Neverland-Retrievers

It’s been a month since the PVGRC WC/WCX test. I’m embarrassed to say it took five attempts, but Tink finally passed. I don’t know why we had such a difficult time with this test, especially since Tink was four for four on the AKC JH and NAHRA SR tests. Unlike the AKC or NAHRA tests, the WC test can use a variety of different birds. The first WC test, of which a video clip is post on the web site, used pigeons. On that test she blanked the second bird even through she easily found it. The four other tests were equally as frustrating. I was half expecting she would refuse to pick up the pheasants on the latest test, since she’s never seen one before, but the first land retrieve went well. The second bird she also found right away, but then decided to look for an alternative bird to retrieve. After a few “Fetch it Up” on my part, she decide there was only one choice and brought the pheasant back reluctantly. After the land marks were over, I thought the two single water marks with ducks was going to be a cake walk. Wrong again!

The first water mark was thrown from a small island, See Figure below. Tink swam out to point “a” and retrieved the duck but then went ashore on the island and rolled on the ground at “b”. Now I started grabbing my chest. I thought, that after all the water marks we practice, she is going to blow it again. Lucky, after a few whistle calls, she picked up the duck and swam across to “c” where I was waiting. The second mark was non-eventful and we finally finished the WC Certificate. I wonder how long it will take for the WCX?

The following are a few photos of Tink during the test.

    

We are still waiting for Tinks next heat cycle. I don’t know the effect that pregnancy will have on time between heats. I have not found any literature on this subject. Up to now she has been averaging about 38 weeks with a standard deviation of 5.5 weeks. This means the next cycle could start as late as November 19th, see graph below. In the mean time, we are working on field handling exercises and blind retrieves. Tink is in very good shape. Her muscle tone is excellent and her weight is ~54 lbs. Thyroid levels are at the desired target values. A blood test after Labor Day showed her TT4 was 37 pmols/L, with the normal range being 15-67 and the desired value being 35 pmols/L. We’ll continue training and maybe run in the CRFCRC WCX test on 11/27/06.

 

…P