Originally posted by Dogma:
Does anyone have any info on the results of the GBM yesterday at Gadsden? I heard that the lowering of the breeding requirements to a Bh got shot down by a LARGE margin.

Anyone see the trial. Any commenrs??? Did Ed film it?

Yes, Ed filmed it. I didn't get to go so no comments other than conrgats to Gary Hanrahan. Smithie was there and was just on the board, maybe if she comes back she will share her thoughts and feelings with ue <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

don't forget, Ivan got High HOT with Django. Also, Stormfront's Brawnson & Mike Diehl won the WPO Championship (again!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Will try to get some updates later. trying to catch up at work.

But, finally got to meet Karmen,Cindy and Ed in person.
Did a lot of running, trying to shoot pics in Protection and running over to watch in OB. No pics in OB, due to high fence (lens would not fit through).

Interesting scoring on some of the protection, esp in the hold and guard (judge liked barking in the hold and guard: a quiet, but intense dog would get dinged a bit for not being intense.)

Was not at tracking; tracks were very short due to # of dogs.

More later....

The protection judge wasn't penalizing a silent guard; he was penalizing all the dogs who were not able to maintain that focus for the entire guard. Invariably, the dogs would become restless and look around for their handlers, usually several times. THAT'S what he was pointing them for. If they had strong enough nerves to hold the focus right up to the handler stepping into position, like Sarec did after the courage test, then they received full points. The silent guard has become very popular, but rarely did it look impressive becuz the dogs couldn't maintain the intensity and focus.

The obedience judge was awesome - you played by the rules or you paid the piper. Three second holds on dumbbells were strictly enforced, the very common forging heel position was faulted, eye contact was NOT required in heeling since it is not in the rules. If your dog was in a nice straight, non-forging heel position throughout the exercise, you received full points. He was very strict, but extremely consistent with all competitors.

by MikeRussell:
... Mike Diehl won the championship ... Congratulations to Mike Diehl and his helper. A 98 in protection ain't too shabby. Both were at the Flinks seminar this summer.

SCH3FH2,

Sorry, will clarify. I agree, points should be deducted on a hold and guard, silent or not, if the dog looks around even once. But what about the dog that does not look around and is silent and intense? I will admit, I might have missed a look, but I had my camera focused on one dog in each hold and guards: head stayed focused and quiet and still was deducted and brought up in the critique. Stickler (same as WUSV) on the OB and distance on the back transport. Saw very few dogs that had the OB and the distance down pat, great hold and guards and calm outs. Would hold the handler from walking in the 6th blind if there was an issue in the hold and same in the long bite (if the dog was antsy).

On the OB...the judge was strong on the forging (and should be) and the timing/mouthing on the dumbells, as well as closeness to the handler.

FYI... what OB group were you in? We were trying to determine who you were...:-).

As ever, I love going to the events to watch and learn more and more. Part of the reason I like to take the pictures.

Major kudos to anyone who was a HOT entry and kudos who was an entry at all.

The protection judge did hit some dogs for lack of intensity in the guarding in the blind if they came in and just gave lethargic woof woofs. The placid mild-prey dog who sat sleeve-side and gave polite woofs got hit even if it didn't look around, and there were several of them.

The most fun moment was when the protection judge critiqued Greg Bennett and Troy and finished it with "overall good - 79 points" and Greg's jaw hit the ground. Of course it was a 97, but for a second there, he really had Greg going.

The judge was chuckling all the way down the field after that... I missed that photo......