Over the years I have told people, I'm a part of NAVHDA or the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, and so are my Griffs. I have even helped train my Griffs for the first test of hunting for any versatile dog which is the NA (natural ability) test. But until this spring I have never gone to, or seen what NAVHDA does. Sure I have seen my Griffs work in a field, watched them grow in ability from pup to adult. But I was in the mindset of, well its something my husband can do. I was also afraid it would be more of the good ole boys club, where they get together and shoot the breeze, work with dogs, and talk sports. I felt that I would be an after thought, in the way of the things they would be doing there. Well I couldn't have been more wrong.
The people there are very welcoming. They mentor each other in the training of their dogs, help solve problems, encourage children to run dogs and teach them the basics, encouraging a whole new generation of responsible hunters and confident dogs. I was missing the whole picture and I didn't even realize it. We have had training sessions, BBQ's, and even the tests are full of encouragement and tips.
I knew it was a good organization, my husband always enjoyed himself learned a lot of things the Griffs had a good time. I was almost content to leave it at that but with encouragement from my husband, I joined in and I can't imagine life working my Griffs without it. I have made many new friends, found great teachers, and learned a few great new jokes from the other NAVHDA members. It has helped me and my Griffs grow and that itself has been worth it weight in gold.
If your on the fence check it out. No matter if your helping a 7 year old boy or girl learn to handle and teach their first versatile dog, or retired and wanting to brush up on a favorite past time with a new pup or an old hunting buddy. It can't hurt to go and see what its all about and possibly make some new friends while learning a whole lot about training and problem solving for you and your dogs. And even if you don't have a dog its a great place to learn about different breeds and find the one right for you as well as learn how to train it to be the best hunting dog for you. Don't just know about and organization called NAVHDA, or just read the magazines you might have gotten when you joined, find the chapter nearest you and give them a call. No matter what you will meet great people and have a good time, I just about guarantee!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Water training is a great activity for your dogs
Water training is a great activity for your dogs. Not only does it provide great exercise, and help build stamina when used as part of a regular training routine, but it is an essential part of the versatile hunting dog experience. A versatile dog should be as comfortable in water as they are on land. To help achieve that goal here are some steps to help you out.
Start with building a relationship with your dog, this can be as simple as offering your new pup their first bites of kibble from your hand before offering them each meal. The next step is LOTS of encouragement, plenty of praise such as; good dog or way to go "dogs name", good dog, and tons of excitement toward what you are doing with your dog. We have had dogs learn simply with a few games of ground fetch that go into the water at a short distance and end up well into the middle of a fair sized pond, to following a fellow k9 companion, all the way up to actually standing in the water (which may have been cold I can't be sure since I was more observing)and actually building the dogs confidence in the water with a few assisted swims until they are off on their own.
Water training is a rewarding and enjoyable aspect of training for both you and your dog and early, regular, positive exposure will be a great asset to you and your dog as training goes on.
The following video was a great one, not only for what you see but what you don't. Before this was taken Penny was a bit hesitant to go into the water during this training session, there was so much going on and her first two entrances were short to say the least, she began to get excited but I forgot the most important part...the encouragement! Once I boosted her interest with an excited tone and a lot of dummy waving, she leapt into the water with an eager ease. No matter what you are asking this is a great part of training. I was glad to not only have this recognized and used to assist the others there training their dogs, but to assist me in keeping that in the forefront of my training as well! Enjoy Ms. Penny enjoying what she was made to do!
Start with building a relationship with your dog, this can be as simple as offering your new pup their first bites of kibble from your hand before offering them each meal. The next step is LOTS of encouragement, plenty of praise such as; good dog or way to go "dogs name", good dog, and tons of excitement toward what you are doing with your dog. We have had dogs learn simply with a few games of ground fetch that go into the water at a short distance and end up well into the middle of a fair sized pond, to following a fellow k9 companion, all the way up to actually standing in the water (which may have been cold I can't be sure since I was more observing)and actually building the dogs confidence in the water with a few assisted swims until they are off on their own.
Water training is a rewarding and enjoyable aspect of training for both you and your dog and early, regular, positive exposure will be a great asset to you and your dog as training goes on.
The following video was a great one, not only for what you see but what you don't. Before this was taken Penny was a bit hesitant to go into the water during this training session, there was so much going on and her first two entrances were short to say the least, she began to get excited but I forgot the most important part...the encouragement! Once I boosted her interest with an excited tone and a lot of dummy waving, she leapt into the water with an eager ease. No matter what you are asking this is a great part of training. I was glad to not only have this recognized and used to assist the others there training their dogs, but to assist me in keeping that in the forefront of my training as well! Enjoy Ms. Penny enjoying what she was made to do!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Great night at RRV NAVHDA Training
There were about 13 dogs out at the training grounds last night. Trainers brought out birds and they were placed in the field in launchers. This was the first time a lot of these young dogs were on birds. Was nice to see how responsive the dogs were, everyones dog did well. Saw some nice points and some dogs very happy with their trophies.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Importance of NAVHDA
When we bought our first Wirehaired Pointing Griffon we asked ourselves. What do we primarily want to train our dogs for, field or show ring? My passion is outdoors and hunting, so it made the decision pretty simple, but then came the question. Who can help us train and work with pointers? I had only hunted over flushers in the past. Then we found NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association).
The first thought that ran through our heads was, that the organization would be full of a bunch of grumpy, know it all men that would be unwilling to help people learn about their dogs and that the organization was there more for a rite of passage. Boy, were we ever wrong! Instead what we found was an organization made up of men and women that have a love for versatile hunting dogs and the sport of bird hunting. The members of NAVHDA are friendly and willing to help new comers to the sport learn as well as help tune up dogs and owners that have been in the field for years.
A couple years ago we ran our first NA test (Natural Ability) and we had no idea what to expect. Boy was it was nerve racking to get ready for. Sure you know all the things that will be tested, but you don't know how the judges treat you, how things are going to be scored, how other members will look at you (are you considered competition) and most importantly how your dog will act while being tested; dogs have good days and bad days just like anyone else. Immediately we saw that the trainers are very helpful, the tests are organized, the judges are fair and the members are so friendly. What we found is that NAVHDA really wants your dog to succeed!
If you have or are looking to purchase a versatile hunting dog, I would highly recommend finding your local NAVHDA chapter and giving them a call. With each puppy packet we send out to interested parties, we look up the local chapter contact info and include a one page overview of NAVHDA. We don't do this because we have any ties to the organization; we do it, because we love the versatile hunting dogs and want their new owners to be successful in raising them and enjoy working with them.
Remember to take the time to enjoy your dog, both in companionship and in training.
The first thought that ran through our heads was, that the organization would be full of a bunch of grumpy, know it all men that would be unwilling to help people learn about their dogs and that the organization was there more for a rite of passage. Boy, were we ever wrong! Instead what we found was an organization made up of men and women that have a love for versatile hunting dogs and the sport of bird hunting. The members of NAVHDA are friendly and willing to help new comers to the sport learn as well as help tune up dogs and owners that have been in the field for years.
A couple years ago we ran our first NA test (Natural Ability) and we had no idea what to expect. Boy was it was nerve racking to get ready for. Sure you know all the things that will be tested, but you don't know how the judges treat you, how things are going to be scored, how other members will look at you (are you considered competition) and most importantly how your dog will act while being tested; dogs have good days and bad days just like anyone else. Immediately we saw that the trainers are very helpful, the tests are organized, the judges are fair and the members are so friendly. What we found is that NAVHDA really wants your dog to succeed!
If you have or are looking to purchase a versatile hunting dog, I would highly recommend finding your local NAVHDA chapter and giving them a call. With each puppy packet we send out to interested parties, we look up the local chapter contact info and include a one page overview of NAVHDA. We don't do this because we have any ties to the organization; we do it, because we love the versatile hunting dogs and want their new owners to be successful in raising them and enjoy working with them.
Remember to take the time to enjoy your dog, both in companionship and in training.
Monday, May 3, 2010
My Take on Designer Dogs
Perhaps this will be an unpopular topic, but I feel I needed to talk about it.
Being a dog breeder I have learned a lot about bloodlines, genetics, testing, breed clubs and animal behavior. I do tons of research about the dogs I am breeding so that I can both improve my dogs breed and continue the characteristics in that breed that is both the standard as well as desired for that breed. I spend hours talking to breeders, looking over papers, researching bloodlines, etc. which is, or should be, a normal part of showing and breeding dogs. Other huge parts of my program include getting testing done on my animals to ensure healthy animals without some of the possible genetic issues, working in field tests and trials to find proven inherent abilities desired by people interested in my breed, and constant work with the dogs themselves. Becoming a dog breeder is expensive, its time consuming, and it is a huge responsibility.
My issues come, quite frankly, from seeing all these "designer" dogs being bred and sold. Watching this new fad develop and become popular has been a hard pill to swallow. I know someone who paid 350.00+ dollars for a dog that was one part this that and the other. My personal feeling is it's a mutt, no there is nothing wrong with a mutt. However, you can get one at the animal shelter, usually with all their shots, spayed or neutered and occasionally house broken and well adjusted for aroud or less than 100.00. An added benefit is being able to provide a well needed home for an unfortunate dog. While I agree some shelter animals have serious issues and will never make good pets, this happens to shelter pet and purebred alike. However the lead organizations for shelters have tried to put things in place to weed out problem pets, like the ASPCA for example. However, people also have to accept responsibility and learn about proper dog care and obedience and not expect a dog to just get it.
Breeding a pet is not an easy thing and should not be entered into lightly. It involves research, education, a network of other respected breeders and veterinarians, as well as friends to lend a hand when needed. A responsible breeder will breed with consideration for the pups they will create before they are even a factor, begin finding homes before their birth, provide a lifetime of help and support for each dog they bring into the world and offer help when things come up, as they do in life to ensure their dog has a place to return to if anything every changes. Another important thing to note is when you breed a dog there is always the chance that you will lose your dog, their puppies or both.
The facts are that there are too many dogs in pounds and on the street for people to be intentionally creating dogs for fun or profit. To be clear I am not only opposed to "designer" dog breeders but also to the breeders of purebred dogs out there breeding without consideration and that is just as wrong to me especially since they are marketing themselves otherwise. People should look into breeders always ask tons of questions and consider carefully why they want a dog and what they want the dog to be in their lives for, companionship, hunting, showing, agility, or just to be spoiled remember that pure bred dogs are great and have a place but if you want a cute dog and don't care what it is or want certain types of dog or a certain look there are places to find them. For your "designer" dog the animal shelter is by far the best place to find them, you can even let the animal shelter know what types of breeds you are interested in and they can contact you if something you want comes into the shelter. Know what you are looking for, the time you have available for your pet, and size requirements for your living situation and always take at least a day to think over a pet purchase, when you rush into buying a pet unprepared everyone involved ends up unhappy.
Being a dog breeder I have learned a lot about bloodlines, genetics, testing, breed clubs and animal behavior. I do tons of research about the dogs I am breeding so that I can both improve my dogs breed and continue the characteristics in that breed that is both the standard as well as desired for that breed. I spend hours talking to breeders, looking over papers, researching bloodlines, etc. which is, or should be, a normal part of showing and breeding dogs. Other huge parts of my program include getting testing done on my animals to ensure healthy animals without some of the possible genetic issues, working in field tests and trials to find proven inherent abilities desired by people interested in my breed, and constant work with the dogs themselves. Becoming a dog breeder is expensive, its time consuming, and it is a huge responsibility.
My issues come, quite frankly, from seeing all these "designer" dogs being bred and sold. Watching this new fad develop and become popular has been a hard pill to swallow. I know someone who paid 350.00+ dollars for a dog that was one part this that and the other. My personal feeling is it's a mutt, no there is nothing wrong with a mutt. However, you can get one at the animal shelter, usually with all their shots, spayed or neutered and occasionally house broken and well adjusted for aroud or less than 100.00. An added benefit is being able to provide a well needed home for an unfortunate dog. While I agree some shelter animals have serious issues and will never make good pets, this happens to shelter pet and purebred alike. However the lead organizations for shelters have tried to put things in place to weed out problem pets, like the ASPCA for example. However, people also have to accept responsibility and learn about proper dog care and obedience and not expect a dog to just get it.
Breeding a pet is not an easy thing and should not be entered into lightly. It involves research, education, a network of other respected breeders and veterinarians, as well as friends to lend a hand when needed. A responsible breeder will breed with consideration for the pups they will create before they are even a factor, begin finding homes before their birth, provide a lifetime of help and support for each dog they bring into the world and offer help when things come up, as they do in life to ensure their dog has a place to return to if anything every changes. Another important thing to note is when you breed a dog there is always the chance that you will lose your dog, their puppies or both.
The facts are that there are too many dogs in pounds and on the street for people to be intentionally creating dogs for fun or profit. To be clear I am not only opposed to "designer" dog breeders but also to the breeders of purebred dogs out there breeding without consideration and that is just as wrong to me especially since they are marketing themselves otherwise. People should look into breeders always ask tons of questions and consider carefully why they want a dog and what they want the dog to be in their lives for, companionship, hunting, showing, agility, or just to be spoiled remember that pure bred dogs are great and have a place but if you want a cute dog and don't care what it is or want certain types of dog or a certain look there are places to find them. For your "designer" dog the animal shelter is by far the best place to find them, you can even let the animal shelter know what types of breeds you are interested in and they can contact you if something you want comes into the shelter. Know what you are looking for, the time you have available for your pet, and size requirements for your living situation and always take at least a day to think over a pet purchase, when you rush into buying a pet unprepared everyone involved ends up unhappy.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Animal Planet Covers the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (Korthals Griffon)
I was pleased to run into this video and see how well Animal Planet covered my breed.
Dogs 101: Korthals Griffon : Video : Animal Planet
The Korthals Griffon is a rare breed that loves the water and is a versatile hunter. They do best in wide open spaces and are extremely intelligent.
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-korthals-griffon.html
Enjoy and Happy Hunting!
Dogs 101: Korthals Griffon : Video : Animal Planet
The Korthals Griffon is a rare breed that loves the water and is a versatile hunter. They do best in wide open spaces and are extremely intelligent.
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-korthals-griffon.html
Enjoy and Happy Hunting!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Check your NAVHDA Events and Testing Schedules
Well it is that time of year again, the snow has melted, the ground is drying off and it is time to start NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) events and testing again. I would encourage you all to go the the following sites to verify dates and locations:
Upcoming Tests: http://www.navhda.us/TestSked/ListUpcoming.asp?W_MODE=DATE
Special Events: http://www.navhda.org/calendar.html#Special Events
Be safe and have fun!
Upcoming Tests: http://www.navhda.us/TestSked/ListUpcoming.asp?W_MODE=DATE
Special Events: http://www.navhda.org/calendar.html#Special Events
Be safe and have fun!
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