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My First Field Training Day |
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Written by Cassy
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Monday, 14 December 2009 20:34 |
We, my friend Jan and I had been wondering for some time what the ‘Field Training’ was all about and whether or not it was for the likes of us, total novices that is. Numerous people told us that we didn’t need to be experts; we could go, learn and enjoy the day. But, my dog doesn’t do this or doesn’t do that; we finally agreed that the only way to find out was to ‘have a go’.
So it was that me, Spirit, Jan and Jade found ourselves on Salisbury Plain at the crack of dawn on a very wet and windy November Sunday morning.
We were up and out by 7am and off to Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, for our first experience of field training, the experts were there to help and guide us. The weather tried its best to put a damper on our day, but to no avail, we were dressed for everything the day could possible bring us, and it did, I now know the meaning of horizontal rain... with sensible and practical clothing, packed lunches and hot drinks we, the dogs & us were prepared and didn’t we have a great time.
The instructors (David Hall and Nigel Smith) and the more experienced members of the group made us feel very welcome and though we ‘knew nothing’ we were soon involved. No standing and watching on the side line forever, oh no, just long enough to catch the dogs interest. Both Spirit and Jade were certainly paying very alert attention to all that was going on, before we knew it we were up front and being told what to do; just take it easy and let the dog do what comes naturally, and they did, first Spirit followed soon after by Jade, maybe not brilliantly, but they did and boy were they enjoying every moment of it.
We walked what seemed miles over the rough ground, taking our turn to get our dogs to do their thing. They were a joy to watch so full of it, so alert even when just watching another dog working, you would swear they were watching to learn they certainly seemed to be taking it all in. we learnt a lot me & Spirit and I know Jan and Jade felt exactly the same. But more importantly, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and I mean the dogs as well as us humans. Despite the wind and rain, it was a brilliant day and one we are looking forward to repeating in the New Year.
Thank you everyone that had a hand in the organisation side, a truly brilliant day. And for all of you reading this of a similar mind as ours were just a short while ago, come and see what your dogs could do on the other side of the fence. Come on and ‘have a go’.Salisbury Plain November 2009
Carol Roberts and Spirit - FanMatrix Striking Saphire
Jan Tadd and Jade – FanMatrix Jaunty Jade
PS: just a thought, on the plains of Salisbury with only the occasional tree or two on the far horizon, where do we city dwellers find the little room.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:21 |
