Checks?

DedRabbits · Post by **DedRabbits** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:07 pm

SilverZuk wrote:A check is a halt in progressing the line.

Being a rabbit hunter only, this is what I think a check is, or what I would call a check. If a dog loses the line, and has to find it again I would call it a check. Like I said previously, I don't trial so rules don't really mean a whole lot to me as far as how long it takes for a loss to be a check, so I feel that any time the line isn't progressing, the dogs must be checking. Some checks are just harder than others.jmo

paz · Post by **paz** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:46 pm

Great handle dedrabbits!!!!!!!!!

I think you and a few others have the spirit of what the definition should be. Time has nothing to do with whether or not is a check, the lack of forward progress does. Recognizing what the dogs are doing in the field is the important part.

Checks occur all the time, rabbits can be somewhat tricky, I hear......

For the purpose of running a trial, the check must be defined so that the judge can uniformly score whatever that format defines for a check.

DedRabbits · Post by **DedRabbits** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:20 pm

For the purpose of running a trial, the check must be defined so that the judge can uniformly score whatever that format defines for a check.

Yeah, I understand that part of it too. There has to be a way to get scored in the trials. I'm sure there are some good folks out there that have thought a lot more about it than I have,lol.

paz · Post by **paz** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:00 pm

Not much time to think about it when you are shooting!!

DedRabbits · Post by **DedRabbits** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:32 pm

TBrabbitman · Post by **TBrabbitman** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:44 pm

wow ringo nice looking house i mean rabbit hounds

Duke · Post by **Duke** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:19 pm

A couple of things. Bill Flint actually ARHA Big Pack scores on Speed and Drive. Little Pack ARHA does not.

My opinion on checks is simple, a check is when forward progress stops. Not when a hound stops barking or tongueing. What I want to see is not how long the check is, but whether or not the hounds persevere to continue the run until the rabbit is holed or caught, no matter how long the breakdown or check.

Im catching the tail end of this, but I will put in my 2 cents on checks and Little Pack. It is not the rules with Little Pack in ARHA that are the problem, it is judges who do not know what forward progress of the line is, what a ghost runner is, and judges who score two babbling hounds. I have seen a judge score two hounds who ran a ghost track in front of the whole gallery. One guy picked up his hound and left.

I like tight mouthed hounds, but that is me. If I find hounds at a trial that convince me they are better than what I have, whether they won or lost I am going for it.

Now we are all human and I have seen things in EVERY other format I have trialed in that would just BAFFLE the mind. Simply put when humans judge they will make mistakes, some will cheat, others do not have the skills to know right from wrong. Most of the time I like to believe the judges are doing the best they can, but the few who are inept cast a shadow on trialing. And the human instinct to place blame even when it is not warranted adds to this.

The real problem in all formats is kennel blindness and we the owners think we are jockeyes riding these hounds. If we went with the attitude that we are going to learn something about our hounds and some hounds we never have never seen before win or lose, things would not get so darn silly. I have won my fair share and lost my fair share. There is a format for every hound and checks or breakdowns can be seen different from 10 people who saw the same thing.

WOW, SORRY I went so long, to sum it all up we have rules in formats to come up with a system to make 1 hound the winner. A check is the stop of forward progress, and I am more proud of a hound that sticks in there no matter HOW LONG to figure out the check than a hound that comes in at a loss.

jonnyringo · Post by **jonnyringo** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:23 am

Joe,

I agree that forward progress is the true bench mark concerning checks and couldn't agree more. I too like a tight mouthed dog who only barks on a hot track. So, barking has never been my measureing stick concerning checks.

Looking forward to getting Jen and Dutch's littermates together for some rabbit pounding. Glad to hear the pups are progressing as is Blue.
Should be pretty cool to get them together. Wonder if they'll remember each other?

Ed

Duke · Post by **Duke** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:28 pm

I'm looking froward to seeing Blue run this fall. I'm sure Rick will be up for it.

THALL · Post by **THALL** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:37 pm

To me a check is when the line is lost. When this occurs the dogs should shut up until they find the line. If you are having check free races one of two things are happening: your dogs are very slow or won't shut up in the check area or both.

SilverZuk · Post by **SilverZuk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:36 am

THALL wrote:If you are having check free races one of two things are happening: your dogs are very slow or won't shut up in the check area or both.

Or running a deer

THALL · Post by **THALL** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:09 pm

mine sound the best on a bobcat or fox

eddywilliams · Post by **eddywilliams** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:08 am

amen thall

eddywilliams · Post by **eddywilliams** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:08 am

amen thall