DIFFERENT FORMATS/DIFERENT AREAS

[Rowco Beagle Kennels]

WHAT I AM ABOUT TO POST IS NOT SOUR GRAPES OR SORE LOSER. THE 2 FRIENDS THAT DROVE ME UP TO A RECENT HUNT WON 1 CLASS AND NBQ'D IN ANOTHER, MY SON AND HIS BEST FRIEND. WHAT I OBSERVED THAT IN THE AREA WHERE WE WERE RUNNING A DOG MORE FREE WITH HIS MOUTH IS VALUED MORE THAN DOGS THAT ARE A LITTLE CLEANER AS THEY ARE WHERE WE LIVE - 700 MILES SOUTH. ALSO THE STANDARDS VARY FROM ONE SET OF JUDGES TO ANOTHER. I AM NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHAY IT'S CALLED "JUDGING" AND "TRIALING." I THINK THE JUDGES AT THIS HUNT ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE. I FOR ONE COULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT THEY DID. I AM JUST SAYING THAT I HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT GOOD DOGS CAN DO IT ANYWHERE, ANY FORMAT. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. A DOG THAT SOMETIMES OPENS FREELY 20 - 30 FEET BEHIND WILL THROW RABBITS AWAY WHEN A HARD CHECK IS MADE AHEAD OF IT (PULLING LEAD DOGS BACK) AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE IT TO THE END. NOT TRYING TO START AND ARGUMENT - JUST SAYING.

[BCBeagles]

Not causing controversy either, but in many cases the "lead" dog is the one to who already created the check with an overrun. I know I have one that does it occasionally, I am talking to myself as well.

Regardless of what position they are in, the dog running the rabbit accurately should win, not always the dog on the front. That should be anywhere in the country, and I understand what you are saying, BUT people via things differently and they have the right too, IF it is by the standard of rules.

Again, I wasn't there, but had one at the trial. He didn't make it out of the first series, reaching to much and pushing too hard for the front. Different judges look at things the way they like. I dont envy there job, you work your butt off, and still have people question it.

I AM NOT being controversial simply my opinion, NOT meant to offend or attack so please forgive me.

[bfoster]

ALL CAPS MAKES A POST HARD TO READ.

All caps makes a post hard to read.

[Casey Harner]

ALL CAPS MAKES A POST HARD TO READ.

What did you say? Lol

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

A honest judge that goes By the Book in any format should be Comended. Its a Thankless job to say the least. Awfully hard to judge from a tailgate or behind a tree.I dont care what judging pays, it aint enuff...... My last year of lp judging was 2006 i started in 1990 age, marlboro lights, and weight caught up. But i honestly loved to cut that pack of rolling hounds better than eating.

[Parker7]

A honest judge goes by the book,"I like that" . The running style of the winning dogs should be the same from club to club.The problem I see is all the organizations don't do enough to educate their judges. Take a paper test at your local club and your a judge. I know judges are hard to come by but all organizations and clubs need to do a little more to knock the rust off some of these judges. But with that being said the handlers should also know the rule book from front to back, this would make the judges job a lot easier.

[Rowco Beagle Kennels]

sorry for the all caps - my bad. I hope I was not misunderstood. I have no beef with the judging. I am just trying to make a point that people do have different philosophies, especially when it comes to how much mouth is good and how much is too much. I guess that is why what on old friend of mine said was so very correct when he said, "there is a dog for every man and a man for every dog." Too be honest we probably like our young dogs to be a little tight mouthed and loosen up as they get older. Bobby

[Ohiohntr]

I judged the 15" derbies at that trial and haven't been to or been around the trial circuit in over a year....come to find out the dog my judging partner and I put the win on is leading the 2013 Derby HOY and probably can't be caught, a very nice hound. I left judging because I was sick of seeing the same dogs week in and week out....It felt refreshing that the current judging is spot on with what I believe are the AKC standards for SPO. Makes me want to get back into it again...I like judging more than I like running my own.

Enjoyed talking to you Bobby and you need a different accent or something because my daughter (with the phone glued to her face) said right away that she knew you was a Minister by the way you talked...lol

Again, Atkinson is not the poster child for Ohio!!!

To your point...I can live with "mouth" on the line worked slowly and diligently, over-runners better shut it off at the turn...if a dog is hammering on the front it will never slam the brakes to make a 90 degree turn witth a pack bearing down behind it, have not and never will see it....it only happens on the Internet.

I have judged quite a bit from WI to AR and have gotten into some heated arguments over "mouth". If they are working the check on the line and moving I call it "track"....babbling is something else and we have all seen it. The biggest things is "mouth on scent going the correct direction"....anything else is a minus or pick-up fault.

[adirondackjoe]

i could never be a judge. i would give them all blue ribbons. tally ho.

[mybeagles]

To your point...I can live with "mouth" on the line worked slowly and diligently, over-runners better shut it off at the turn...if a dog is hammering on the front it will never slam the brakes to make a 90 degree turn witth a pack bearing down behind it, have not and never will see it....it only happens on the Internet.

I have judged quite a bit from WI to AR and have gotten into some heated arguments over "mouth". If they are working the check on the line and moving I call it "track"....babbling is something else and we have all seen it. The biggest things is "mouth on scent going the correct direction"....anything else is a minus or pick-up fault.

+1

[Rowco Beagle Kennels]

Thanks for all you guys comments. It was my first Midwest SPO and we were on a learning experience. I had as much fun as I have had at a trial in any format. We (ROWCO) have had the good fortune to win in PKC, ARHA LP, ARHA BP, American Foxhounds (Walkers) on fox, and Speed and Drive rabbit hunts. We are working on bringing AKC to NC in a format that runs dogs a little faster than what the current AKC club near us runs (4-5 speed). We did have a good time and you would see us more often if it was not 700 miles from Chocowinity, NC. Bobby

[Jbartley]

if you could get more AKC Trials here in NC, please let me know and i will be there.