyon NAVHDA
Test @ Mohave Valley, AZ
November
11/11 - San Diego Training Day
@ Ramona 8:00 A.M.
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
Backcountry
NAVHDA Test @
Santa Ysabel, CA
7
Backcountry
NAVHDA Test
@ Santa
Ysabel, CA
14
8
9
10
11
12
Arizona Quail
Opener
15
16
17
18
19
13 San Diego
Training Day @
Elsinore Ponds
8:00 A.M.
20
AKC Hunt Test
@ San Jacinto
21
22
23
24
AKC Hunt
Test @ San
Jacinto
28
29
30
25
26
27
Grand Canyon
NAVHDA Hunt
Test @ Mohave
Grand Canyon
NAVHDA Hunt
Test @ Mohave
31
Grand Canyon
NAVHDA Hunt
Test @ Mohave
Future Test Dates
See the following sites:
www.akc.org/events/search/
www.navhda.org
http://www.scregion.homestead.co
m/index.html
We solicit newsletter contributions
(stories, photographs, recipes, advertisements) from club members.
Please send all contributions to the
editor:
Ericka Dennis
eransdell@hotmail.com
Next Training Day
October 13th (Saturday) in
Ramona @ 8:00 A.M.
AKC Hunt Tests
AKC hunt tests are fun and exciting for both dogs & handlers. If you have
never participated in one, I highly encourage you to enter in one or more
events. There are three levels: Junior, Senior and Master. If you’ve never
been to a hunt test they are fun and AKC Junior events are simple in
comparison to Natural Ability test. In AKC, a dog needs “four legs” to
complete a Junior or Senior title. A “Leg” represents a pass in any event.
A Master’s needs “five legs” to earn a title. In general, dogs are scored in
six areas with a rubric of 10 points (highest) to 1 point (lowest): Trainability, Hunting Ability, Birding Finding, Pointing, Honoring and Retrieving.
Senior and Master are required to honor and retrieve. The dog must average a 7 or higher and receive no score less than a 5 in any one category in
order to pass and
earn a “Leg”.
If you are interested going please
contact Gabby
Awbrey (951) 764
-9329, it would be
a good thing to
caravan. Team
San Diego has
always done well
at this venue.
Mary Pope & Jet (Vizsla) 1st Senior Leg, Liz Salvato & Diva (Vizsla) 3rd Junior leg
The Utility Source
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
PAGE 3
Quail Unlimited
Quail Unlimited is sponsoring a Dog Challenge at Prado
Recreation Dog Activity Center, 17505 Euclid Avenue (83
Hwy) Chino, CA 91710, on October 7th (Sunday) at 8:00
A.M. The field event costs $50 for pointing breeds and
flushing breeds. Dogs and handlers will be scored based
on the following:
Three Chukar competition
15 minute time limit
Maximum of five shells in possession
Second shot at same bird adds 5 minutes to run
time
Time stops when third bird is harvested and in the
competitors possession.
This Dog Challenge holds a very special place for Jerry
Newton, former chapter treasurer, as he and his dog Copper won the event two years ago and made history as the
first Vizsla to win a Quail Unlimited event at Four Winds
Hunting Preserve.
Jerry Newton & Copper, Quail Unlimited 2005
Top Dog
Dog's Name: Ares
Dog Owner: Victor Cantu
Age: 1 Yrs 1 month (Male)
Breed & Standard: Weimaranar
Favorite Type of Hunting: Quail Hunting
Most Memorable Moment: Hunting the hills of Jamul
for Quail.
Spring Test
San Diego Chapter will host a spring test March 14th, 15th &
16th at Finney - Ramer Unit. Mary Pope, chapter treasurer
and test secretary will begin taking test entries after November 1st. The board needs time to lock in judges and grounds.
We also have Ian Cecena, chapter vice president, leading a
committee to search for field and water grounds within San
Diego county.
Shout Out!
Good Luck! Bill Swallow, Ericka Dennis,
Karen Hermsen, Jeff Derbes, Steve Wall at the
Back Country test and Mary Pope, Ryan Morey,
Jose Sanchez-Lopez, Javier Lopez King at the
Grand Canyon test this October.
Handlers thinking of testing their dogs in Natural Ability and Congratulations to Randy Vonnordheim’s
Utility test need to start planning and training now. There
German Wirehaired Pointer, Rusty, earned a
are only seven months before the test and four of those
Prize II, 108
months will over lap with the hunting season.
For an application: www.navhda.org/testentr07.pdf
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
PAGE 4
Elsinore Ponds (September)
September’s training day went exceptionally well. There were over fifteen members who attended. We gathered everyone together at 8:00 A.M. to discuss chapter business and explain the layout of the stations.
Thanks to everyone who attended and especially those who volunteered to take on leadership roles. As the
hunting seasons step into full swing, we will need more members to continue to fill in vacant shoes. It was a
smaller turn out than usual because September kicks off the NFL season, school and the Dove season. We
need to recognize Sylvia Hansen, photographer, and Keith Gallus, station leader, for stepping up and working
out of their comfort zones. There has been great feed back from our membership on our new training sessions. Our break out groups allow handlers to pick and choose which stations meet their dog’s needs. It is
also less intimidating when we are in small groups and people tend to be more social. It is not perfect by any
means but it is proving to be efficient. We have new needs because of the station work. If there is anyone
who would like to take on a leadership role during training days, we encourage you to do so despite your inexperience. Right now we offer:
Field work for establishing pointing, honoring and steadiness for all levels
Entry level water work (Natural Ability)
Tracks & Drags for all levels
Walk at Heel, Remain by Blind, Steady by Blind (Utility)
Water Searches (Utility)
Future Stations
Memory Blinds (Advanced Dogs/Force Broke)
Whoa Post (Steadiness)
Force Breaking (After Natural Ability or 1 yr. old dogs or older)
Obviously, this will take a good deal of organization and participation by all of us. (Continued….pg.#8)
Barry & Ellie Dworak
with Gus (Vizsla)
Mike Reid & Sydney (Vizsla)
Joe Saputo with Splash (GWP)
Levi Dixs& (Vizsla)
Sylvia Hansen, Gary Wilmette
with Yolanda (Vizsla)
Alis Anderson & Hunter (GSP)
Randy Domingos with Wyatt
(Brittany)
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
PAGE 5
Field Work
Gary Wilmette & Yolanda (Vizsla)
Steve Wall & Waldi (German Wirehaired Pointer)
Pointing
Honoring
Randy Domingos & Wyatt (Brittany) honoring Steve Wall & Waldi (GWP)
Ellie Dworak & Gus (Vizsla)
Joe Saputo & Splash (German Wirehaired Pointer)
Gary Wilmette & Yolanda (Vizsla) honoring Ellie Dworak & Gus (Vizsla)
PAGE 6
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Public Lands
The hunting season is just around the corner and many people just do not know where to go. Ducks, Chukars, and
Quail are big on the list for versatile hunters and their canine partners.
Most upland hunters in pursuit of the elusive Chukar and Quail can hunt in any of the three counties of Southern
California. Red Mountain, China Lake and the Newberry Mountains of San Bernardino holds a number of Chukars
and will provide a very challenging hike. McCain Valley, Anza and California City have coveys of Quail that will
challenge the steadiest of dogs.
(Center) Ian Cecena
with friends after a
successful 06’ Quail
hunt some where in
San Bernardino
County
(Right) Chief, Vizsla,
pointing on a single
bird
Versatile Breed: Cesky Fousek
Other Names: Rough Coated Bohemian Pointer, Czech Wirehaired
Pointer, Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer
Height: 23-26 inches
Weight: 60-75 lbs.
Group: Gun Dog
Coat: Medium Length Rough Outer Hair, Soft Undercoat
Color: Liver, Liver & White, Patched
Work Day
(October 7th, Sunday)
Every so often, we get together to help out a fellow
member. In this case, Ian Cecena has volunteered his
ranch to raise the eighty ducks for our chapter. The
purpose of raising our own ducks is to cut costs for the
Spring Test. We are hoping that a few of our members
can make it to Ian’s ranch to set up duck coupes and
shelter to house the ducklings. If you want to help
please call Ian Cecena at (619) 468-3049 for directions
and type of tools needed. It should not take long. We
are asking for ten volunteers. Oh, did I mention that
Ian works for the DFG and knows where all the Quail
in San Diego County are, not to mention he has duck
hunted Wister Wildlife Refuge for over a decade. If
there is anyone to impress in this club, he is the man.
Team San Diego @ Elsinore Ponds Training Day
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
PAGE 7
Natural Ability Tips: Water
Objective: to evaluate whether the dog will swim. Retrieving and
style is not scored. Here are a few things you can do to get your
dog ready for the NA test. Water Event:
Create enthusiasm for bumpers on land then water
Toss bumpers short then long
Throw a variety of bumpers: canvas & plastic, large & small
Release dog only when it is concentrating on bumper
Mary Pope & Jet (Vizsla) demonstration a
water entry.
Use a check cord to keep a dog in the vicinity of the water, no
running off
Launch from water’s edge (top picture)
Canine competition (middle picture)
Repetition, try more than once & at different locations
Don’t be afraid to get wet (bottom picture)
Handlers need to give dogs several opportunities and time to process and develop the desire. Many times dogs refuse to do the
task/work at hand because they rather do it on their own terms
when they want to. (See Picture Below)
Donovan Ellis & a litter of GSP encourages
each to enter the water.
Props to Jon Anderson, new member, for jumping
in just to make Bounty (GSP) successful.
Doug Streed & Drake (Vizsla) are both swimming without a vest.
Pheasant Fundraiser
Pheasant fundraiser! Great way to start the Pheasant Season. The pheasant shoot will
be on November 11th (Sunday) on the Ramona Property from 8:00 A.M. to Noon.
Pheasant packages are three roosters for $45 or six for $90. Please contact Ian Cecena
(619) 468-3049. Strict safety regulations will be adhered to:
Hunter orange will be worn (vest, hat, or t-shirt)
Rounds no larger than 12 gauge, 8 shot, 2 3/4 shot
Maximum of two gunners and one gundog
Maximum of thirty minutes in the field
Ear & eye protection required
Proof of hunter safety course or license
PAGE 8
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Bracco Italiano Annual Breeder’s Club
The 2007 United States Bracco Italiano Gathering has come to an end. It was a great weekend for all attendees and their dogs.
The weather was cooperating – not too hot and not too cold. The food was fantastic and the camaraderie was at its best!
Our Special Guests of Honor included:
Tracy Jenson-Presson – owner of High-On Kennels, NAVHDA Judge and 25 years experience training dogs
David Awbrey – 35+ years of experience training field dogs and very active in NAVHDA San Diego Chapter
Carla Foster – AKC and Rare Breed Judge with 35+ years of experience with large breed dogs
Don Barthel – Bird Dog Photography (Provided All Picture)
Total – 29 people, 4 guests of honor, 20 Bracco’s, 2 Labs and 1 Boxer!
We started out the weekend on Thursday night with a cocktail hour at our house. We got off to an early start on Friday morning with
breakfast at 7 am. We then started out at 8 am to drive 1 ½ hours to High On Kennels in Santa Ysabel. We welcomed Tracy JensonPresson and started with an explanation and demonstration of a NAVHDA Utility dog. Then we put a few Braccos in the field and let
them hunt, point and retrieve some Chukar. Then we had a nice lunch of sandwiches and afterwards Tracy began instructing on how to
do Force Breaking to retrieve with the dog, an essential part of a finished NAVHDA gun dog. We then had a quick demonstration of
the tracking required by a NAVHDA utility dog. We finished the day with a fun game by having a remote launcher catapult the dead
birds into the air and the dogs had to go fetch them in record time. We then returned to San Diego and had a great dinner at our local
sports bar hang out, Yogi’s. A great end to a very fun and successful day!
Co
PAGE 9
NE WS LE T T E R T I T LE
V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Saturday started at 7 am once again with breakfast at our house. We left at 8 am for our next hunting spot at the
Ramona training grounds. Our first item on the agenda was pictures! Don Barthel of Bird Dog Photography took
a group photo and had everyone pose individually with his or her dog(s) to commemorate the event. David Awbrey
provided the birds and the instruction this day on how to train a young dog. Everyone was impressed with his
knowledge and asked a lot of questions. We were instructed on how to use the Wonder Lead, the shock collar and
how to set up the Whoa Post. Lunch of sandwiches was served, and then we went into the field and watched the
young dogs work on trapped pigeons. Thanks to Don for photographing all the dogs in the field. We left for Cardiff
by the Sea at 4 pm. Saturday was capped off by a delicious barbeque at our house. Bravo to the caterers, Barbeque 81. Fantastic! Our bartender Robert did a super job by keeping everyone’s drink filled. Plus, we had a great
raffle of donated prizes that raised over $300 for the Bracco Italiano Club of America!
We got to sleep in a little on Sunday with breakfast starting at 8 am. Then we all headed down the road to a local
park for the dog show. Special thanks to our judge Carla Foster who gave everyone feedback on the dogs overall
appearance and movement. She was very professional, objective and very helpful with constructive comments.
This weekend was very special to us and we thank all our local talent for helping to put on a really informative
show for all the Bracco Owners. Special thanks go out to Tracy Jenson-Presson and David Awbrey for taking time
out of their busy lives and training days to share their expertise. I could not have done this without you! The
Bracco Owners were very envious of the local talent we have at our disposal to train our dogs. The San Diego
NAVHDA members are very, very lucky! Please take the time to say special thanks to these folks for their efforts.
Ericka and Robert Dennis
Garibaldi Kennel
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
O F N AV H DA
Gabriel Awbrey
35789 Ruby Court
Winchester, CA
Stamp
Here
Primary Address
Label
Phone: 951-764-9329
E-mail: gabby071470@cs.com
Website: www.sandiegonavhda.com
PLEASE SUPPORT NAVHDA’S OFFICIAL SPONSORS!
San Diego Officers
President:
Gabriel Awbrey
Vice President:
Ian Cecena
Treasurer:
Mary Pope
Secretary:
Lance Lauricha
Training
Coordinator:
Jeff Morey
Editor:
Ericka Dennis
(Training Day… continued)
Training Days
Guidelines & Procedures
Dogs are to be under control at all times (leash
rule is in effect)
Everyone in the field must wear blaze orange
hat, t-shirt or vest and have completed a
hunter safety class or have a hunting license
Children are to be supervised and remain in
the designated parking area at all times
No Harvesting of wildlife on training grounds
No Alcohol on premises
Next Training Day
October 13th (Saturday)
in Ramona @ 8:00 A.M.
Here are some suggestions for handlers attending our training sessions:
Check out & print off a copy of Elsinore training
grounds (Word document). Go to website’s main page
located click on events, then click on training directions,
then click Elsinore, then scroll to bottom of page and
click on “Here”
Be aware of dogs in the appropriate group level
Move on if the group is larger than three dogs
Limit your turn to five minutes, then go back into the
rotation or move on to another station
Ask questions about the NAVHDA Test
Between stations walk at heel your dog
At stations keep dog on task, at your side, calm and
quiet
Please contact:
Jeff Morey @ (619) 765-0727 or email: jmorey@moreyphc.com
We need to have an accurate count to prepare for the training
days.